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amoxidylan 's review for:
Breakfast of Champions
by Kurt Vonnegut
4.5/5 stars
In my third time around with him, Kurt Vonnegut manages to still flex his literary powerhouse in Breakfast of Champions. Although Cat's Cradle remains my favorite Vonnegut experience (perhaps in part due to it being my first introduction to his universe), Vonnegut proves here that there is far more nihilism to uncover in humanity's doings, that he is not finished yet with dissecting our society and its tragedies. This time though, he brings to the table new storytelling techniques that allow his unchanging worldview to be met with a fresh approach. Vonnegut has briefly utilized sci-fi concepts as literary vehicles before (i.e. Slaughterhouse Five), but now by treating our world as a science fiction planet and explaining day-to-day concepts as if they were foreign provides a ton of new commentary firepower throughout this novel. Where there have been plenty of cases where meta referencing ends up being a disservice to a work, Vonnegut inserting himself into the narrative sets up a cleverly layered contrast between his and the protagonist Kilgore Trout's worldview, before their eventual collision.
It could also be said that Breakfast of Champions is different from other works I have read from him in that Vonnegut's personal emotions feel a lot closer to the audience here. Passages can be found in this book that are simply sad to read as he spills his own depression all over the page. This likely would not be possible without the meta-inclusion of his own character, but I appreciate having the opportunity to hear from his emotions himself without masking behind characters and a plot. With that being said, the plot does feel the least defined of his works so far. Laid throughout are sporadic diversions from the story to tidbits of the world that do serve the themes, but simultaneously make the book feel unfocused and/or without structure. As messy as the meal might be, I am all down to dine at this breakfast of champions (not sponsored by General Mills).
P.S. - vonnegut picasso
In my third time around with him, Kurt Vonnegut manages to still flex his literary powerhouse in Breakfast of Champions. Although Cat's Cradle remains my favorite Vonnegut experience (perhaps in part due to it being my first introduction to his universe), Vonnegut proves here that there is far more nihilism to uncover in humanity's doings, that he is not finished yet with dissecting our society and its tragedies. This time though, he brings to the table new storytelling techniques that allow his unchanging worldview to be met with a fresh approach. Vonnegut has briefly utilized sci-fi concepts as literary vehicles before (i.e. Slaughterhouse Five), but now by treating our world as a science fiction planet and explaining day-to-day concepts as if they were foreign provides a ton of new commentary firepower throughout this novel. Where there have been plenty of cases where meta referencing ends up being a disservice to a work, Vonnegut inserting himself into the narrative sets up a cleverly layered contrast between his and the protagonist Kilgore Trout's worldview, before their eventual collision.
It could also be said that Breakfast of Champions is different from other works I have read from him in that Vonnegut's personal emotions feel a lot closer to the audience here. Passages can be found in this book that are simply sad to read as he spills his own depression all over the page. This likely would not be possible without the meta-inclusion of his own character, but I appreciate having the opportunity to hear from his emotions himself without masking behind characters and a plot. With that being said, the plot does feel the least defined of his works so far. Laid throughout are sporadic diversions from the story to tidbits of the world that do serve the themes, but simultaneously make the book feel unfocused and/or without structure. As messy as the meal might be, I am all down to dine at this breakfast of champions (not sponsored by General Mills).
P.S. - vonnegut picasso