Review by Helga Leena -- The Sword Swallower and a Chico...

[Helga Leena]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid" by Gary Robinson.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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This book is a loving homage to an outsize and rare personality, by someone whose life he changed for the better. As both the narrator and the hero believe in living life 'on the edge' and in the moment, that includes many harrowing instances of cheating death.

Some of that is the result of running away from unhappy childhoods, which the two have in common. But otherwise they differ quite a bit. Duke is at the end of his life, but still driven to push his physical limits daily. Gary is a middle class college educated 'stoner' whose existence seems pointless, to himself anyway. But as he is drowning his sorrows in a Chico bar, his mind is blown not by an intoxicant, but by the flamboyant, self-assured performer driving eight inch nails into his own cranium.

The half of the book which is autobiography flows seamlessly like an aimless stream over the rubble of Gary's hedonistic poor choices. Some are newsworthy and some are not, just like the fame and ignominy of Duke's biography, from the day he ran off to join the circus and willingly paid the prices for living that life.

While Duke took refuge in atheism and pragmatism, managing his addictions like tools, Gary hasn't managed to do without a belief in some unknown higher power; surely it's fate that brought him reeling drunkenly to take root in the town of Chico! That is where he has met someone he can truly love, and also this spectacular mentor, lovingly looked after by his tattoo 'family'.

It's a stroke of genius for the author to reveal this great insight in the midst of the two being trapped by rising tides, having to scale a crumbling cliff, and how they each manage to cheat death in their own fashion. Rest assured, this is not even close to the most dangerous stunt these two outlive.

Having cemented his discipleship with tattoos, becoming Duke's 'roadie' for what will be his final tour, Gary remains himself by jumping into his new existence, both feet first. Because he wrote the book, we can assume he survived. The story is a thrill ride to the very end and well put together.

I'd give this one a top rating if only I hadn't found nearly a hundred typos and grammatical errors. As it is, it gets <b> three out of four stars</b> from Helga.

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The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid
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