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Summary: A Crazy,Wonderful Book
Review: This book is great in that although written 30 years ago,and Vonnegut was satirizing things from back then,it still holds up. At first,I found the narrative a bit pedantic but then it really started to work for me. "Hardly(anything) is sacred",Vonnegut writes in the foreward.,and while reading his pot-shots of all things (absurdly) American you realize he's right. One of the best satires that I've ever come across..
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Summary: A lyrical fugue on madness, modernity, art and love.
Review: Although not his most popular work, this is in my opinion Vonnegut's most brilliant novel. Superficially it seems childish, with it's inane illustrations (by the author) and rambling, seemingly unstructured text. But probe a little deeper and some truly profound insights emerge, and there is litle doubt that this is a work of carefully crafted, absolute genius.There are at least four main themes in this book, and the way Vonnegut weaves them together is both masterful and unorthodox. (In no particular order) the first theme is of madness - Dwayne Hoover has finally fallen victim to the chemicals in his brain, and much of the narrative unfolds around his descent into lunacy and violence. The second theme is that of the alienation of modern-day life, as a despairing Kilgore Trout makes his "Pilgrim's Progress" across small-town USA, and Wayne Hoobler spends the novel waiting pathetically for his dreams to come true while standing by a Holiday Inn dumpster. The third theme is on the meaning of all art, both in Rabo Karabekian's stunning exposition on modern painting, and on Vonnegut's own musings about the point of writing a novel (which occurs within the narrative). And the final theme, binding it all together, is that of love and connection. As is found in many of Vonnegut's works, he argues that the giving and receiving of love is the only thing that makes our otherwise meaningless lives valuable. Many people miss this point when they read Vonnegut, and hence come away feeling Vonnegut is a very bitter man. If you see this, you'll discover he is actually a deeply compassionate one. I have read this book many times, and each time come away with a new insight. Read it and treasure it.
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Summary: This book has a story behind it you may not know.
Review: I heard an anecdote about how, just after publication of this book, he received a fan letter from a 12 year old girl who asked him not to commit suicide. The thing is, he hadn't told anyone he'd be thinking about just that! Weird, huh? Or is that a testament to the strength and clarity of Vonnegut's themes? The saddest part is in the last few paragraphs. You can hear the author saying them to the reader, almost...It made ME cry anyway, but it was sort of a good thing.
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Summary: and he draws too
Review: vonnegut is purely addictive.
i simply can not stop reading his stuff...
hmmm, leaves me wondering what to do once i have run out... alas, this is quite a good read, i found it tough to put down.
vonnegut employs a good number of his tested and true techniques, of dropping in common characters, explaining through trout books, and slicing back and forth between parts of his story so as to keep the pace rather quick. vonnegut throws a lot of himself in here...in fact, he does throw himself in here, nice touch
leaving the reader wondering just as much about the author as about the characters.
his conversational nature makes this a nice light read, but leaves enough philosophical questions floating around in your head to keep you interested after you have put the book down
Rating:
Summary: Laugh till it makes sense.
Review: I love this book. It is full of insight, humor, beauty, some wisdom, and some juvenile asides just to make all seem less overwhelming. Kurt Vonnegut knows how to make tough thoughts go down easier. He is the reader's friend. Just don't be like Duane Hoover and mistake friendship for spiritual guidance. We're all individuals with free will, as this book reminds us.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars...and this is coming from a Tom Clancy fan!
Review: What a fantastic departure from the contemporary fiction I usually read.
Vonnegut's storytelling has no limits or restrictions; he happily runs straight for the edge of human imagination and keeps going.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: This being my first ever experience with Vonnegut, I don't think I was ready for the incredible words written within it(not to mention the pictures drawn). This book not only made me more interested in other Vonnegut novels, but also changed the way I looked at the craft of writing and the way I look at the world. In between bouts of gut-busting laughter, I found insights into the human race, society, politics, sex, and lonliness which were all very well expressed and honest. Vonnegut shows all that is egregious in America and the world, and presents it to us in a humourous way. Read this book...it may change your life.
Rating:
Summary: funny - but powerful!
Review: I can't see myself giving this book anything but five stars. Most novels read more than once, in my opinion, have to be considered good enough for that, though I know that there are exceptions. I first read Breakfast of Champions back in about 1975 or so, and it blew me away. It became the first of many Vonnegut novels I eventually dug into, and the second to be read again (Cat's Cradle as well), but definitely my favorite. His avant-garde sense of humor and easy writing style, especially in this one, was as much a pleasure the second time as the first. The story of Dwayne Hoover and Kilgore Trout, and their crazed antics and lifestyles leading up to their pinnacle meeting point is as hilarious as it can get. It's full of satire and cynicism regarding life in general (especially that of the late sixties and early seventies). The way Vonnegut picks at sex (you'll notice the way he mentions the size of a man's genitalia when introducing a character into the story, just as an author would describe hair or eyes), and racism (for the 'N' word is ridiculed and teased), is sheer lunacy at its most hilarious level. If you're ever in the mood to read something that isn't exactly intended to change the world or move mountains with intellectualism, but at the same time, does have the power to force us to think a little about life, and make us laugh horrendously as well, then this is it.
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Summary: Minimum Daily Adult Requirement
Review: I just finished B of C for the third time. First was in high school English, second was during a hernia operation, and this most recent reading - during my teenager's 3-day suspension. Each new reading brought a new laugh during a dire time...Vonnegut's selective vision and point of view are timeless, every bit as cherished now as three decades ago. If his story telling style doesn't grab you, certainly the artwork will in this, what I consider to be KVJ's greatest achievement.
B of C will make a collector out of you.
Rating: 
Summary: Vonnegut spouts off
Review: This novel follows the trajectories of the failed science-fiction writer Kilgore Trout and the mentally unravelling used car salesman Dwayne Hoover as they head for a collision at a modest arts festival in the American Midwest. Vonnegut uses this spare plot as a point of departure for observations on numerous topics of interest. Some literary gimmicks get in the way of the enjoyment: Vonnegut's habit of explaining commonplace things as though he were addressing an alien with no concept of Earthly existence, and the integration of drawings by the author into the text. Both would have been more effective had they been used more sparingly. Nevertheless, this book is often funny and sometimes profound.
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