Complex plot in latest novel Palestine

Though "Skinny Legs and All" is not Tom Robbins' most recent novel, it remains extremely pertinent. This novel deserves far more attention than it now receives, for it is not only cleverly written, but it deals with an increasingly controversial political topic -- the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- in a way that is fresh, even 13 years after the original publication of the novel.\nAll the characters in "Skinny Legs" are inextricably linked to Jerusalem, either through coincidence or an intense love for the beautiful and historical -- if not tragically war-torn -- city. Mind you, the characters include, but are not limited to: two lovable Southern artists living in New York City, an Arab and a Jew who open a restaurant together in hopes of bringing attention to the potential brotherhood of Jerusalem's inhabitants and five inanimate objects -- among them a conch shell worshiped by the original goddess of Jerusalem, a spoon who is also a devout Catholic and an erudite Can O' Beans -- who are attempting to get to Israel. \nRobbins' plots are not easy to explain, for he uses the Bible and ancient myth, as well as historical data, to make the case against the misogyny of western religion, against the importance people place on money and for art and living one's life in a manner that is true to oneself. Whether he fabricated or fictionalized these myths and historical data for his story is irrelevant, because the plot of the story is what truly makes one understand the lessons he is attempting to teach. Controversial as it sounds, when life lessons are being delivered by a conch shell and a painted stick, the facades of race, gender and religion fall to the wayside as one is caught up in this extraordinary tale about the abuse of power.\nIt isn't only his unique characters that help to carry the story and make Tom Robbins a writer who is loved by hippies and housewives alike. His use of wild details -- the Virginia artist Boomer Petway builds a Turkey out of an RV and drives it on his honeymoon -- and metaphors such as rain the "color and flavor of toad sweat," make for a read that can only be described as enlightening. \nRobbins' stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict seems to be that no one is right, that neither of these peoples are original inhabitants of the land and wouldn't it be nice if all the peoples could get along as well as the owners of Isaac & Ishmaels (the restaurant owned by the Arab and the Jew, which serves as a model for the conflict itself)? \nHe takes this stance matter-of-factly, whisking the reader along not with lengthy diatribes or overtly controversial dialogue (although I imagine some people would be offended by this novel), but with witty dialogue and an engaging and indescribable plot that takes unexpected turns that leave the reader feeling exhilarated rather than carsick.