Customer Reviews

Wild Ducks Flying Backward

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm not a fan of short stories. I'm less of a fan of gathering together a bunch of old articles and selling them as a book. I am, however, a huge fan of Tom Robbins.

While it was good to read some Tom again, I can't say I was tremendously impressed by this selection of "short writings." Personally, in terms of cleaning out a hard drive and putting it in novel form, I much prefer Douglas Adams, The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time I did enjoy some of Tom's poetry, and the homage to the Doors but other than that, the material was seriously dated.

Hopefully there will be a new novel soon. I miss him. And these last two forays (this and Villa Incognito) have left me wanting.

Just when all the bad news in the world seems to have taken the joy out of life, leave it to Tom Robbins to put events in their proper place. There is no one like him in the writing universe today that can make an insane situation seem, well quite normal. Prior to this book, I've only read his novels (many times over)but that Robbins touch works perfectly well in essays and short stories. And like his novels, after reading this book, I will go back a enjoy all his prior work.

The book's halfhearted, low-budget cover screams, "I'm drivel and trash and the publisher knows it."

To judge this book by its cover would be a tragic mistake.

In this collection of essays, articles and columns written for various publications over the years, Tom Robbins proves himself wittier than Dorothy Parker, more colorful than Hunter S. Thompson, sharper in perception than Andy Rooney.

Piercing, even. A journalist of the highest order.

It's worth the price of the book just to read Miniskirt Feminism, a reminiscence of the 60's originally published in the New York Times (1995).

Buy the book. Throw away the ugly dust cover. You won't be disappointed.

Oh I feel like a traitor having to say what i have to say. Don't get me wrong I love this man. Tom Robbins may have saved my soul for all i know but unfortunetly this book just doesn't have the meat i hoped it would. Now, now, don't get me wrong I know this wasn't a new novel but a collection of writings, and to be honest it shows the wide gambit of writing Tom has done and does, but it doesn't have a soul. I truly hope this is not his last work and that the rumors that he isn't going to write anymore novels are false. It seems all my favorite authors are dead, dying, or done and it saddens me. Well if Mr. Robbins wants to spend the rest of his days roaming the globe i can't blame him but i'm damn sure going to miss him.

....the world would be less fun without him. Like most of his fans, I only wish he released books more frequently. I found this collection of non-fiction totally winning. It may not be "Cowgirls" or "Still Life", but then it wasn't meant to be.
Like his best fiction though, Robbins will give you some laughs while you're reading, and some things to think about when you put the book down.

Tom Robbins' short fiction runs the gamut: from sexy and delicious to somewhat dated and irrelevant. It's a collection that spans more than 30 years, and as such is indispensible to any hard-core Robbins fan. His inimitable style is all there, but the feeling of deep satisfaction one derives from reading one of his crazy novels is missing.

Wild Ducks Flying Backward is an eclectic sampling of travel articles, essays, short stories, a movie treatment, poetry, song lyrics, tributes, opinion pieces and responses to requests from magazines for writing on various issues.

I was immediately impressed by Robbins' creativity and the diverse subject matter he is willing to address in his writing. His use of language and his descriptive power and imagination are indescribable. In these samplings he comes over as a man with a delightfully wicked sense of humor. He also impresses his readers with his scholarly criticism. He is astute and a mature observer of human nature. He has the gift of being able to peel back the layers to show us man and character in his nakedness.

I got the feeling that what I see is what I get with this author. Working out what I see is at times fun, confusing, awe inspiring, daunting and over whelming. Robbins makes me want to write more and play with words and images like never before.

I particularly enjoyed the travel articles. I laughed out loud reading the "Canyon of the Vaginas" written about a trip to a remote canyon in Nevada full of vagina petroglyphs. Robbins used the essay as a spring board for a discussion on the feminine and sexual power.

There were times when the book lagged and my attention wandered. This was mostly during the extensive section of tributes. His piece on "The Doors" written following his first attendance at one of their concerts, although less developed in writing style, was interesting to me because of the picture he paints of the culture at that time. His tribute to Joseph Campbell was interesting for the same reasons. I enjoyed his tribute to Diane Keaton. Clearly this is a woman he admires and lusts after. The writing was prosaic and sensual. His tribute to Leonard Cohen took me back to my teens, and I relived the feelings of identification and depression at that time. Robbins points out the true genius of Cohen and the depth of his poetry. I want to go back and listen to all those records again, get my guitar out (save us all!) and sing!

We all know that a college town presents its own brand of waiters and waitresses. In his essay "The Genius Waitress," Robbins imagines his way and ours into the thoughts, dreams, perceptions and disappointments of such a character.

A section of the book is comprised of responses to questions asked for various publications. When asked to write about one of his favorite things Robbins wrote about the letter "Z". This essay was amazingly imaginative and the fact that he chose a letter of the alphabet to write about shows his playful and non-conformist mind.

Robbins shares his love for language and writing in a series of essays including one in response to the question; what is the Function of Metaphor?

He continues to provide food for thought for the reader and writer in such essays as:

What Do You Think Writer's Block Is and Have

You Ever Had It?

With What Fictional Character Do You Most

Identify?

Is the Writer Obligated to Use His/Her Medium

As an Instrument for Social Betterment?

Why Do You Live Where You Live?

What Was Your First Outdoor Adventure?

Do You Express Your Personal Political

opinions in Your Novels?

How Would You Evaluate John Steinbeck?



I found all of these questions thought provoking and useful for discussion in the writing class I teach.

This is a book I know I will come back to over and over again. There is much to interest a wide variety of readers in it. I find myself thinking about some of the essays at random times. I did not expect to find Zen-like studies on writing and life in this book. I was delighted by the author's depth of character, mischievousness, word-playfulness, clever wit, understanding for the human condition and compassion in this collection. This is truly a lateral thinker in the extreme. Finally, Robbins spoke to my heart in his statement "We are in this life to enlarge the soul, liberate the spirit, and light up the brain."



Belinda Shoemaker MFA Creative Writing

I read everything that Tom Robbins writes. Until I read this, I loved everything he wrote. This is a compilation of some pretty boring stuff. Read the novels. Skip this.

This compilation is not like reading one of Tom's novels, but it is just as entertaining. Read it for Tom's piece on the Northwest weather, if for no other reason.

I found this audio book to be a sort of resume/autobiography/reunion. Tom himself read the material, and it was fun listening to him ramble on, especially so whenever recalling his personal life experiences (even the rather dry areas I hadn't any interest in). In typical Tom style, he was well aware that there were segments in his book that might not be of interest to some, so he welcomed the listener to press fast forward! That being said, if I had purchased a hard/soft copy of this book, I'd have to say I would have been disappointed. Without hearing Tom's voice/emotion, my interest would have putter out.