Jailbird
by Kurt Vonnegut
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Read in April, 2008
Vonnegut consistently delivers quality, and this was no exception.
Jailbird is the memoir of a fictional, virtually unknown member of the Nixon administration who goes to prison following the Watergate scandal. The story bears all the hallmarks of Vonnegut - dark humor, quirky characters, and poignant humanism - which anyone familiar with his writing will recognize. Given the topic of this story was more focused on political and economic issues than some of his other work, I found it part...more
Jailbird is the memoir of a fictional, virtually unknown member of the Nixon administration who goes to prison following the Watergate scandal. The story bears all the hallmarks of Vonnegut - dark humor, quirky characters, and poignant humanism - which anyone familiar with his writing will recognize. Given the topic of this story was more focused on political and economic issues than some of his other work, I found it part...more
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Read in January, 2008
Well, I have read and enjoyed Vonnegut before, but only a few titles. This one, well, depressed me a little. I love Vonnegut's cynicism, and wry humor, but don't recommend him, or at least this title, at times when you need a lift from your reading. Here I am, bouncing back and forth through a first-person narrative, told matter-of-factly and conversationally, wondering to myself, "What's the point?" Finally towards the close, all seems to be wrapping up to a comfortable end with r...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Jil by:
Jordonrecommends it for: Watergate aficionados, prisoners
This one started out slow - very slow - for me but was very distinctly funny, especially towards the end. I love this book, though, because it is Vonnegut, because it contains his characteristic cadre of unbelievable and unreasonable characters, because Vonnegut criticizes and satirizes without being obvious or preachy or even sure of what he is trying to say.
I love the french-fried hand, the prothonotary warblers (which, Wikipedia tells me, played a notable role in the Alger Hiss trials); I...more
I love the french-fried hand, the prothonotary warblers (which, Wikipedia tells me, played a notable role in the Alger Hiss trials); I...more
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Read in June, 2007
This isn't as strong as Vonnegut's best work, but it's still a good, quick read for fans of his. It's almost as if giving the book more of a traditional, forward-moving plot thrust than, say, 'Breakfast Of Champions' or 'Slaughterhouse-Five,' diminished the typical Vonnegut flourishes readers expect. That's not to say that these flourishes (blunt renderings of basic truths; repeated motifs, as in "So it goes" from 'Slaughterhouse-Five;' Kilgore Trout; etc.) entirely absent, because the...more
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Read in January, 2008
Jailbird is a personal favorite of mine, which means that it ranks in the top 5 of Vonnegut's novels. Here we find Vonnegut at his most grounded and his most overtly political. These are, of course, relative terms for a writer as inventive and socially conscious as Kurt Vonnegut. He explores the absurdities of the American education system, socialism, corporate monopolies, class identification, and man's fundamental lack of compassion in the face of money or power.
In Jailbird, as in all ...more
In Jailbird, as in all ...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
Most Folks
Not my favorite Vonnegut book. However, does Vonnegut ever really let you down? John Irving said of Vonnegut: He is stubernly creative. This is certainly true here. The book's story tells the tale of a Harvard man in and out of jail, convicted first for his participation in Watergate. Of course the book is not about jail or politics and is as fatilistic as most of Vonnegut's tales but it carries Vonnegut's wit and flare throughout. Kilgore makes his appearances, which is awesome. If you l...more
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I could never choose a favorite Vonnegut book, but when he died recently it was Jailbird I picked up to reread and feel his humanism and his compassion for all of flawed mankind. To me the underlying theme of Vonnegut's work is the importance of fundamental kindness. Even when Vonnegut it as his most negative about a situation, his conviction that compassion and generosity would be enough to fix whatever problem he's dwelling on shines through. His disappointment that this approach is all too...more
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recommended to sara by:
my dad
if i could, i'd rate this somewhere between 4 and 5 (Slaughterhouse 5, same deal). "really liked" doesn't quite capture it but "amazing" is probably a tad too much, but just a tad... so hell, makes more sense to round up.
