Villa Incognito
by Tom Robbins

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Book Reviews of Villa Incognito

Book Review: A bit lightweight, but thoroughly entertaining nonetheless.
Summary: 4 Stars

Villa Incognito has all the trade marks of a Robbins "small" novel. The wordplay here is more pronounced and whimsical than is usually the case in the "epic" novels-though every now and then one senses that Tom's trying a bit too hard on that score in this book. The book has a choppier, more fragmented feel to it than is traditionally the case in the "epic". And-what may be the real rub with many who criticize the book-the "message" here is more overtly political (and liberal) than philosophical than tends to be the case with the "epic' format.

Having said all that, this is a typical Robbins novel-recognizing that such a concept is basically an oxymoron, as Robbins worldview and writing style render the notion of "typical" meaningless.

The Robbins trademarks are all here: Wacky yet somehow tangible characters, mystical happenings, philosophical rambling, a fair amount of sexual innuendo, a highly energetic, nearly stream of consciousness writing style rendered with flair and gusto.

Robbins also has an uncanny knack for rendering a sense of place for exotic locales which is on full display here. His descriptions of post Vietnam War Laos and Thailand make these places seem more real than the vast majority of historical treatises or travelogues one could read.

This isn't a top notch Robbins book. However, run-of -the-mill Robbins is a heck of a lot better than most of the garbage that graces the best sellers lists, and this ends up being a thoroughly entertaining read.

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