Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

50 reviews

themdash's review against another edition

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kayarosee's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked how Vonnegut inserted himself into this book I found it a very interesting take on fiction. Such a unique author and I always enjoy his witty commentary on society. Not my favorite book of his, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
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purelynicole's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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zoe_271's review against another edition

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funny mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Breakfast of Champions was an interesting read. The novel is non-sequential and throws the reader right into the deep end, and while you might feel that you're understanding what's going on as you progress, Vonnegut will have you treading water again whenever he chooses. The novel mainly follows Dwayne Hoover and Kilgore Trout, Trout being a recurring Vonnegut character, though this was my first introduction to him. Hoover progressively loses his mind throughout the novel, something Vonnegut alludes to right from the start, allowing the reader to track his downfall, which is largely presented comedically though the occasional line will have you sit and starkly realise that oh, he's hurting people. Trout spends much of the novel on an ill-fated journey and having conversations about the nature of people, but the descriptions of his science fiction novels and his short stories that only manage to get published in adult magazines are where the nature of people is truly considered and scrutinised. Vonnegut's writing style serves the plot as much as any of the outlandish characters - dotting from idea to idea, deviating from the story to explore the backstory of a turn of phrase, never mind the self-insert! The novel is also dotted with Vonnegut's illustrations, though I listened to the audiobook where John Malkovich described each image - I almost think his dry descriptions surely added more to the novel than the pictures themselves would. I'd recommend this book to anybody who likes blunt satire, etc.
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rx_hydro's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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alliefresh's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A very well crafted book on the issues with American Imperialism, capitalism, racism and injustice wrapped up in a meta narrative that follows 2 characters that will eventually meet. 

It's humour is like no other and is fabulously intricate and vulgar.

It's meta analysis of America is also unique and interesting to providing a stance on its issues with the country.

A novel that is certainly ahead of its time and will stand the test of it.
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loves_nurse's review against another edition

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While I was enjoying the writing and satire, I think the gratuitous N-word use was just too far for me. I'm sure I missing something in the satire social culture commentary, and perhaps I will revisit this book,  but there are so many other books to read with this level of quality creative writing that don't give me a gross feeling.
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sam_fielder_137's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I get it, I guess. I just think it was boring.
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bugaboobear's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I've read this twice now and it's such a wild ride. Very enjoyable and interesting. 

Note that there are quite a few racial slurs in this book, so if that is upsetting to you you may want to pass on it. I will say, it does make sense for the time period and characters that are using them though. The narrative is not racist in my opinion but some of the characters are. 
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kayrae_42's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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