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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Compelling idea fragments, and I can see how it served as a kind of brain dump for Vonnegut (the main character is a sci-fi author and we get 1-2 paragraph summaries of his books throughout).
Not all the humor lands and some aspects feel dated (such as the novelty of meta fiction in general). I don’t really know what to do with the racial commentary, which is implicit but a strong theme.
However, I found many ideas and much of the writing brilliant. Humanity’s relationship to the universe, the nature of symbolism, determinism, the power of a bad idea, the value of aiming for an unachievable goal, even the nature of the relationship between god and human—Vonnegut’s treatment of these topics is beautiful and well worth reading and considering. Sometimes it’s a single paragraph and sometimes it’s throughout the book. And yes, when it’s funny, it’s really funny.
Not all the humor lands and some aspects feel dated (such as the novelty of meta fiction in general). I don’t really know what to do with the racial commentary, which is implicit but a strong theme.
However, I found many ideas and much of the writing brilliant. Humanity’s relationship to the universe, the nature of symbolism, determinism, the power of a bad idea, the value of aiming for an unachievable goal, even the nature of the relationship between god and human—Vonnegut’s treatment of these topics is beautiful and well worth reading and considering. Sometimes it’s a single paragraph and sometimes it’s throughout the book. And yes, when it’s funny, it’s really funny.
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide
I tried, I really did. I made it 40% into the book and couldn't take another minute.
Lots of cool and interesting little bits, but as a whole, this felt exactly how Vonnegut described it as: random bits he had scattered about that he thought he'd throw together with drawings, as a birthday present for himself. Very meta and at times very confusing. Especially for it being my first Vonnegut.
The concept was good, but I'm not too sure I'm into the actual content. It seems like this book did whatever it was that Naked Lunch was trying to do, but better. I would have cared more if Vonnegut didn't go off-topic so much, and I really don't care about the characters' measurements at all, and there was a section in the middle that was just measurements. It read very much like that one part of the Bible where everyone just begets everyone else. He may have done it on purpose to make a point, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. At least every mention of wide-open beavers made more sense to the plot than all that incessant measuring did. The idea of was great, but it would have hit better if the plot had been tighter and not bogged down by all the tangents.
I added a star because there were pictures. I'm easy to please like that.
Spoiler
incorporating the authorI added a star because there were pictures. I'm easy to please like that.
"What did you learn from this book?" That human beings are strange, unpredictable creatures capable of great love, great hate, lust, estrangement, (in)sanity, passion, art, Drano drinking, car sales, racism, and redemption. Also, sometimes they act like something on their bodies that looks like this:
*
(If [b:Infinite Jest|6759|Infinite Jest|David Foster Wallace|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446876799l/6759._SY75_.jpg|3271542] is an oak, [b:Breakfast of Champions|4980|Breakfast of Champions|Kurt Vonnegut Jr.|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327934446l/4980._SY75_.jpg|2859378] is its acorn.)
*
(If [b:Infinite Jest|6759|Infinite Jest|David Foster Wallace|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446876799l/6759._SY75_.jpg|3271542] is an oak, [b:Breakfast of Champions|4980|Breakfast of Champions|Kurt Vonnegut Jr.|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327934446l/4980._SY75_.jpg|2859378] is its acorn.)
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
I enjoyed most of the humor of this novel as well as the creativity within the stories of Kilgore Trout and his NSFW sci-fi publications. There are memorable characters and an aura of aloofness that serves the story well. Vonnegut was ahead of his time in American satire and calling out the bs and horrific history of the U.S. However, there were many dated elements. The repeat sexual jokes got old, and I wasn’t too fond of the breaking the fourth wall so much, but I understand why he did it.