Elysse read and liked Braden C's review of Still Life with Woodpecker:

"There’s a lot I could say about this book. I’m not sure what exactly I feel like condensing into this “review” (my first ever at goodreads, wooo!), so here goes nothin: As my first exposure to Robbins, it was immediately clear to me why he is...more There’s a lot I could say about this book. I’m not sure what exactly I feel like condensing into this “review” (my first ever at goodreads, wooo!), so here goes nothin: As my first exposure to Robbins, it was immediately clear to me why he is so loved, and only slightly less immediately clear why so hated. Beyond all of the Robbins hijinks, though, I found that ultimately he does shed a different light on the concept of “love” (among other things), and that what is revealed turns out to be… well, relevant. Which I know hardly sounds like a ringing endorsement, but – do consider it one. Robbins’ characters exhibit and seemingly overcome what I am currently finding to be possibly the most troubling aspect of a relationship: that in getting “closer” to someone (whatever you wanna call it), it only becomes more defiantly clear where “I” am totally and hopelessly distinct and separate from that “other” person, out “there” - Robbins paints a picture in which I caught at least a glimpse of two lovers who have embraced and perhaps transcended this paradox.

Oh and the painting is really funny. That’s really the point here, my highly egocentric reading of the love story aside. It's certainly ridiculous at times (imbibing a certain "steamy translucent mucilage" is likened to "gulping concentrated ecstasy"), but I came away knowing that there's something worthwhile to be gleaned from it all, convoluted though this something may be. And just as an aside, Bernard seems to me to be Henry Miller with a thing for dynamite (and redheads), which idea ought to entice anyone to read this book.
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