Books like Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins

In "Skinny Legs and All," Tom Robbins follows the unlikely partnership of an Arab and a Jewish chef who establish a restaurant right across from the United Nations. Their shared venture draws attention from militants, artists, and the global community, creating a fierce debate that lands them in the eye of political and cultural tempests. The novel spans New York and the broader contemporary American scene, where the restaurant’s impact reverberates through art, religion, and identity. Robbins’ trademark wit and philosophical quips illuminate the complexities of friendship in a divided world, while the setting of the UN underscores themes of diplomacy, conflict, and the pursuit of shared humanity. The story juxtaposes the intimate, daily rhythms of culinary creation with the larger forces of international politics, portraying how personal choices can ignite broader change. Through its vivid characters, the novel examines how old boundaries can be challenged, how art can intersect with politics, and how even a simple restaurant can become a platform for dialogue and transformation.

First publish date: 1990