I hadn't noticed the pyramid-theme, although' Skinny Legs And All' there's some sort of classical culture, I think Phoenician. There is a similar plot centring around an attractive young woman who physically and emotionally attaches herself to an aging radical male/lothario that mirrors, I guess, Tom Robbin's age at writing (the male protagonists do seem to get older with each new novel).

Saying that, I'm a huge fan, even though the ending of some of the earlier novels didn't have adequate endings for what went before. His story telling's gotten better, but I would prefer he was just a little more prolific with regards to getting more new novels published and out there (possibly too busy living the life of his protagonist).

I love the way he uses images. My fave of all his...and I've READ all his...is "Still Life With Woodpecker" if only for the line "The Phone rang in her womb. . . . .

After reading several books by given authors, Ive noticed that they have a tendency to use similar themes and motifs. I guess when youre fascinated by something, you cant help but revisit its wonder. My theory on the pyramids: People are amazed at how such massive monuments could have been constructed at a time that lacked all the technology, "civilization", etc. Mr. Robbins comes across as a man who is curious and attracted to abstract things in the universe. Maybe revisiting the topic of pyramids is his way\ of exploring and asking, while using his immense imagination and story-telling abilities.

My favorite thing about Tom Robbin's work is that I have to stop every other paragraph to read it to someone nearby because i think its so funny. The stuff really is a joy.

If I had to make a guess about the recurring pyramid theme I would guess that it would have to do with the fact that pyramids appear as central themes in many ancient cultures that still hold an enigmatic allure to modern people. They are shrouded in mystery and mysticism and give the impression of ancient universal wisdom we once had but have lost. I haven't read everything by Robbins (I have Jitterbug Perfume, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Still Life With Woodpecker, Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas, and Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates under my belt) but I have noticed that he likes to give his stories that same sense of mystery and mysticism, making them true enough to real life to where the reader can relate but giving it that extra spice that is very much still present in the world today, but that most people are sadly conditioned to not notice at all. Things like pyramids and extra terrestrials and psychedelic experiences are things that any reader can grasp while at the same time stretching their imagination a little bit more than normal. It's modern day Epic Poetry. I love Tom Robbins and can't wait to start another of his books. He very quickly became one of my all time favorite authors and I would say is the sole reason I ended the Vonnegut binge I was going on.

I would hardly consider pyramids a central theme in his books. They are mentioned, but aren't really central to the story, in Fierce Invalids as the shape of the Peruvian shamans head, his grandmothers bird cage, in a google search by 'masked beauty' for esoteric Islam and the pyramids, etc. He seems to use pyramids whenever he's going to take a left turn into some esoteric or mystic subject like a way sign or a motif if you will. Many writers have recurring motifs in their work, it's a common literary device. Sometimes it serves a purpose, sometimes it's just there to see if the reader is paying attention. ; ,)