I adore Kurt Vonnegut and his style of writing. One of my favorite books ever is Bluebeard and this book, much like Bluebeard, has a very autobiographical almost rambling life story being told by the story's narrator. This one is more on the political side (obviously, considering the main character was involved in the Watergate scandal) so if that isn't a topic of interest for you it might be harder to get through the book. There were lines in here that make you laugh more so than get philosophical like some of his other work tends to make you do. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it's classic Vonnegut writing.

4.5⭐️

সাড়ে তিন।

'মাদার নাইট' এর পর এটাই সম্ভবতঃ ভনেগাটের সবচাইতে রাজনৈতিক বাস্তবতা মুখর কাজ।

ভনেগাটের ট্রেডমার্ক ফ্যান্টাসি এই উপন্যাসকে খুব একটা স্পর্শ করেনি। কিন্তু কিলগোর ট্রাউট ছিলো, ছিলো ভনেগাটের সেই অননুকরণীয় কালো কৌতুকী স্বরটাও।

این قدر از درد و رنج بشر می گوییم و اما برای نابودی اش چه کرده ایم، جز اینکه خودمان را به طرز احمقانه ای دلداری بدهیم؟یک مشت جوک بی مزه جمع کرده ایم تا وقتی درد و رنج مان به اوج خودش می رسد، استفاده کنیم. به ساعت ها با تلفن برای هم وراجی کردن، معتاد شده ایم. این حرف ها شایع ترین مخدری است که تا به حال شناخته ام. روح مان را از بدن مان جدا می کنند(مثل ارواح سرگردان روی زمین).

Jailbird is a quintessentially Vonnegutian tale of rich-man guilt and the futility of capitalist America.

The story is most effective when dealing with Walter's love interests. Vonnegut captures the intensity and importance of relationships like no other writer, by stretching them throughout life, showing how love endures more than money or career success. He does this, of course, with dollops of sentimental irony.

I think "sentimental ironist" isn't a bad summation of Vonnegut's style, though his books always have a unique theme or thread running through them.

This was my first foray into Kurt Vonnegut territory, and I expected to have stronger feelings one way or another about his work. Instead, I was mildly pleased when the book was finished and I could move on to something else. It is plain to see that there is a host of individuals out there who regard Vonnegut as an icon, and I will not presume to gainsay them. He simply did not strike a chord with me.

Perhaps if I had read a book or two of his in my younger days, or chosen a different title for my first Vonnegut reading? Unknown, but having read this one, there was simply nothing that makes me want to try another. And that is slightly disappointing.

If this book wasn't written by KV, I probably would have stopped reading it. Maybe I missed the point, but this was the worst KV book I've read. I've read almost all of his work and generally love every word. This one flew away from me.

The big man on the history of American labour and bureaucracy over the 20th Century? It's a 5, of course it is.

The 14th novel (and 15th book) of his I've read since May, finished the set!!

Quite an interesting read. Being that this was the first time reading Vonnegut I had no real expectations and for that I’m glad. His style throughout the book is sort of brilliant. He will give you all the information besides the actual event or words said in a suspenseful way. Ultimately summarizing the passage with a singular sentence that gives more weight to everything he describes. The historical-fiction aspect of the book is something that I’ve rarely seen books use and would love to read more of. Had a great time in this version of our nations events.

- Jelani Headley Vice President of Goodreads User Interaction (A RAMJAC subsidiary)

This is one of Vonnegut's more explicitly politically contemporary novels and one of his best--in his opinion as well as mine. I snuck it in just before starting the second semester at Loyola University Chicago.

"[...]They were all given the same miracle drug which was coffee. The catastrophe in this case, of course, was that the sun had come up again."

Klasisks Vonnegūts, absurds un ļoti labs. Un Kilgora Trauta sci-fi stāstiņi.