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lief_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It would be difficult to add anything else with just my flippers and my mouth
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War
Moderate: Incest, Pedophilia, and Xenophobia
Minor: Abortion and Classism
grrr8_catsby's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
Kurt Vonnegut's Galápagos feels like the true spiritual successor to 1973's Breakfast Of Champions.
On paper, they read very much the same; the narrator (Leon Trout, compared to Kurt Vonnegut himself) immediately reveals the climax of the story. Where Breakfast Of Champions had random sketches and images inserted into the narrative, Galápagos utilizes literary quotations. The astute Galápagos reader will also come across multiple references and allusions to Breakfast Of Champions; narrator Leon Trout is the son of reoccurring character Kilgore Trout, we are allotted a quick snapshot into the home life of Dwayne Hoover in Midland City, Ohio, and meet yet another Kazak, which yet again proves to be same name, different dog.
This, truly, is where the similarities end, however. Thematically, the books are very different, and it is difficult to envision a shared universe where both stories can coexist simultaneously. At face value, Galápagos is a quasi-apocalyptic story about the miraculous survival of a select few that will go on to comprise the human race, and the evolutionary adaptation that the next million years will carry. However, Galápagos is much more than that; on a deeper level, it is a direct examination of humanity and regret, the human brain, and nature vs. nurture.
Vonnegut tells you right from the start how the book is going to end; this is neither a plot-driven, nor character-driven story. All that matters is the content; and Vonnegut once again finds the perfect balance of satire and narrative. I would strongly recommend checking your content warnings before picking this book up.
On paper, they read very much the same; the narrator (Leon Trout, compared to Kurt Vonnegut himself) immediately reveals the climax of the story. Where Breakfast Of Champions had random sketches and images inserted into the narrative, Galápagos utilizes literary quotations. The astute Galápagos reader will also come across multiple references and allusions to Breakfast Of Champions; narrator Leon Trout is the son of reoccurring character Kilgore Trout, we are allotted a quick snapshot into the home life of Dwayne Hoover in Midland City, Ohio, and meet yet another Kazak, which yet again proves to be same name, different dog.
This, truly, is where the similarities end, however. Thematically, the books are very different, and it is difficult to envision a shared universe where both stories can coexist simultaneously. At face value, Galápagos is a quasi-apocalyptic story about the miraculous survival of a select few that will go on to comprise the human race, and the evolutionary adaptation that the next million years will carry. However, Galápagos is much more than that; on a deeper level, it is a direct examination of humanity and regret, the human brain, and nature vs. nurture.
Vonnegut tells you right from the start how the book is going to end; this is neither a plot-driven, nor character-driven story. All that matters is the content; and Vonnegut once again finds the perfect balance of satire and narrative. I would strongly recommend checking your content warnings before picking this book up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Incest, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and War
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Abortion, and Alcohol
qualp_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Abandonment