Well, I finished this in a single sitting. It is definitely different and I did have a good laugh at the end. I was very quickly embroiled in the initial couple's dysfunctions and enjoyed following the lunatic bowling brothers on their quest and even empathized a little with the second couple mostly over the watching of a mundane late-night talk show (Johnny Carson here) to try to get to sleep. This is the first Brautigan book I've read, I have quite a few, possibly all, in my possession inherited from my late uncle, and I would definitely like to continue on through Brautigan's oeuvre. ( )

Para esta novela, Brautigan se ha sacado de la chistera el siguiente reparto: Una pareja, Bob y Constance, que a raí­z de la aparición de verrugas en sus partes genitales, lo que les imposibilita una relación sexual «normal», se aplica, de forma laboriosa y mas bien torpe, a practicas sadomasoquistas... alternadas erraticamente con la lectura de la Antología griega.
Otra pareja, vecina de la anterior, John y Patricia, devotos de Greta Garbo, de los bocadillos de pavo y del show televisivo de Johnny Carson, excelente somnífero y los hermanos Logan que un día ¡ay! lejano, orgullo de su familia y de su pueblo natal, que han jurado venganza eterna contra los ladrones de sus preciados trofeos de bolos. En el transcurso de su búsqueda implacable se han convertido en temibles forajidos: «la banda de los cinco galones». Y Willard, un pájaro gigantesco de papier-mâché, que apacienta los trofeos de bolos.

I don’t consider myself a sexual prude but a book where every other chapter is about a Bob and Constance, a couple having sex in ways that keep their venereal warts from infecting the other’s intimate parts was very off-putting to me. The other chapters were about three brothers who were searching for their stolen bowling trophies. We learn that the trophies are stored in the apartment below Bob and Constance and guarded by Willard, a paper-mache bird who stands about three feet tall. Weird – yes, but I read on as this is a very short book and I have to admit these opening chapters intrigued me.

It quickly became obvious that while this book poses a number of mysteries, it has no intention of actually solving the mysteries or explaining the who, what, when, why or where of the story. It is whimsical, outrageous, silly and highly stylized and yet, I couldn’t stop myself from reading on.

The subtitle of this book is “a perverse mystery” and perverse seems to be the right word. This short book takes the reader on a very bumpy ride with it’s false leads and contradictory statements. I’ve seen this author’s style described as comic realism which I would say is pretty apt. Willard and His Bowling Trophies blended satire, suspense and comedy in an absurdly unique way that certainly caught my attention. ( )

2.5 stars ( )

This is not the world's best book, nor is it the best book I have read.
At times it is strange, or funny, sad, but all in all very enjoyable.

With this book I've ticked off another 1001-book from the list :-) ( )