Reviews with content warning for Violence - Breakfast of Champions

Reading this after “the bluest eye” was an interesting experience. Both books had sprawling narration of minor characters and delved into psyches of people who won’t be seen after the next chapter. I think morrisons use of racial slurs and epithets was more impactful that Vonnegut’s since her black characters are front and center, not the racism they experience, if that makes sense. I was p frustrated by vonneguts professed objective narration even though he had obvious biases. Idk. I struggled at parts but I did like the ending, and I’m always a sucker for a meta narrative.

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kolbyfeesh's review

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dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book dragged on and on for the first couple hundred pages. I nearly didn’t finish it a few times over; Vonnegut was determined to write a story that focused on life, with every character and fact having equal importance. (pg215)
Since he was actively shunning storytelling, the story was difficult to engage with- the satirical framing of the issues of america was interesting, but nothing much *happened*. I will say that Trout’s short stories were an excellent plot device.

The ending absolutely blew me away. I was enthralled, through and through, and couldn’t put it down.

The fourth wall break, along with the idea of philosophical zombies “thinking machines” driving Dwayne crazy hit home in a big way.

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paulwesterberg's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I am better now.
Word of honor: I am better now.

probably my least favorite vonnegut thus far—but also the kurt vonnegut, jr. narrator feature is simply peak. not sure if this was the perfect time of my life, or absolute worst time, for me to read this one.

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kthumphrey's review

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Definitely the worst Vonnegut book I’ve read, but still good bc it’s Vonnegut 🫶

Just a bunch of nonsense with an occasional sentence that slayed. For example:

“Our awareness is all that is alive and maybe sacred in any of us. Everything else about us is dead machinery.”

“Of course it is exhausting, having to reason all the time in a universe which wasn’t meant to be reasonable.”

Do not read if this is your first Vonnegut.

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joensign's review

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dark reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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johndougmike's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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