Scan barcode
chloetremain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Torture and War
Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Racism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
jonwood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Frankly, I don't think there was much reflections going on. I suppose the theme is that there are moments in time we are powerless to change, and sometimes there's no fighting it, one person can't always make a difference, "so it goes." However, it would have been more interesting seeing that struggle play out and the character learn the lesson via failure (like Clark Kent in the 100th episode of Smallville unable to prevent tragedy completely, and altering events only made other things worst), but instead the narrator just tells us this and the protagonist, Billy, just accepts this form of "enlightenment" without ever trying to fight it. Also, I did not find this book all that funny, despite it supposedly being funny at the same time as being traumatic, the book just lack heart for me.
Between the lack of entertainment, and the gross nature of some of the narration, I highly doubt I'll want to try to read another Vonnegut novel, and am left wondering why he has the reputation of literally genius that he does.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
imogenclendinning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, and War
shoohoob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, and War
ssoha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War
megb64's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Vomit, and Pregnancy
sarareadingpiles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
agw622's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
dlsmk's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
cptnstphy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I found the main character Billy’s experience of time and space very interesting and worth contemplating, even if just to pull ourselves out of our always-linear understanding of time. I also enjoy some fantasy and worldbuilding, so his recollections of the alien planet were creative and well-received.
I did also appreciate the moral undercurrent to things that he says that are expressed as casual but read as subtly poignant.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Genocide, Antisemitism, and War
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy