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pedroh's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
unequivocallyalone's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ian_9's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
twintails_industries's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Violence, and War
wrzenie's review
5.0
"it took us that long to realize that a purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved"
michinio's review
5.0
After reading [b:Player Piano|9597|Player Piano|Kurt Vonnegut|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1333578200s/9597.jpg|1005005] during my teenage years, the Sirens was the very first book from Vonnegut, which I've read being an adult. And despite all the excitements I've got from almost all of his books (especially [b:Cat's Cradle|135479|Cat's Cradle|Kurt Vonnegut|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1327867150s/135479.jpg|1621115] and [b:Slaughterhouse-Five|4981|Slaughterhouse-Five|Kurt Vonnegut|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1440319389s/4981.jpg|1683562]), this one remains my absolute favorite.
Don't remember exactly which edition I've read, but there was a quote from either Observer, NY Times or something like that, stating that in this book Kurt Vonnegut not only dared to ask about the ultimate reason of earth life, but even answered that. And this is true! :)
Don't remember exactly which edition I've read, but there was a quote from either Observer, NY Times or something like that, stating that in this book Kurt Vonnegut not only dared to ask about the ultimate reason of earth life, but even answered that. And this is true! :)
whimsicalmeerkat's review
4.0
Humorous, thought-provoking, sad, infuriating...so, basically, Vonnegut.
momogoban's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
savaging's review
4.0
What are we to do with Vonnegut? This irascible wild-child, this manic-pixie-dream-grump, just -- just sit down for a second Kurt.
In the middle of a spate of Serious Nonfiction, fate (or the subtle influences of Tralfamadorians) brought me to this book. I have my critiques: the tortuous plot, the non-sequiturs, and most egregiously the rape that is never called a rape but treated instead as the rocky beginning of a relationship. I mean I know this was written in the 50s but come on.
And still, well, I loved this book. I loved the rollercoaster ride of it, and I also loved the deep nihilism of the ideas presented. And of course, more than anything, I loved Boaz and the harmoniums. Felt some real kinship with the guy who finds his life's work in tending to the simple life forms of Mercury.
In the middle of a spate of Serious Nonfiction, fate (or the subtle influences of Tralfamadorians) brought me to this book. I have my critiques: the tortuous plot, the non-sequiturs, and most egregiously the rape that is never called a rape but treated instead as the rocky beginning of a relationship. I mean I know this was written in the 50s but come on.
And still, well, I loved this book. I loved the rollercoaster ride of it, and I also loved the deep nihilism of the ideas presented. And of course, more than anything, I loved Boaz and the harmoniums. Felt some real kinship with the guy who finds his life's work in tending to the simple life forms of Mercury.
Mankind flung its advance agents ever outward, ever outward. Eventually it flung them out into space, into the colorless, tasteless, weightless sea of outwardness without end.
It flung them like stones.
These unhappy agents found what had already been found in abundance on Earth — a nightmare of meaninglessness without end. The bounties of space, of infinite outwardness, were three: empty heroics, low comedy, and pointless death.
austinhehir's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0