Rating: 
Summary: Slapstick A Masterpiece
Review: This was the first book I ever read by Kurt Vonnegut and the one that got me into Vonnegut as an author. Not only is it my favorite Vonnegut book I feel it's the best one ever written. Although this book was bashed by critics and Kurt gave it a poor grade in Palm Sunday In my mind it gets an A+! Good job , Mr. Vonnegut
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Summary: Hillarious!
Review: Slapstick is the BEST Vonnegut, ever! It was the first book I read of his (at a very young age), and the humor and imagination made me hunger for more! No other Vonnegut novel (besides Breakfast of Champions) captured me like this again.
Rating: 
Summary: Dismissed by the author, "Slapstick" looks better over time
Review: When "Slapstick" was released, it invoked a critical backlash that Vonnegut could not possibly have been prepared for. Most saw the story as sick, uninventive, and unfunny, and Vonnegut himself in "Palm Sunday" rated the book a dismal D -, saying that he may have written a truly awful book.
Well, he didn't. Sure, "Slapstick" does not sit in the same category as his best, but it is very entertaining all the same; right down to all that bizarre miniature Chinese experimental stuff. If you're new to Vonnegut, read something else. But if you've written this one off, check it out.
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Summary: Vonnegut strikes...
Review: Mr. Vonnegut hits home in the darkly humorous account of a terrible future America. Vonnegut's gallows humor certainly makes one laugh at the absudity of the world, yet at the same time provokes one to thought: is this how it's really going to turn out? Truly a grand masterpiece of sharp twisted humor
Rating:
Summary: One of the best I read
Review: i love mr vonnegut, i need an autographed copy.
hilarious book.
Rating: 
Summary: Still Better than Most
Review: Like most of Vonngut's work, Slapstick is a critical look at American values and culture. It's told as a memior from the point of view of the last President of the United States before the fall from a technological height and back toward barbarism...which just might be better after all. While not pinnacle Vonnegut on the level of Mother Night, Cat's Cradle, Breakfast of Champions, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, or Slaughterhouse-5, it is better than what 99% of what is out there. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Slapstick Slaps You in the Funny Bone
Review: So, I just got back from the hospital after I busted a gut. Okay, that was bad, but Kurt Vonnegut's Slapstick was really good. In fact, it was wonderful! From page one I was hooked and I was pulled into a strange new world only a genius like Vonnegut could create. This fantastic story is told by the point of view of Dr. Wilbur Daffodil-11 Swain, who now lives in the lobby of the ruined Empire State building and is writing down his story. The rest of the world is in ruin, brought down by the Albanian flu and divided.
This book is chock full of humor and satire, the story revolving about Wilbur's life: first growing up in his twisted household, then running for president, and finally living out his days in insanity. Throughout the book, Wilbur's senility is blatant as he involuntarily hiccups the words "Hi ho" throughout the book. Fear not, it doesn't get old after the first page; if anything, it adds to the light humor and satire.
In the beginning of the novel, Wilbur tells us about his odd upbringing, along with his even odder (if not unorthodox) relationship with his sister. He is considered the ugliest man alive (No, I don't consider an amazing amount of body hair and a cave-man like appearance attractive either).
The supporting characters in this book only add to the creative and wonderful insanity of Vonnegut's work. Wilbur's sister is completely and utterly insane, though sometimes she comes across as the sanest character. She is sometimes the only one to tell the truth, to show us the world for what it really is. When Wilbur professes his love for his sister, she replies with an all too real, yet disturbing response:" `It's as though you were pointing a gun at my head,' she said. `It's just a way of getting somebody to say something they probably don't mean. What else can I say, or anybody say, but, `I love you, too'?'"
Wilbur's mother and father are almost unwilling parents, but provide only the best for their disturbingly grotesque children. In the later years of Wilbur's life, the insanity seems to creep up to the older generations of the Swain family. His mother becomes as certifiable as her daughter, giving way to some of the more hilarious and thought provoking moments.
In Vonnegut's style of writing, he introduces so much so well, I could barley even try to explain it to you in this, or any paragraph. So, we move on again, or as Wilbur writes "and time flew." While Vonnegut goes into much detail about other topics, the only thing he can say about Wilbur running for president is that, well, one day he finds himself running for president. During his presidency, Wilbur creates artificial families using made up middle names and numbers, encounters the now microscopic Chinese, and watches as the world falls to the prey of the Albanian flu.
The only beef that a reader may have with Vonnegut and this book Slapstick is the vulgarity he uses. Although you don't know exactly what he is writing about some of the time, he sort of gives the novel a romantic twist and a sarcastic undertone that will really draw you in. Really, if there ever was a writer to be called the greatest, Vonnegut would be that one. I strongly recommend this book (to anyone over the age of thirteen, that is). This book is hilarious and thought provoking, and a wonderful read. So, go with it and enjoy.
Hi ho.
Rating:
Summary: The irony of the poor review above.
Review: I'm sorry, but anybody who reviews a novel by Kurt Vonnegut as 'stupid,' and then follows it up with the sentence, 'I havn't gave up on Vonnegut yet' does not deserve to have their review taken seriously at all. Not only does this devalue the Amazon review forum, but it is obvious that the reviewer didn't understand one thing Vonnegut satirizes in this novel. I ain't gave up on Vonnegut either, because he's never given me a reason to gave up on him.
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Summary: Slapstick: Lonesome Again
Review: Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is one the literary world's most important and intelligent authors to date. In this tempestuous whirlwind of dark humour and political satire, you meet a pair of horrifically deformed twins born of affluent society. They are kept a secret from their society as long as possible, until society as they know it collapses. Once they are unleashed the true nature of their persons' is exposed.
It is my solemn belief that most people that write off Vonnegut as 'boring' really have not looked deeper into the meaning behind his books. Slapstick is playful energetic, desperately hopeful and moreover quite conceptual in nature. While this is not among what I consider the best three Vonnegut books (Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse Five and Mother Night), it certainly is an extremely worthwhile read. If you are a true Vonnegut fan and/or a free thinker you will not be let down by Slapstick.
Rating: 
Summary: boring and repetitive
Review: I've noticed other reviewers said this book was funny and offered some sort of comedic relief; I guess they must have a '50s sense of comedic value. This book was tedious and about as entertaining as a PBS documentry. I just couldn't wait for this trial in stupidity to end, I was so glad when it was over.
I havn't gave up on Vonnegut yet. But Slaughterhouse 5 and Slapstick are not a good start.
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