PatGalápagos
January 16th 2008 12:05
If you don't like Kurt Vonnegut, then I don't like you.
The first Vonnegut book that I read was (predictibly) Slaughterhouse 5. The Pat of 2 years ago thought it was good, not great, but definitely very good. The time travel stuff didn't really sit too well with me; I was an idiot, you see. Next I read Breakfast of Champions. Kilgore Trout is a great character and I liked him immensely, despite being the aforementioned idiot at that point in time. The part of the narrative when Vonnegut wrote himself into the book was the point at which I went from being a casual fan to a fanatic. From that point onwards, the man could do no wrong in my eyes.
It is in that context that I have written this review and it is entirely and unashamedly biased.
Galápagos deals with the concept of human evolution, but, as would probably expect from an author of Vonnegut's style, not in the usual manner. In fact, this book tells the story of how our 'over-sized' brains were the catalyst in a series of events which almost was the end of human existence (and I'm sure that there are a fair few people today, particularly in the climate change enthusiast camp, who would agree with this sort of doomsday business; not me though, I'm determined to be a climate change sceptic because it seems to annoy absolutely everyone. Not to mention the fact that Jeremy Clarkson is a climate change sceptic as well, and he seems like a fairly good sort of guy to side with, so I'm comfortable with my controversial decision.)
The story (unusually it is narrated by the ghost of Leon Trotsky Trout, son of Kilgore Trout, a recurring character in Vonnegut's novels as evidenced above with my reference to Breakfast of Champions) is based around the survivors of a shipwreck on the island of Santa Rosalía after the 'Nature Cruise of the Century'. The cruise is described as a much-hyped and slightly silly voyage to look at a group of rocky and boring islands famously called the Galápagos Islands, of which, the fictional Santa Rosalía forms part.
At the time of the shipwreck the rest of the world, apart from the passengers on the 'Nature Cruise of the Century', suffers one horrible man-made apocolyptic mishap after another; the end result of which leaves the island-bound characters of this story as the sole fertile survivors of the human race and the future of human evolution.
By way of action, there is very little in this book. The focus is very much on the analysis of the varied group which find themselves on the island and their interactions which play such a vital role in the future of humankind as described by Vonnegut. The element of chance plays such a strong role in the plot as the characters meander towards their fates in a manner which makes them seem all-powerful, or completely powerless, depending on your take on proceedings.
The narrative covers over a million years and extols the virtues of having a small brain (and that's why I didn't mind admitting that I was an idiot earlier in this review; I'm more highly evolved than you) but despite the grand nature of the story, the book flows easily and is an effortless read.
I have read other reviews which describe this book as slow-moving and lacking detailed characterisation, however in my opinion the strengths of the book completely overwhelm such criticisms. The concept that we are perhaps too smart for our own good comes across powerfully through the events as set up by Vonnegut and it is a fascinating read as a result. It certainly isn't a story filled with action, but that matters little as the end result is more than satisfying, not to mention the fact that the book is a delight to read as Vonnegut handles difficult subject matter in a deceptively simple and wry manner, which is so typical of his work.
This is probably my favourite novel written by Vonnegut. I wouldn't dispute it if someone said that this book isn't perfect, but it is the most interesting with regard to subject matter and theme.
Kurt Vonnegut died last year. I don't want to talk about it.
The first Vonnegut book that I read was (predictibly) Slaughterhouse 5. The Pat of 2 years ago thought it was good, not great, but definitely very good. The time travel stuff didn't really sit too well with me; I was an idiot, you see. Next I read Breakfast of Champions. Kilgore Trout is a great character and I liked him immensely, despite being the aforementioned idiot at that point in time. The part of the narrative when Vonnegut wrote himself into the book was the point at which I went from being a casual fan to a fanatic. From that point onwards, the man could do no wrong in my eyes.
It is in that context that I have written this review and it is entirely and unashamedly biased.
Galápagos deals with the concept of human evolution, but, as would probably expect from an author of Vonnegut's style, not in the usual manner. In fact, this book tells the story of how our 'over-sized' brains were the catalyst in a series of events which almost was the end of human existence (and I'm sure that there are a fair few people today, particularly in the climate change enthusiast camp, who would agree with this sort of doomsday business; not me though, I'm determined to be a climate change sceptic because it seems to annoy absolutely everyone. Not to mention the fact that Jeremy Clarkson is a climate change sceptic as well, and he seems like a fairly good sort of guy to side with, so I'm comfortable with my controversial decision.)
The story (unusually it is narrated by the ghost of Leon Trotsky Trout, son of Kilgore Trout, a recurring character in Vonnegut's novels as evidenced above with my reference to Breakfast of Champions) is based around the survivors of a shipwreck on the island of Santa Rosalía after the 'Nature Cruise of the Century'. The cruise is described as a much-hyped and slightly silly voyage to look at a group of rocky and boring islands famously called the Galápagos Islands, of which, the fictional Santa Rosalía forms part.
At the time of the shipwreck the rest of the world, apart from the passengers on the 'Nature Cruise of the Century', suffers one horrible man-made apocolyptic mishap after another; the end result of which leaves the island-bound characters of this story as the sole fertile survivors of the human race and the future of human evolution.
By way of action, there is very little in this book. The focus is very much on the analysis of the varied group which find themselves on the island and their interactions which play such a vital role in the future of humankind as described by Vonnegut. The element of chance plays such a strong role in the plot as the characters meander towards their fates in a manner which makes them seem all-powerful, or completely powerless, depending on your take on proceedings.
The narrative covers over a million years and extols the virtues of having a small brain (and that's why I didn't mind admitting that I was an idiot earlier in this review; I'm more highly evolved than you) but despite the grand nature of the story, the book flows easily and is an effortless read.
I have read other reviews which describe this book as slow-moving and lacking detailed characterisation, however in my opinion the strengths of the book completely overwhelm such criticisms. The concept that we are perhaps too smart for our own good comes across powerfully through the events as set up by Vonnegut and it is a fascinating read as a result. It certainly isn't a story filled with action, but that matters little as the end result is more than satisfying, not to mention the fact that the book is a delight to read as Vonnegut handles difficult subject matter in a deceptively simple and wry manner, which is so typical of his work.
This is probably my favourite novel written by Vonnegut. I wouldn't dispute it if someone said that this book isn't perfect, but it is the most interesting with regard to subject matter and theme.
Kurt Vonnegut died last year. I don't want to talk about it.
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Comment by Anonymous
Have only read Slaughterhouse Five but will have to read this (when I finish A Hearbreaking Work which I borrow from the library yesterday *smug*)
aimee
Comment by Luke
Book Club
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Pat, I am heartened to hear you are a Vonnegut fan. I have read roughly two thirds of his novels and if I had to pick a favourite it would either be Breakfast of Champions or Cat's Cradle.
Comment by Pat
Books Are For Losers
I guess I've got to read every single one of them for that ranking to mean anything though and I've still got a few to go!!
Aimee, I can not wait to give that book a horrible review. I might write a scathing review in advance, and leave a few blanks to plug in some plot details and that's it.
Comment by Anonymous
aimee
Comment by Luke
Book Club
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
It was ok... definitely eccentric, but my friends all suggested reading some of his more prominent work first.
Comment by Susan Keeping
What's in a word