Another roadside attraction [Hardcover]

Tom Robbins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1973

What if the Second Coming didn’t quite come off as advertised? What if “the Corpse” on display in that funky roadside zoo is really who they say it is—what does that portend for the future f western civilization? And what if a young clairvoyant named Amanda reestablishes the flea circus as popular entertainment and fertility worship as the principal religious form of our high-tech age? Another Roadside Attraction answers those questions and a lot more. It tell us, for example, what the sixties were truly all about, not by reporting on the psychedelic decade but by recreating it, from the inside out. In the process, this stunningly original seriocomic thriller is fully capable of simultaneously eating a literary hot dog and eroding the borders of the mind.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's clear that when Robbins sits down to write, he has one thing on his mind: having himself some fun. I read Another Roadside Attraction, years ago, then immediately went back to the beginning of the book and read it again. Robbins holds nothing back in this, his first novel. It's a perfect introduction to the Robbins oeuvre of oddness. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"Written with a style and humor that haven't been seen since Mark Twain . . . it is a prize."--Los Angeles Times


“Hard to put down because of the sheer brilliance and fun of the writing. The sentiments of Brautigan and the joyously compassionate omniscience of Fielding dance through the pages garbed colorfully in the language of Joyce.”—Rolling Stone


From the Trade Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Allen (1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 049100804X
• ISBN-13: 978-0491008044
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,874,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHANGED THE WAY I THINK ABOUT THINGS, FOR SURE, April 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Another Roadside Attraction (Paperback)

This is my favorite book of all time. I think that the four main characters are absolutely perfect, the way they are written. You can't get more interesting and original. In fact, I consider Amanda to be the greatest fictional character I have ever read about in a novel. Just brilliantly written.

The dialogue is fantastic, and story line and description of the whole book is just perfect. The first time I read this book, I was sitting out front of one of my classrooms with about 15 minutes to kill, so I figured I'd start reading this book that a friend of mine loaned me. When I looked up at the clock after taking a break from the pages, I realized that it was 3 hours later. This book totally captivated me, and I think I have lent that same copy to at least 20 different people over the years, and every one of them agreed with a full heart.

It the single, greatest recommendation I have ever recieved. You have to read it!!!!! Thank you, Mr. Robbins for writing it. I'm totally serious.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Digging up Old Gems, August 3, 2000

By 

David Lister "Medentheist" (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Another Roadside Attraction (Paperback)

Fans of Tom Robbins' more recent work will enjoy going back and taking a look at his first novel, Another Roadside Attraction.

From page one, the reader will note that the author's writing style is fully formed, fat, juicy, and full of snap. There are several little stories going on, but the one I like best goes something like this.

A former college football player, banished from organized football after a carnal episode with his coach's wife, is hiking through the wet wilderness of Olympic National Park. He comes upon a murdered Catholic monk with a letter of introduction. Stealing the monk's clothes and assuming his identity, he continues on the path until he arrives at what was to be the monk's destination: a completely unknown monastary that serves as a training ground for the Vatican hit squad. Passing himself off as the murdered monk, he soon finds himself transferred to duty at the Vatican where, after some time, he is able to use the confusion created by a rather severe earthquake to sneak his way into the lowest, off-limits section of the Vatican catacombs. Who's body he finds, and what happens after that? Read the book.

Five big stars for this one!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite book!, May 2, 2003

By 

Heather (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Another Roadside Attraction (Paperback)

This is my favourite book ever, and definitely my favourite Tom Robbin's book. Hilarious and entertaining on a surface level, and an insightful and unique perspective into philosophy and sociology (yes, I know it's just fiction).

Tom Robbins has a wonderful writing style and a creative mind. If you like unique books (how about ninja assassin Catholic monks or missplaced messiahs?), this is for you.

I had this book stolen (hope the thief liked it), but liked it so much I purchased it a second time.