Breakfast of Champions is vintage Vonnegut. One of his favorite characters, aging writer Kilgore Trout, finds to his horror that a Midwest car dealer is taking his fiction as truth. The result is murderously funny satire as Vonnegut looks at war, sex, racism, success, politics, and pollution in America and reminds us how to see the truth.
Breakfast of Champions (Kurt Vonnegut Series)
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"We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane." So reads the tombstone of downtrodden writer Kilgore Trout, but we have no doubt who's really talking: his alter ego Kurt Vonnegut. Health versus sickness, humanity versus inhumanity--both sets of ideas bounce through this challenging and funny book. As with the rest of Vonnegut's pure fantasy, it lacks the shimmering, fact-fueled rage that illuminates Slaughterhouse-Five. At the same time, that makes this book perhaps more enjoyable to read.
Breakfast of Champions is a slippery, lucid, bleakly humorous jaunt through (sick? inhumane?) America circa 1973, with Vonnegut acting as our Virgil-like companion. The book follows its main character, auto-dealing solid-citizen Dwayne Hoover, down into madness, a condition brought on by the work of the aforementioned Kilgore Trout. As Dwayne cracks, then crumbles, Breakfast of Champions coolly shows the effects his dementia has on the web of characters surrounding him. It's not much of a plot, but it's enough for Vonnegut to air unique opinions on America, sex, war, love, and all of his other pet topics--you know, the only ones that really count. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Vonnegut performs considerable complex magic... Fresh, funny, outrageous...he very nearly levitates" New York Times "A great deal of wit and playfulness...an entire universe of disorder is distilled" Guardian "Outrageous, witty, thought-provoking, unputdownable, scintillating, invigorating, ennobling, enlightening and masterly" Spectator "Brilliant... It seems, at times, as if Voltaire has returned to satirise the horrors of plastic, disposable America" Sunday Times
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Most helpful customer reviews
By Marie Lennox
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this as a gift for a voracious reader....it was on his wish list so I got it for him. He devoured it in a day. Like I mentioned...a voracious reader.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Such a funny, clever book. When I start getting bored with reading, I always pick up a Vonnegut book. If it doesn't spark your interest, nothing will. His writing style is unmistakable. My favorite Vonnegut book.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant! Vonnegut at it's best.
If you like satire, it doesn't get any better. The things Vonnegut comes up with is just unbelievable, he's got to be the most creative writer ever. Read more
Published on Jan 11 2011 by Mektwist
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing
this was my first vonnegut book, but it certainly won't be the last. this was a wonderful book on free will and how we choose to see the world and our ever eternal fight against... Read more
Published on July 4 2007 by elfdart
5.0 out of 5 stars
Three greats
The last three books I read were spectacular: OF MICE AND MEN by the ever popular John Steinbeck, KATZENJAMMER by the hilarious and insightful J. Read more
Published on Sep 18 2006 by Angela
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most important meal of the day
By far my favorite Vonnegut book, this is THE one you must read if you like this author's humor and wit. Read more
Published on July 27 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insanity!
This book is crazy. The main character, Dwayne Hoover, is an auto-dealer that suffers a mental break down because of a short story he read that Kilgore Trout, Vonnegut's alter ego,... Read more
Published on July 14 2004 by Keith Whitener
5.0 out of 5 stars
Everybody needs to read a book with pictures now and then
Although this novel was at times childish, shocking, humorous, and perhaps even a bit disturbing, I think Vonnegut effectively conveyed his feelings concerning the more peculiar... Read more
Published on July 6 2004 by Stephanie Irwin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best American Critique/Satire in ages.
This book is by far one of the most artistic books Vonnegut has ever written. Both a very poignant critique of American society and a auto-biography. Read more
Published on July 6 2004 by Relentless
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut was politically incorrect long before it became the chic thing to do. This is Vonnegut at his finest as he intertwines the destiny of so many characters including... Read more
Published on July 4 2004 by "jimbruin04"
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's not just for breakfast anymore
I've read virtually every book Mr. Vonnegut has written, and my top favorites are this one, along with GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER, and WELCOME TO THE MONKEY HOUSE. Read more
Published on Jun 20 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
"I can't tell if you're serious or not."
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. is probably my very favorite author, and "BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS" is among my top 3 favorite books of all time. Read more
Published on May 30 2004 by C. Jake Cordova
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