Skinny Legs and All

Skinny Legs and All follows artist Ellen Cherry Charles and her husband Boomer Petway as they drive to New York City in a turkey-shaped Airstream trailer. The journey marks the beginning of their pursuit of artistic careers in the city, where they encounter an eclectic cast of characters. The story centers around a Middle Eastern restaurant across from the UN building, co-owned by an unlikely Jewish-Arab duo. Five inanimate objects - a Can o' Beans, Dirty Sock, Spoon, Painted Stick, and Conch Shell - become essential characters in the narrative, while a belly dancer named Salome performs a ritual dance that mirrors the plot's progression. The novel interweaves themes of art, religion, and politics against the backdrop of New York City. Multiple storylines connect through explorations of ancient Middle Eastern traditions, modern fundamentalist Christianity, and the contemporary art world. At its core, the book examines how societal constructs and belief systems shape human behavior and consciousness. Through parallel narratives of animate and inanimate characters, it questions conventional wisdom about art, faith, and cultural identity.

Readers call this book both profound and frustrating. Many appreciate its exploration of religion, sexuality, and art through an unconventional narrative involving inanimate objects and Middle Eastern mythology. Fans highlight Robbins' wordplay and metaphors, with one reader noting "every page contains quotable wisdom wrapped in humor." Readers praise the book's handling of serious themes while maintaining levity. Several mention being challenged to examine their own beliefs about spirituality and politics. Critics find the plotting meandering and the philosophical tangents excessive. Some readers report abandoning the book, citing its "try-hard quirkiness" and "convoluted storytelling." Multiple reviews mention the pacing slows significantly in the middle sections. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (500+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (2,000+ ratings) Most negative reviews still acknowledge Robbins' creative writing style, even if the overall story didn't connect with them.

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The World According to Garp by John Irving The story tracks an unconventional artist's life journey through a narrative that blends social commentary with elements of magical realism.

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🌟 The turkey-shaped Airstream trailer in the novel was inspired by actual roadside attractions of the American West, where novelty architecture was popular in the mid-20th century. 🌟 Tom Robbins wrote much of the book while living in La Conner, Washington, a small artistic community that has influenced several of his works. 🌟 The animated objects in the novel - including a spoon, a sock, and a can of beans - were partially inspired by ancient animistic beliefs that all things possess consciousness. 🌟 The book's exploration of Middle Eastern themes coincided with the first Gulf War, though Robbins began writing it before the conflict started. 🌟 The novel's title "Skinny Legs and All" references both the Solomon's Song of Songs from the Bible and the 1960s soul song "Skinny Legs and All" by Joe Tex.