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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I want to like this. I mean, it is Vonnegut after all. Everything of his I've read up to this point was engaging, thought-provoking, and interesting, but here I felt like Timequake was more so scattershot, unfocused, and only intermittently able to keep my attention.
There are, of course, some glorious Vonnegut literary nuggets here and there, but they can't save this from being one of his weakest efforts (if not the weakest). I feel like I'm betraying a great by not rating this higher, but I honestly feel it can be skipped, even by Vonnegut fans.
There are, of course, some glorious Vonnegut literary nuggets here and there, but they can't save this from being one of his weakest efforts (if not the weakest). I feel like I'm betraying a great by not rating this higher, but I honestly feel it can be skipped, even by Vonnegut fans.
This was fine. It has all the hallmarks of a Vonnegut book - time that jumps around, short sections, moralizing about war, violence, and the absurdity of sex - but was sort of missing a plot. A sort of interesting frame, to write a book about a book you wrote but didn't publish, but didn't hold my attention as well as his others.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was ok. There were good bits and funny bits, but it was just kind of rambling... is that what Vonnegut is known for? It was okay, but I prefer to have more structure to my reading.
pretty dense start, but i still managed to finish it!! the end is pretty good, but as a whole not my favorite vonnegut, a little too plotless imo.
a collection of quotes i appreciated:
"I am eternally grateful...for my knack of finding in great books, some of them very funny books, reason enough to feel honored to be alive, no matter what else may be going on." (182)
"We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different!" (219)
a collection of quotes i appreciated:
"I am eternally grateful...for my knack of finding in great books, some of them very funny books, reason enough to feel honored to be alive, no matter what else may be going on." (182)
"We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different!" (219)
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I do think that Vonnegut has some nice ideas in general, but reading a whole "novel" that has no real plot and is just Vonnegut's ramblings on what he thinks of this and that was a bit much. Felt more like a memoir, to be honest, and I realized that I don't really enjoy reading about the world from Vonnegut's point of view.
A lot of misogynistic comments, all over the place, and a touch of transphobia and ableism in several places. All this, combined with a serious lack of self-awareness made this a rather uncomfortable read for me.
This is the second Vonnegut book I've read (Breakfast of Champions being the first), and I don't think I'll be reading another.
A lot of misogynistic comments, all over the place, and a touch of transphobia and ableism in several places. All this, combined with a serious lack of self-awareness made this a rather uncomfortable read for me.
This is the second Vonnegut book I've read (Breakfast of Champions being the first), and I don't think I'll be reading another.
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A touching collection of thoughts and musings from Vonnegut towards the end of his life framed within an interesting bit of sci-fi, Timequake encourages the reader to contemplate existence and be grateful for all the accidental good things.
Pretty disappointing overall, despite having some of the best Vonnegut quotes I've encountered.
This is a biography hidden inside a science-fiction narrative, and the results are wobbly. I didn't find much rhythm in this book. As is usually the case, the real treat is Vonnegut's philosophical musings and not so much the story. But the bouncing back and forth between real events, fictional events, real events hidden in fictional events, and fictional events hidden in real events was just a bit too hectic.
This is a biography hidden inside a science-fiction narrative, and the results are wobbly. I didn't find much rhythm in this book. As is usually the case, the real treat is Vonnegut's philosophical musings and not so much the story. But the bouncing back and forth between real events, fictional events, real events hidden in fictional events, and fictional events hidden in real events was just a bit too hectic.
funny
reflective
medium-paced