Willard and His Bowling Trophies
by Richard Brautigan
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 287)
Read in October, 2007
One of Brautigan's lesser known books, but one that I always particularly liked. Three stories tied up in one: A couple in San Francisco having kinky sex after the woman overcomes genital warts but passes them on to her husband who loses his mind, their upstairs neighbors who wind up with a strange collection of bowling trophies and a paper-mache bird named Willard, and the three brothers who want to find their stolen bowling trophies. It's a tragedy. It's Brautigan. I definitely recommend ...more
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Read in January, 1986
I was really into the beats when I read this. Kind of an embarrassing period.
I have never found another copy of this so I don't know if I would still like it. I remember thinking it was really funny...the suburban couple moves to über-cool SF and all the flower children are there trying new things and so they try really hard to fit in. Their little attempt at S&M was memorable. Anybody have a copy of this?
I have never found another copy of this so I don't know if I would still like it. I remember thinking it was really funny...the suburban couple moves to über-cool SF and all the flower children are there trying new things and so they try really hard to fit in. Their little attempt at S&M was memorable. Anybody have a copy of this?
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I copied off this entire book on the public copy machine at Safeway (its out of print) for a girl who was (is) into the Brautigan ouevre. Don't get me wrong. The book, itself, is not an ode to romance or soft emotions. It's got a ridiculous plot and takes dead aim at a relationship that has become nothing more than a deviant, disease-riddled sex game.
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Read in January, 1996
recommends it for:
people who like weird short novels, and aren't afraid of sex
I read this a while back when I was an early teen because a friend of mine found a copy in her attic, read it, then recommended it to me. I had forgotten it until I saw it here on the "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" list. As remember, it was really weird, but enjoyable. Now I'll have to go searching and see if I can find a copy for my bookshelf.
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Read in January, 1992
recommends it for:
Anyone who wants to learn how to write.
This is a wonderful book. It tells two stories so very different and yet somehow manages to tie it all together. You will never read another writer like this man. He has such a unique voice. He also manages to balance funny and sad, its just no one story is a laughs and the other all tears.
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Read in January, 1972
A kinky and perverse book, strangely sad. I read this one during that hippie phase of my life when eccentricity was of utmost importance. My brother's warped sense of humor inspired me and I sought out the slightly skewed observations of life. This one fit the bill.
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Read in December, 2007
a great short read--very brautigan-esque with lots of flip-flopping around and short, amazingly real descriptions. Left me with a few mental pictures of genital warts that I can't seem to shake, but other than that, a worthwhile read for a lazy afternoon.
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Such a bizarre mystery, such an innocent joke of switching the numbers in an apartment building, such a horrible result. Not recommended for young readers - there is an appalling amount of sex in this book, or almost sex, as I recall.
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I think this is my favorite Brautigan novel. It is silly and depressing and hopeful. Especially in this book, it can seem like Brautigan is just being absurd while the story line remains in tact with parallel plots.
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Recommended by a friend...Very interesting. One of those books where you know how it is going to end but at the same time do not want it to end that way. Also appreciated the Story of O reference.
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This is tied for my favorite Brautigan (with The Abortian) and yet it's one of his lesser-known works. I found it to be a really funny, quick, and surprisingly perverse read.
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recommends it for:
very few people
The only good thing that I can say is that this book is a palate cleanser... you'll be happy that every subsequent book you read is not "willard and his bowling trophies"
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Read in January, 1990
recommends it for:
unpretentious smart people
Plainly written and weirdly sad like all of Brautigan's books. My Dad gave me this to read when I was twelve and it ruined my brain. Still one of my favorites.
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Read in January, 1979
I read this as a teenager and I'm not sure I even really understood it completely, but it was certainly influential in other reading choices of the period.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 1995
yes its good work-a-day brautigan - i liked it - that's what i mean by three stars - better brautigan exists.
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Read in January, 2008
Meh...
Very different style of writing. Not what I expected, I guess. It did leave me wanting to know more!
Very different style of writing. Not what I expected, I guess. It did leave me wanting to know more!
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Read in January, 2008
genital warts and a sudden ending...not to mention a half-day read, pretty decent indeed
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quite possibly the most depressing book I ever read...one of his weaker books.
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