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

People of the world, relax!

This the first Tom Robbins novel I've read (listened to being read), but not my last.... Robbins is a stone-mason of exotic philosophical jewels and unabashed revolutionary of rude reality and painter of nude nuns and esoteric undercover CIA cowboy comic and unrequited surreal sensualist and the kind of weird buddy you would like to get drunk with on Saturday nights in a jungle dive in Burma or a swank Italian bistro in Rome... or even Seattle. Every sentence is mystically exotic and tragically delicious...like a pot of talking pet parrot stew shared with a South American shaman. "Fierce Invalids" evokes unfulfilled fantasies of the best sex you never had... it's more meaningful than psychedelic mushrooms on a stick, and slicker than a rock and roll guitar picker..

The narration is as though Robbins were telling his own story in his own voice. Marvelous....

language

Quite a journey into the fantastic voyage of religion. Not for squeamish. Buckle up and enjoy the verbose ride.

Wildly entertaining-excellent naration!

If you find the beginning slow or confusing, stick with it, after ten or fifteen minutes it will all begin to congeal and you will be hooked and submersed completely.

I've been an avid audio book listener for about fifteen years, an Audible member for several years, and this is quite possibly my all-time favorite. The narration of this is perfect, in my opinion. Keith Szarabajka did such an outstanding job reading, his characters came to life more vibrantly than any other audio book I have listened to. The story is engrossing and seductive, with moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity. Obvious high points include Maestra's character and her relationship with Switters, which is hysterical. The voices of the random and vastly different characters were so well done that at no point did I ever have to try to figure out who was speaking (which does happen rather often with heavy dialog in audio books). Robbin's entertaining use of language and his skillful weaving of cultural details makes reading or listening to this book feel like a journey. To anyone who has traveled in third world countries and ventured outside the beaten path of the big cities, the descriptions of Switters' adventures will ring bells.

Being a woman and a feminist, I beg to differ with the two reviewers who claim this book is not suitable for most women. It's likely to offend the people who don't "get" Robbins voice. He addresses taboo subjects in a very unapologetic way, but his stories are like onions--they have layers. Pay attention.

Sixteen hours of good stuff. What a bargain! And so many great one-liners that you will be insisting your friends read or listen to it so they will get your jokes. I laughed so hard at a few passages that I had to loan my headphones to the stranger sitting next to me on a flight, in order to explain, and even though he only listened to a few minutes of it, he was laughing out loud himself and writing the name of the book down, thanking me. You will too!

Clever and funny!

I read this book years ago but I think I enjoyed it even more listening to it. The witty illiterations are more effective when heard than read, and I don't have to stop reading to laugh. In fact, I'm going to but another Robbins' book as soon as I finnish this review.
Robbins' criticisms of organized religions have lost some of their venom since "Another Roadside Attraction," and feel almost as if he is disappointed that they haven't done something more spiritual with all of the faithful followers they have.
Don't be dissuaded by some of the reviews here that are shocked and appalled by the sexuality of the book. As Sailor Boy the Parrot would tell them, "People of the World, Relax!"

Funny, outlandish and irreverent

This is my favorite Tom Robbins book. I read the book first and truly enjoyed Robbins' unique use of the language and his humor. For some unknown reason I decided to pick up the audible book as well and spend another sixteen hours in Robbins' company.

While I would have guessed that Robbins is far better read than listened to, Keith Szarabajka proved me wrong. This is a great narrator that gives justice to Robbins' story.

Don't get turned off by the length of the book if you are not already a Robbins fan. This book might just make you a believer!

Incredible

This was my first Robbins novel and I've become a big fan since. Robbins writes true verbal poetry. He is a verbage master. This novel is not for the flighty or easy going listener. This is a crazy novel that takes many different paths and has many tones and undertones. You have to pay attention to "get" it all. If you love quirky, intelligent writing that is nonconventional, you will love Robbins. If you are straight laced and simple minded, pass this book up.

Fierce wahoo

This story mixes genres, with spy stuff, social comment and travel narrative blended with a touch of surrealism. If Hunter Thompson had collaborated with Tom Clancy, perhaps they might have come up with this tale. At first the mix seems a little forced, and the narrator (Keith Szarabajka) echoes the Tom Robbins’ vague air of smugness, but the story settles down in a random sort of way. The author’s obvious love of language sometimes gets in the way of his writing, but, overall, his sense of “wahoo” will win you over. A warning: This one is not for the easily offended.

Oh, Tom Robbins...

I really love this story. I really think I would have loved it more without the cheap political and ill informed religious stuff. Those parts were pretty barfy but mostly brief and largely irrelevant. Besides that stuff, great story and fantastic characters. Tom Robbins knows how to keep it fun.

Great book, great reader

I usually rate a book based on an average (e.g. the book is a five, reader is a three, give it a four).
Szarabajka's dramatization (with some impressive voice work) adds to the humor and properly highlights the minutiae of the dialogue. Additionally, this is one of Robbins' finest works, making this a great audiobook to own.

Audible Blows

Any additional comments?

Why can I only burn the book once to CD. My itunes did not burn it right and I can't re-burn it. Suck it audible.