Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates

By: Tom Robbins

Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

Length: 16 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

"Tom Robbins has a grasp on things that dazzles the brain and he's also a world-class storyteller." (Thomas Pynchon)

In Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates, his seventh and biggest novel, the wise, witty, always gutsy Tom Robbins brings onstage the most complex and compelling character he has ever created.

Switters is a contradiction for all seasons: an anarchist who works for the government, a pacifist who carries a gun, a vegetarian who sops up ham gravy, a cyberwhiz who hates computers, a robust bon vivant who can be as squeamish as any fop, a man who, though obsessed with the preservation of innocence, is aching to deflower his high-school-age stepsister (only to become equally enamored of a nun ten years his senior).

Yet there is nothing remotely wishy-washy about Switters. He doesn't merely pack a pistol. He is a pistol.

And as we dog Switters's strangely elevated heels across four continents, in and out of love and danger, Robbins explores, challenges, mocks, and celebrates virtually every major aspect of our mercurial era.As many readers well know, to describe a Tom Robbins plot does not begin to describe a Tom Robbins novel. Moreover, the internationally acclaimed, best-selling author, with his love of language, nuance, and surprise, is as opposed to story summations as J.D. Salinger.

It is revealing, however, to learn what things Robbins lists as having influenced the writing of Fierce Invalids:

"This book was inspired by an entry from Bruce Chatwin's journal, by a CIA agent I met in Southeast Asia, by the mystery surrounding the lost prophecy of the Virgin of Fatima, by the increasing evidence that the interplay of opposites is the engine that runs the universe, and by embroidered memories of old Terry and the Pirates comic books.

"Robbins also has said that throughout the writing of Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates he was guided by the advice of Julia Child: "Learn to handle hot things. Keep your knives sharp. Above all, have a good time."

Perhaps that is why he has managed to write a provocative, rascally novel that takes no prisoners - and yet is upbeat, romantic, meaningful, adventurous, edifying, and fun.

©2000 Tom Robbins (P)2000 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

2001, Audie Awards, Winner

"In his seventh, and perhaps most complex novel to date, Robbins shines as brilliantly as he has in the past...superb current social commentary." --New York Post

Jump On!

This ranks as one of my favorite books of all time. Why? In a manner both whacky and wise this novel unwinds in ways wonderful and weird. Like the Greats of prior centuries, Robbins tackles all the Big Questions--the meaning of life, the nature of being, good and evil, God and Goddess, and a few more. He probes and explores as he pontificates, a fine and rare feat, all the while keeping us grandly entertained with the personal. A plot full of sex, love, adventure and loss. No area, topic or controversy's too great or too trivial for Robbins' curiosity or comment. Fearless he is. My only caution is the tone is relentless and you must love his non-stop tricks to be a fan. I am. When my chi is down, and the earthly deal seems too predictable I reach for a bit of Tom to help me get back to my own " spirit of yahoo".

It's Tom Robbins...

"Like sedated spacemen conserving their energy for the unimaginable encounters ahead, the pumpkin seeds lie suspended in their reticulum of slime"

need I say more?

Enjoyable listen

If you could sum up Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates in three words, what would they be?

Fabulous use of Language (sorry couldn't do 3 words)

What other book might you compare Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates to and why?

Jitterbug Perfume, Even cowgirls get the blues

Have you listened to any of Keith Szarabajka’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've not listened to Keith Szarabajka before and initially found his accent jarring but soon started to enjoy his style.

Any additional comments?

Found it quite amusing that at the beginning and end of the recording is announces "Audible for Kids" when some of the content is extremely inappropriate. I think someone made a HUGE mistake or it was a joke. Just waiting for the first court case :D

Fantastic

Great writing, great reading. The fellow who read this was one of the best I've heard yet. If you find it corny when readers act and do impressions of the opposite gender, you might be annoyed, but I don't generally like it either and I thought he managed well enough for it to not be annoying.

Hunter S Thompson meets Dan Brown

A wild ride! Despite several cringe-worthy moments that were able to redeem themselves, and perhaps add to the charm of this adventure, I could not stop listening.
Not sure if it is a bug, but the "audible for kids!" sound bite is certainly ironic, and I'm sure Switters would approve.

best Tom robbins I've read yet.

narrator was slightly droning at first. took some getting used to, but by the end of the first chapter I was hooked. fantastic story, fantastic philosophy,, fantastic wordplay. almost every paragraph has a memorable quote.
loved it.

Truth as Tom Robbins tells it

I have never met a character from the Robbins' nest that I didn't fall in love with in the first few lines and to whom I would be devoted until after the last words had settled their greasy lines into my head. Switters will test your morals, virtues and vices and you'll be grateful for it.

Description that makes a the book.

The reader was great and really nailed the temperament of the main character and surrounding cast. The book itself is amazingly well written and that’s most of the fun of reading it. The story is fun and has moments of being hilarious. But over all it’s not original in the strictest sense. But it is so well written with language based jokes thrown in all the dang time that is a ton of fun. Felt very much like a mirakami book in the sense that it’s a mundane adventure that just keeps getting stranger without doing anything different yet it all different.

Fiercely Wordy

Instead of 1 liners, this book is full of 3-5 liners. Very fun, but the vocabulary is so wordy it completely overshadows the plot. I enjoyed it best read in small bursts where I could take in each snippet of thought. There are soooo many I wanted to remember, I'll definitely be reading it again. If you're abject to crude thoughts and cussing, the true gold nuggets also all through this won't be for you.

laugh out loud

incredible piece of work so lighthearted, thought provoking, spiritually attuned and hilarious!

the narration was soothing, powerful and captivating.

thank you to all involved.