Timequake

Rating:
Summary: A really good book... though not a classic....
Review: This is only my second or third Vonnegut book; as such, I'm probably not as worthy to comment as are some of the other reviewers here. This said, this is an interesting book: not exactly what one would expect, not exactly a classic, but something that proves that Vonnegut at age seventy-four (or whenever he wrote this book) still had more to say than a lot of the last century's other authors did as much younger men (like Fitzgerald at thirty-five or Hemingway after forty....)

This is somewhat autobiographical, somewhat nonlinear, and wholly entertaining. You can gather from the above reviews what this book is about (which is not something wholly clear even after reading it... in the sense of most books....): that it is an author's reflections and meanderings (much as the other books I've read by him are...) written in a very stream-of-consciousness manner....

This isn't quite a must-read but it is a fine book nonetheless. People who have read this and like it should try J.G. Ballard's 'The Atrocity Exhbition': it is a little older and a little more avant-guarde, but reminds me a little of this book (minus Vonnegut's humor and silly-old-man style.....

Rating:
Summary: Vonnegut at his best
Review: I have read the collection of Kurt Vonnegut's published books, all of which I've enjoyed. His style of writing is refreshing and simple. His unique style and biting wit always combine perfectly, allowing the reader to be both entertained by his fictional settings, and challenged by the profundity of his thoughts on life. Timequake is an exceptional book. Half novel, with the usual Vonnegut message and humor, and half life-diary of one of America's brilliant and most important writers.

Rating:
Summary: Ting-a-ling!
Review: You were sick but now you're well again, and there's work to do ... Timequake is a book about a book, "Timequake One", sort of. Which is to say, Vonnegut uses the supposed book "Timequake" as reference material typically saying "I wrote in Timequake One" while filling the rest of the story with cynical bitterness and sarcastic commentary which is simultaneously hilarious and solemn. He threads the plot of Timequake (wherein the cast of the universe is forced to live ten years of their lives twice, the second "rerun" being on automatic pilot) through relentless commentary about our modern world pitting himself and his "alter-ego" out of print science fiction writer Kilgore Trout as main characters in what can be best described as part auto-biography, part fiction. As I read this book I found so much relevant in my day to day life I could hardly believe it. There are some real thought provoking criticisms of our modern world presented here. I like the frank style of writing, and I deeply appreciate Vonnegut's bitterly sarcastic musings: "Then again, I am a monopolar depressive descended from monopolar depressives. That's how come I write so good." Give us a break, Mr. Trout. READ IT.

Rating:
Summary: Very good...But not his best.
Review: This book is funny, entertaining, depressing, and autobiographical all at the same time. It is different than many of his other novels, because he is the main character in this one. He tells true stories about himself and incorporates them into his plot. While slow moving at times, it is always still readable. I liked this book, but it can't compare to such greats as "Slaughterhouse Five" and "Cat's Cradle".

Rating:
Summary: Possibly my favorite Vonnegut book
Review: "Timequake" does something that few books can do for me: it makes me think about life. Screw "plot" and "characterization" and all that crap. If I want a dumb story I'll go see a crappy Hollywood movie. This book is meat and potatoes: it's some of the author's philosophy presented very in a very simple, straight-forward style-- yes, the ramblings of a wise old man near the end of his life. Great stuff. Non-thinkers need not apply.

Rating:
Summary: Timequake
Review: Kurt Vonnegut's Timequake is an odd, mixed up story which has very little plot, jumps around randomly, and is a big jumble of random thoughts all strung together in the order the author thought of them and not according to when they happened. In short, I loved it! In Timequake, Vonnegut pieces together his life's story, along with quite a few satirical comments. My only regret about reading this book is reading it before I read the rest of his books, because this book gives some closure to the ideas set forth by Vonnegut in his other books. In Timequake, Vonnegut has the world do a rerun of it's past ten years. The world is taken back ten years, while the present population is forced to watch what it did from ten years ago to the present. Kilgore Trout, the fictional science fiction writer, is the main character and eventual hero of the book. I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to reading the rest of Kurt Vonnegut's books.

Rating:
Summary: Mostly a Regurgitation of Breakfast
Review: This book has some nice moments, including, "We are put here on Earth to fart around; don't let anyone tell you any different."

But it's really kind of a tired rehash of many of the innovative and catchy ideas in Breakfast of Champions.

If you want a good Kurt Vonnegut book, read Breakfast of Champions. It's the fresh, interesting, hilarious version of Timequake.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Vonnegut Fans
Review: As a die-hard Vonnegut fan, I was pleased to discover this book in the airport bookstore today. I was not familiar w/the release of this book when it first appeared, but I am certainly glad that I am now. To me, it encapsulates all that is great about Vonnegut: his concise style, his sardonic wit, his humanist views, etc... I found myself laughing out loud a number of times. Perhaps not the best book for the Vonnegut uninitiate, but for those of us who are fans, I feel that it is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: A GuideBook to Humanity
Review: For those unfamiliar with Vonnegut's work, Timequake is a perfect place to start. Less a novel, more a guidebook written by a wise and geniable host. Here Kurt explains his views on Art, Politics, Religion, the Internet and love all with an intelligance and understanding that can only come from experience and learning. Buy the book...... keep it close by. A modern classic

Rating:
Summary: Timequake......not superb by any means
Review: First of all i will state my general opinion of this book. I am not a hardcore Vonnegut fan, but have read many of his novels, and found this to be a bit of a dissapointment. I give it a 3 out of 5. Let me first say what didnt bother me, to clarify a few things which i think most of the reviewers who disliked the book have missed.

A lot of the reviewers here are extremely bothered with the lack of plot, character development,etc. None of those things really bothered me at all. As a matter of fact i could tell that this was infact less of a "novel" in its structure, and a truer examination of the author's imagination itself with a bit of fiction but mainly from a biographical perspective. I actually found this aspect from the very begining to be quite refreshing and interesting and being from such a brilliant writer-satirist i had high hopes. I was also not bothered at all that the core of the plot or the "timequake" itself, takes a sort of a back seat in the story, where as we get a more clear view of Vonneguts wild imagination and moral idealism.

What i did find dissapointing in this book is the writing itself. I shouldnt say dissapointing as such, but in relation to his brilliant writing in general. The book in its development is missing a more sophisiticated presentation of the satirical yet profound comments which he is so good at. The book could have been much sharper and more entertaining if the writing was better. It is by no means bad, BUT the brilliance of Vonnegaut as a "writer" as is seen in books like Cats Cradle, Slapstick, Dead Eye Dick, Hocus Pocus, Breakfast of Champions, etc, is not really present here. But then again maybe it is just not intended to be....either way...the book is entertaining and profound throughout and expresesses the merit and geniousness of the writer...nevertheless it could have been much better in its presentation. If you like vonnegut, by all means read it. In my view it simply doesnt read as great as his other books.

Thanks, Giligan