The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966 [Paperback]

Richard brautigan (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket (December 3, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671827979
• ISBN-13: 978-0671827977
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 3.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,830,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a historical romance : 1977, April 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966 (Paperback)

One of Brautigan's best and least known, this book captures the soul and ideals of a dying generation. Richard Brautigan's simple words and weaving prose embrace the reader into an erotic story of life in Brautigan-land. The idea of a library for unpublished books is on of the most outstanding metaphors put onto paper during the twentieth century. Brautigan again tells a story in his own unique way, a true favorite of a select few. To discover Brautigan, The Abortion is a must. To discover life, Brautigan is a must

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant, but inane, writer manages to stick to a topic., October 5, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966 (Paperback)

Richard Brautigan , the beatnick author/poet, has always been the type of writer who's books only leave you with a feeling; the type of books that when people ask you what the book you're reading is about you can only give a puzzled look. (like it was a stupid question.) I think a friend put it best when he said, "Brautigans books are just words; they're a relaxation technique for the mind." Of course, there is more depth and continuity to them than that, but not much.
Howere, in his book "The Abortion" Brautigan not only manages to stick to one topic, but to make it nearly as moving as his other novels.
"The Abortion" chronicles his life as a librarian. Of course, it is no ordinary library; it is a library where people who can't get their books published can put their works on public display.
An obvious, but interesting, metaphor for his own struggle with writing.

He doesn't quite capture the same amazing imagery that he did in "Trout Fishing in America". But, for new, or old, fans of Brautigan it is a fine (and linear) novel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Brautigan's most personal, and creative novels, June 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966 (Paperback)

"The Abortion" stands as one of Brautigan's most personal novels, as well as one of his most creative. The book tells the story of a librarian for a library that stocks only books that have never been published, and will never be read. It gives the character satisfaction to stock these books by people who want their one chance to be a writer. Intertwined with this is the story of that same librarian's trip to Mexico for the procedure that is the book's title. In contrast to the humor of the first part of the book, this section is morose, and descriptive. It wraps you in the feelings of the protagonists.

If there is criticism, then, it is that the writing speeds up and slows down periodically. Thus, several chapters may go by with little happening, and then all hell breaks loose. But this is a minor critique; and the reader can always know that the book WILL pick up pace. A definite must for Brautigan fans.