Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11809 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-09
• Binding: Paperback
• 277 pages

Synopsis
Still Life with Woodpecker is sort of a love story that takes place inside a pack of Camel cigarettes. It reveals the purpose of the moon, explains the difference between criminals and outlaws, examines the conflict between social activism and romantic individualism, and paints a portrait of contemporary society that includes powerful Arabs, exiled royalty, and pregnant cheerleaders. It also deals with the problem of redheads.

From the Back Cover
Still Life with Woodpecker is sort of a love story that takes place inside a pack of Camel cigarettes. It reveals the purpose of the moon, explains the difference between criminals and outlaws, examines the conflict between social activism and romantic individualism, and paints a portrait of contemporary society that includes powerful Arabs, exiled royalty, and pregnant cheerleaders. It also deals with the problem of redheads.

Customer Reviews

Amazing book
I was amazed to find that Tom Robbins was quite famous outside his native America. His works are an offshoot of Vonnegut and the adsurdists, and if you've not delved into them, then by all means start with this novel. His "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" put him on the map years ago, but he's written so many novels now that stand up to that one, he's almost better remembered for the newer ones than the one that initially made his career. As usual, his books deal with absurd and funny situations and while you need the willing suspension of disbelief, Robbins makes it all seem real--too real--even if you can't get past that. I love each of his books, which is unusual as I'm prone to like one by an author and not another. You MUST read his "Another Roadside Attraction" if you read "Woodpecker" and like it. Great. Just great.

tom rides again
i have now read 5 of the 8 books in the robbins canon, and loved them all. so far, i'd recommend this as a first read to anyone embarking on the tr trip - it's just as wonderful as the others, but for a change has a (relatively!) straightforward plotline that allows you to dive straight in. 'zany' is a word frequently used about robbins's writing, and so it is - it's also gripping, hilarious, brilliant, witty, clever, erudite, wise, sexy, surprising and all round wonderful. just a lil suspension of disbelief required - the fact that improbables occur in the storylines is neither here nor there - think of 'em as fabulous. a writer whose every sentence carries a punch of one sort or another. sheer reading delight. and will make you happy - 'it's never too late to have a happy childhood'.

A Study of Redheads
This is a light and entertaining book from a word-play genius. What is amazing is the way he weaves so many stories into a tidy, compact little package - almost the size of a pack of cigarettes, as a matter of fact.

This is a story about a tarnished princess, an outlaw bomber with bad teeth, a scene stealing if somewhat undomesticated loyal servant, toads - both real and plastic, an exiled King and his "Oh-Oh, spaghetti-o" Queen, a CIA not-so-secret agent, an outraged Middle Eastern playboy, blackberries, Camels, Ralph Nader, pyramids and aliens from Argon.

What more could you possibly want in a book?

Tom Robbins has a genuine talent for words and puns, and those with active funny bones will be tickled throughout. His casual use of words like "slishy" and phrases like "I have a black belt in haiku" abound, to be discovered with unbridled delight.

This is a book to be enjoyed within one lunar cycle without fear of repercussions.