this was the first Vonnegut i read, it was my father's copy, reccomended to me by him and so will always hold a special place in my head- both because of who made the introduction and because that meeting was so important to me.
i'm having a hard time ...more
this was the first Vonnegut i read, it was my father's copy, reccomended to me by him and so will always hold a special place in my head- both because of who made the introduction and because that meeting was so important to me.
i'm having a hard time ...more
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Read in June, 2008
Usually when I finish a novel by Vonnegut I sit there at the end and I go... wow... that's amazing. This book still brought out that effect but not quite as much as Cat's Cradle and Slaughter-House Five did. A story of a man that has a life, a somewhat charmed and somewhat apathetic life. The story turns rather dark and melancholy throughout the most of it. However towards the end some of the big reveals kept me hooked. Not the first Vonnegut book I'd recommend but still a great story.
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Tamara by:
My Girlfriendrecommends it for: A Mid-lifer
Vonnegut at his most cynical. This is the third book I have read of Vonnegut’s and I liked it the most. It’s a fast read; making cognitive leaps between the simple and the skeptical with Vonnegut’s signature catch phrases. If you’re looking for a clear plot, good luck. This book is more of truth smoking a cigarette on April Fools Day. Peace.
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I felt that this book does not have the relevance that it probably did when it was written in the few years following Watergate. Although I appreciate the concept of a satire that uses real people in its plot, it was hard for me to get through this book because I was not too familiar with the characters or the events. But I love Vonnegut's voice.
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Read in January, 1994
recommended to Noran by:
John.recommends it for: kurt V. fans
i know the the teenager the author mentions in the preface of the book or is it the intro. many i guess think he does not exist, but he does. the author even sent him a leather bound edition of this tome autographed. the book, will like most the this author's works--not my taste. some like this type of pizza, i do not.
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Vonnegut has an amazing way of making everything in life comical or inane, even the lowest points in the arc of his characters. That and his characters are more often than not victims of circumstance beyond their control, with bad chemicals in their brains and hilarious names. Love it. Love all of his books.
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Read in July, 2008
This one gets three stars on Vonnegut's name solely. Frankly, its hard not to like a book he's written, but this one came close. I applaud him for writing a novel about economics, and I can appreciate the overall thematic flow, but the whole thing felt sorta...jangly. Sorta like a busted Christmas present.
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Read in January, 1991
One of Vonnegut's more socialist-leaning books, Jailbird is fiercely anti-capitalist. Kilgoure Trout appears, describing some of his looniest story ideas ever, including one involving Einstein and his memo to God. Vonnegut touts the socialist line, but, as always, he gives me some great laughs.
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Read in April, 2007
I read this whole book again last night. It's amazing how the language is so simple and unassuming and accessible (what else do you expect from a communist?!) that the story reads like a breeze and then you realize: holy shit, my whole world view just changed. I miss KV already.
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Read in July, 2007
i adore vonnegut. this was particularly fabulous. i'm wondering, was kilgore trout a sort of alter-ego for vonnegut? maybe i'm beating a horse that's already been plenty bludgeoned, but i am just getting into him, so any knowledge on this would be greatly appreciated.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
ppl familiar w/ Vonnegut
A satire centered around an awkward Harvard graduate who is imprisoned for his involvement in Watergate as well as the four women he has truly loved and the best friend that he betrayed.
But the true heroes of this novel are Sacco and Vanzetti...
But the true heroes of this novel are Sacco and Vanzetti...
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Disappointing, unclear, disorganized, and selfishly written for noone but himself.
The only thing good I have to say is that I fondly remember cuddling with Joe while reading this sucky book that never got better.
aka, not suggested.
The only thing good I have to say is that I fondly remember cuddling with Joe while reading this sucky book that never got better.
aka, not suggested.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in July, 2007
Two and a half stars. The book peaked in relevance thirty years ago, but the story wasn't bad. Vonnegut rated himself an A on this book in his autobiography, but I disagree. This isn't anywhere near Slaughterhouse-Five or Cat's Cradle.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.71 (2085 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.71 (2030 ratings) number of reviews: 59popular shelves
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