... without spoiling it, what all did you think of it?
I've started it 3-4 times, gotten a hundred pages in, and put it down.
I'm all about monkeys driving Cadillacs, but I just can't get into this book - I need some bait to get me past my drop off point.
I've started it 3-4 times, gotten a hundred pages in, and put it down.
I'm all about monkeys driving Cadillacs, but I just can't get into this book - I need some bait to get me past my drop off point.
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Seattle
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Tue, February 3, 2004 - 10:55 PMStick it out, it gets better. I've absolutely devoured Tom Robbins every time, so I might not be the best judge. I will say Half Asleep is my least favorite of his books, but when you're talking about Tom Robbins, least favorite is still pretty damn good. Try it again.
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Fri, February 6, 2004 - 2:32 AMYes!... definitely worth getting over the hump. Still one of my favorites. But i'm weird, the only one i never really liked a ton was cowgirls. *shrug* -
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Thu, July 1, 2004 - 12:49 PMI liked this book a lot, I definitely relate to the moral crisis of deciding whether to be in the race or get lost and go to timbuktu. It's a good book.
Tom Robbins is absolutely my favorite author, but I have had a hard time getting into some of his books. The worst for me was skinny legs and all. I usually can read a whole book in a few hours but that book took me four months to read! The can of beans, the spoon and the stick? I was tempted to skip that whole section. However, TR always rewards us in the end and the end to that book is probably one of my all time favorites.
I also put down Cowgirls after the first 50 pages, but when I picked it up years later I ended up liking it a lot. -
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Mon, December 13, 2004 - 10:42 AMI just finished Jitterbug, which is my absolute favorite book of all time. I re-read it every couple years.. So, I just started Half Asleep for the 3rd or 4rth time and can't get into it either! Is it me, or is Gwen not very likeable? Maybe it's TR writing in the first person, but really, it gets better?
What is the main point TR is getting to in this book? I'm guessing it has to with not being such a greedy, corporate asshole, but not sure. You never know where his books will go. Can someone give me some insight on why I should stick with it?
thank you, thank you. -
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Mon, December 13, 2004 - 2:51 PMGwen is not supposed to be likeable in the beginning of the book. I actually really liked this book, but it might be where I am at too. I struggle with a bit of a spit personality -- some times I want to become wealthy and powerful and I can feel very focused and ruthless (like Gwen). Other times I have a hard time getting worked up over anything and I want to stay up dancing all night, quit my job and travel to Thailand. Wait. . . I did that.
You DON'T have to read it if you can't get into it though. There are lots of books to read in the world. -
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Mon, December 13, 2004 - 5:07 PMWell Surprise,
I didn't say it was painful, I DO want to read it. I was asking for insights on the guts of the book. Thanks for your take on it. -
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Mon, December 13, 2004 - 5:29 PMHey I really like this book too. At first I was taken aback by the first person perspective and real time aspect (the whole thing takes place in the space of a weekend. Since that is so different from the other books Tom has written where they jump around through space and time and into other character’s brains. I remember having some trouble getting into it too, but once you get past say....the first 100 pages, there's some really awesome stuff in there. It is about Gwen's transformation and shedding of her inhibitions. So it's got to start out stiff in order to make that transformation more profound. Anyway, that's what I remember from it. Post you opinion if you do finish it.
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Tue, December 14, 2004 - 1:01 PMVery nicely put Sanchez. Tone is so weird online. I really wasn't trying to sound curt in my response. As mentioned above on the thread, I've had trouble getting into TR (and other) books and come back to them later to enjoy them later. It is hard to tell why books don't grab us sometimes and why they grab other people and speak to other people.
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Thu, December 23, 2004 - 10:59 AM>It is about Gwen's transformation and shedding of her inhibitions. So it's got to start out stiff in order to make that transformation more profound.
I partially agree, but not completely. I tend to think that Gwen's transformation (remember, she reverts to her greedy ways in the end(sorry for the spoiler those who haven't read it)) is just a vehicle for the main theme - the struggle between rigidity and flexibility, the neophile and the neophobe in all of us, the fight against "The tyranny of the dull mind". Gwen is DEFINITELY a dull mind in the beginning, but the potential is there. Remember that Larry underwent a similar transformation some years before the start of the book.
I like the way that TR uses Time in all his books - kinda the underriding theme in every one - and the rigid nature of the references to time in Half Asleep matches Gwen's attitudes well, as well as providing pacing to the story.
BTW, am I the only one who used TR's list of the 'visiting faculty' from Timbuk U as a reading list?
Not my favorite TR book, but probably 3rd if I had to rank them. Maybe 4th. Definitely the most talk-aboutable, except maybe Cowgirls.
Otter
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Re: Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas
Wed, December 15, 2004 - 12:49 PMI love this book! Read it in a day! It's so worth the read..if only to meet Q Jo Huffington! My favorite character of all time...and the transformation that occurs in the book is inspiring, zany and delicious!
