Customer Reviews

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" by Tom Robbins is at first a bit hard to follow, a trademark of Robbins' work, but well worth the effort. The main character is Sissy Hankshaw, a young beauty with one minor, or maybe major flaw, her huge thumbs. Instead of letting the size of her thumbs hinder her, she uses them to her advantage, and becomes the best hitchhiker in the country, perhaps the world. Hitchhiking takes Sissy to a number of diverse and interesting places, where she meets many distinct and different people. Among the people Sissy meets is the "Countess", a gay, cross dressing owner of a douche company which Sissy becomes a part time model for. Through the Countess Sissy meets Julian Gitche, who becomes her husband. She also meets Bonanza Jelly Bean, "the cutest cowgirl in the world" who dreams that someday every little girl that dreams of becoming a cowgirl will be able to and not be told that it is a silly dream like she was told by her parents. Among the people that Sissy meets the Chink would have to be one of considerable significance, although he would not say that he "taught" Sissy anything, she learned a lot from him, and he gave the reader a lot to think about too. "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" was both entertaining and witty, coming as much from the crazy antics of the characters as from the frequent interjections from the author. "Cowgirls" is one of Robbins' best work both in imaginative characters and wild themes. It has the "stuff" to keep the reader interested to the end. Also highly recommend for its humor, insight, and disturbing qualities, would be BARK OF THE DOGWOOD-A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens.

I really loved this book. I think that Tom Robbins is quite a weirdo himself to have written something about the odd and not-so-normal people we normally push away from our day-to-day horizons. here we writes of them with compassion and a riveting originality that is just...mind-blowing. do read this book! i think it's not as good as jitterbug perfume but one of the best of tom robbins' novels nonetheless!

Maybe my expectations are too high or I am a snob, but I thought this was a truly lousy novel. It is a typical frivolous 70s-style story, posturing as a more genuine 1960s anti-establishment statement but really just baldly commercial.

The plot is full of characters that are 2-dimensional sterotypes, from the neurotic Indian advertising artist to the guru in the desert. With its breathtaking pretentions, it is not even as good as a TV sitcom.

Not recommended. Watch Mork & Mindy or re-runs of the original Saturday night live instead, if you want a genuine 70s experience.

I love the language! I think it's so sexy! How does he make sentances like that! I want to be loved by someone who talks like that. This isn't as good as Jitterbug Perfume, but what could be? It's still great. I especialy love the line about Wall Street resting its bloody #$%hole. I don't care what that says about me. I still love it.

Tom Robbins is one of my all-time favorite authors. There are three I couldn't live without: David Sedaris, Jackson McCrae, and Robbins. I've read everything he's written, and while "Cowgirls" is top of the line, "Another Roadside Attraction" is close behind. "Cowgirls" was lent to me many years ago when I was in college and I've been giving copies away ever since. This is a great story--fun, unusual, and above all, well-written. You can't go wrong with a Tom Robbins book and this is his best effort to date.

Also recommended: Naked by Sedaris, and Bark of the Dogwood by McCrae

EVEN COWGIRLS GET THE BLUES IS ABOUT THIS CHICK AND SHE HAS REAL
BIG THUMZ

When Tom Robbins writes a novel you can be assured of a few things:
1. It will be quirky and full of great imagery and analogies.
2. It will be well-researched.
3. The plot will be tight and come together well.
4. It will be funny.
5. It will be pretty sexy.
This book is all of these, and will not disappoint Robbins fans. As a fan of his, and after reading all of his books, I would place this near the bottom, if not at the bottom, of his books. Other books of Robbins have been profound teeming with ideas and beautifully written. While this book is well-written, it seems many of the ideas Robbins tries to explain don't pan out well and are lost in analogies that don't come of explaining them fully. Many times in the book, Robbins even apologizes for stretching an analogy too far. In "Cowgirls" Robbins wants his readers to embrace the natural beauty of women, and his characters are written well enough that this idea is developed clearly. However, the for me, when Robbins novels are refreshing and thought-provoking, "Cowgirls" was at points tiresome and disappointing only on the level that Robbins had risen himself too with his other novels. It IS a good book, just not "Robbins" good.

This book is one of the best books I have read. An avid fan of Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Robbins brings on something else. Instead of the "American dream" or adventurness lifestyle, he brings out a plot that compels one to find the answers that he proposes. This isn't just a novel, if you are looking for an enertaining book then great read it, but if you are looking for something more, a book that can give understanding to onself then this is the book for you. I thuroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone, even that hard nose prick that think women need to cover up the sweet smell that gives life... read it then you will understand.

Sissy Hankshaw is something else in this book. The movie does not give this book any justice. Although it is worth checking out also. How can you go wrong with a girl that has the biggest thumbs in the universe and has hitchhiked around the whole galaxy? Definately another one of Tom's mind benders and worth the read!

made no sense. stupid plot and story line. don't waste your money if you're looking for anything of value in this authors works, you won't find it if this is indicative.