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Breakfast of Champions
 
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Breakfast of Champions (Audio Cassette)

by Kurt, Jr. Vonnegut (Author), Stanley Tucci (Narrator)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (194 customer reviews)

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4 new from CDN$ 62.66 5 used from CDN$ 39.77

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Product Details


Product Description

From Amazon.com

"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.



From AudioFile

This novel was Vonnegut's 50th birthday present to himself. He seems to have wanted to purge himself of his usual literary preoccupations so as to renew his imagination for his mature years. So he pursues his fictional alter ego, the sour old sci-fi writer Kilgore Trout, and frees him from his creator, that is, himself. He does this at a small town arts festival after one of Trout's few readers shoots up the place. These events are related as if to a young space alien who knows little of the human "machine," as the author calls us. Stanley Tucci delivers a superbly sly interpretation of this fare. He affects a laid-back, melancholy style, using his excellent timing and spurts of mischief to bring home the sardonic humor and irony with which the book is larded. This approach goes a long way to mask some of the author's self-indulgence. While a brief and somewhat fatuous interview with Vonnegut does little to enlighten the leader, the clever packaging reproduces some of the illustrations from the printed original, which contribute to the tone of a primer for nonhumans. Y.R. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Customer Reviews

194 Reviews
5 star:
 (148)
4 star:
 (26)
3 star:
 (10)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:
 (6)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (194 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most helpful customer reviews

 
5.0 out of 5 stars I WROTE MYSELF INTO MY REVIEW, Dec 14 2007
By Benjamin Anderson (Fredericton, NB CAN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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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5.0 out of 5 stars amazing, Jul 4 2007
By greatedcorn (canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
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 cynisism. i think that an important point to keep in mind is that there is a reason and purpose behind every passage he has written, they all connect back to one of the larger points he makes. its cynical, but not a depressing cynical, a cynical that makes you take a closer look. i would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. its one of the great reads of our time. philosiphical, satirical, and wonderful. definitely check it out
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5.0 out of 5 stars Three greats, Sep 18 2006
By Angela (Calgary) - See all my reviews
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. McCrae, and finally, BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS by the master himself, Kurt Vonnegut. In a very cleverly written scene, Vonnegut has himself being scared and almost chased by a dog of his own creation, a very stark contrast from the normal idealistic person who would give him or herself perfection. The characters, Kilgore Trout and Dwayne Hoover, are both very complex and interesting. Kilgore writes countless novels that, because of unpopularity, are only published alongside smut pictures in pornographic novels. Dwayne is a very wealthy person whose primary business is owning a car dealership, where he frequently has sex with his secretary. The most interesting part of Kilgore Trout is that his stories are intriguing and insightful enough to make the reader want their hands on a copy. In his most well-known work (and the one that causes problems when these two main characters meet), there is simply one person on the world with free will, and all the rest are drones just made by 'the creator' to see how the free will person will interact. This parallel between himself and his characters is portrayed brilliantly throughout the book. Vonnegut also includes some drawings, which appear about every three pages, and though some are original and add to the story, many seem quite unnecessary. And the story could have benefited from the presence of 'the creator', or Vonnegut, from the beginning. Great book. Get it.

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Most recent customer reviews

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 Jul 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... Read more
Published on Jul 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 Jul 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 Jul 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 Jul 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 DarkBlueMe

5.0 out of 5 stars Pick up a copy ASAP! - You won't be sorry!
Of all the Kurt Vonnegut books I have read, BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS is probably the wackiest. It depicts modern life from a distance, as if explaining it to an extraterrestrial... Read more
Published on May 4 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly politically correct?
Well, with 187 reviews to date, just about every angle has already been touched upon by previous reviewers on this site. Read more
Published on April 19 2004 by Kris

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Fabulously Well-To-Do" Book!
You know that anything goes once you pick up a work by the zany and terrific Kurt Vonnegut. The man knows how to dish up satire like none other. Read more
Published on April 16 2004 by Michael Crane

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