In fact, the book comes across as a thinly-veiled excuse for Tom Robbins to expound his political and philisophical views. My main qualm is that, in the absence of a central main character (who IS the protagonist anyway - Dickie Goldwire? Tanuki Himself?), we get a great deal of the author's voice instead.

To reiterate what many reviewers have written, if you have never read Tom Robbins before, please don't start with 'Villa Incognito.' If you are an established Robbins fan, please read it with an open mind. This book reinforces everything I love about Robbin's writings - and reminds me why critics seem to dislike him so much. And he isn't afraid to poke fun at sacred icons. One really has small reason to complain whenever there is some fresh TR on the market - no other wirter makes a reader simply giggle quite like Tom. It's not as bad as 'Fierce Invalids' (which crumbled under its own weight), but then again, at only 230 or so pages, there isn't as much room to fail here. You see where he wants to go, but lately Robbins has had a bad habit of letting his strong talents get in the way of a solid finish. Unfortunately, the story runs into serious trouble after about 150 pages. And the 'modern time' sections of the story allow Tom (and his fans) the pleasure of Bush-bashing, 9/11 ruminating, and general 'religion-government-organized society is failing us' rambling. His ability to fashion similes remains unchallenged in modern writing.

Meanwhile, the possible offspring of a Tanuki (don't ask, just trust me that only Robbins could make such a mythical character work SO WELL) and her circus comrades worms her way into the story, creating the mischief that Robbins works so well with his female creations (think Amanda from 'Another Roadside Attraction', or the exotic dancer from 'Skinny Legs and All' ).Īs always, Robbins words simply sparkle. The action in 'VI' is primarily set in Asia (which gives Robbins a chance to focus on herion as the drug of reference in this novel), where 3 Vietnam (thought to be) MIA's have established their own Walden.

'Villa Incognito', his 8th (and, along with the classic 'Still Life', one of his shortest) novels opens in typical Robbins fashion - parallel stories seperated by generations, farcical characters and an alluring female whom you somehow know is going to tie the entire story together. His novels have entertained (and confounded) his ardent fan base for nearly 30 years, and his style of writing is as original as it gets. Tom Robbins is a great American treasure.

Villa Incognito by Tom Robbins