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  • Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates

  • Written by: Tom Robbins
  • Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
  • Length: 16 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (27 ratings)

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Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates

Written by: Tom Robbins
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
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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.

What the critics say

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

What listeners say about Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Too Far

I think Tom Robbins is brilliant and the narrator did an awesome job reading the book. My big concern was the sexual acts with girls under the age of concent. I don't want to see this book removed from audible but some of the pedophilia this book describes as "Just Taboo" is not right. Other than Swithers paying for child prostitutes in Thailand. I found this book very interesting. All and all I consider this book something special. This book will leave you at a lose for words. It's very imaginative and weirdly descriptive. I feel it hits on some fundamental truths of the nature of reality in a twisted comical way. This book was made for male feminism and other far left people, not for me. I don't regret listening, I just find it interesting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An Odyssey!

A fantastical journey. A main character that is absurd but you can’t help being wildly entertained by. Yes, there are cringeworthy moments of obsessive predatory sexual behaviour, so be aware. You hate this character at times, but the story is wonderfully told and the audio well done.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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So good!

This might be the best book I’ve ever read. It’s a weird vivid place inside Tom Robins mind.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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Couldn’t wait for it to end

Pretty much the only redeeming quality of this book was the beautiful prose. The story was interesting for approximately 5 minutes out of the (it seemed) thousand hours. All the elements of a good story are there—potential for a surprising or dangerous situation several times, interesting side characters, etc—and sat idle while the main character waxed poetic about effing everything. He’s the guy at the party who has probably led an interesting life but prefers spouting his self-professed profound thoughts and talking down to everyone.

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