The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966

The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966 follows the life of a librarian who operates a unique California library. This unconventional institution accepts any book from any author, regardless of quality or format, creating a sanctuary for unpublished and unusual works. The narrator-librarian's routine changes when he meets Vida, a woman whose extraordinary beauty has shaped her entire life experience. Their relationship develops within the strange confines of the library, where he lives and works in near-complete isolation from the outside world. The story takes the form of a road narrative when circumstances force the two main characters to travel from their sanctuary in San Francisco to Tijuana, Mexico. The journey marks their first significant venture beyond the library's protective walls. The novel uses the framework of a romance to examine themes of isolation, physical beauty, and the relationship between life and literature. Through its setting in an impossible library, it presents questions about the nature of books, authorship, and what makes writing worthy of preservation.

Readers note the book's gentler tone compared to Brautigan's other works, with less experimental prose and a more straightforward narrative. Many readers connect with the authentic portrayal of 1960s San Francisco and the quirky library setting. Readers appreciate: - The tender relationship between the main characters - Descriptions of the unique library system - Light humor and surreal moments - Commentary on social issues without being heavy-handed Common criticisms: - Plot feels meandering and unresolved - Character development remains surface-level - Second half loses momentum - Title misleads readers expecting more direct commentary on abortion Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (3,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (80+ ratings) One reader on Goodreads notes: "A sweet love story wrapped in absurdist trappings." Another writes: "The library concept fascinates, but the story never quite delivers on its promise."

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson Road trip narrative through 1960s America combines surreal encounters and social commentary with a similar counterculture sensibility.

The Public Burning by Robert Coover Characters navigate an alternate-reality America where fact and fiction blur in a library-like collection of historical moments and cultural artifacts.

The Port-Wine Stain by Norman Lock A librarian's interactions with Edgar Allan Poe lead to philosophical musings about literature and preservation in a narrative that questions reality.

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl The protagonist catalogs her life through literary references while navigating isolation and unusual relationships in an academic setting.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón The Cemetery of Forgotten Books serves as a sanctuary for lost literature while the protagonist discovers romance and mystery within its walls.

🔸 The novel was written during Brautigan's most prolific period (1966-1971), but wasn't published until 1971 due to his publisher's concerns about its controversial subject matter. 🔸 The library in the story was inspired by the Presidio Branch of the San Francisco Public Library, where Brautigan frequently spent time during the 1960s. 🔸 Despite its title referencing abortion, the actual procedure only occupies a small portion of the narrative, with the majority focusing on the unique library and its inhabitants. 🔸 The book's unconventional format includes chapters that are often just a few paragraphs long, with some consisting of only a single sentence - a signature style that influenced later postmodern writers. 🔸 The author actually created a real-world version of the novel's library concept in 1990 when he established the "Brautigan Library" in Burlington, Vermont, which accepted unpublished manuscripts from anyone who wished to submit them.