Why people recommend it
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues is an absurdist comedic novel by Tom Robbins that follows the unconventional life of Sissy Hankshaw, a woman born with abnormally large thumbs who becomes a legendary hitchhiker. On an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, author Chuck Palahniuk briefly listed the novel while discussing the broader umbrella of absurdist existential literature and the unique style of its creator. Meanwhile, on an episode of Stuff You Should Know, the host discussed the book in connection with the cultural phenomenon of hitchhiking. The host noted that alongside Jack Kerouac's On the Road, Robbins's novel stands out as a major literary exploration of the open road, pointing out how the protagonist's unique physical trait aids her hitchhiking career, a key element featured in both the book and its subsequent cinematic adaptation directed by Gus Van Sant. Through these varied podcast discussions, the novel was celebrated for its eccentric characters, philosophical digressions, and its lasting status as a countercultural touchstone of American fiction.
Who recommended it
- Chuck Palahniuk Discussed
Chuck Palahniuk — 1 mention
“even cowgirls get the blues”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 1
“Whether it's obviously Jack Kerouac's On the Road is a big one, or Tom Robbins even Cowgirls Get the Blues. The Gus Van Sant movie, the main character was born with an abnormally large thumb, so she obviously had a talent as a hitchhiker, and that's kind of one of the subplots of the book and film, right?”