Deadeye Dick

Rating:
Summary: Not Vonnegut's best but good
Review: "Deadeye Dick" is classic Vonnegut. What other author would writea story that involves an accidental shooting, a neutron bomb, and a hotel in Haiti? This story is just as far out as any of Vonnegut's others, and just as good. Vonnegut had a very goo output in teh 1980s. Both this book and "Bluebeard" are really good. Read them both, and while you're at it, read anything else he's written you can get your hands on.

Rating:
Summary: Prescription Drugs and Bullets Mix quite well
Review: After finishing one of Vonnegut's books, I always like to read essays and critical thought writings on the book. As I began to read some on Deadeye Dick, I realized that most people are morons. It doesn't matter what other people thought the book was about, where the symbols are, or how he meant for things inside it to be taken. Vonnegut himself lends his thoughts to this very idea. Look at the Author's notes at the beginning of the book. He gives a list of symbols that he included in the book. Did he do this for a reason? He certainly did. But in my opinion, and if youve been reading this, you realize it doesnt matter, but in my opinion, it doesnt matter what he thinks the symbols are. It matters how you percieved the opinions, and the way i percieved them is not at all how he did. Sure, he wrote the book, but I read it, and a book unread is useless. Life goes on.
If you like Vonnegut, you'll love Deadeye Dick....

Rating:
Summary: Maybe I'm Missing Something...
Review: After hearing so many extraordinary things about Kurt Vonnegut, particularly about Cat's Cradle, I jumped with delight when I saw Deadeye Dick selling for [$] at a used bookstand in NY. I'm beginning to wonder whether or not I could have used that [$] for something better.

I was thoroughly encapsulated by Vonnegut's unique style and honesty throughout his introduction and the first few chapters of the novel, which I later found was the best part. I felt as if the entire novel was a setup for some plot that was going to develop, but when I reached the end I realized that that was it. Not to mention that the only character with any character at all was Rudy's father. Yeah, yeah, the book had societal symbolism and isolated incidents that stood on their own without a plot, but the story in which they were presented literally had no point and went absolutely nowhere, therefore diluting the value of those rare gems of scenes. In addition, most of the dialogue seemed forced, melodramatic, and unrealistic at times. Novels about nothing can be good reads, but for some reason Vonnegut missed the mark. Tom Robbins and John Irving are much better at accomplishing a realistic sense of grotesque absurdity in their symbolism of the world.

I will give Vonnegut a second chance and will read Cat's Cradle. I hope I have a better experience.

Rating:
Summary: A fast paced, funny return to form
Review: After several letdown novels and "autobiographical collages" in the late seventies, "Deadeye Dick" was a blast of fresh air. A dark comedy involving one Rudy Waltz who accidentally shoots a pregnant woman, killing her and her child, when he points his gun out his window and fires for the sake of it. The book deals with one wild thing after another, and pokes fun at the darker side of nuclear bombs, Hitler's art, gourmet cooking, and public atrocity exhibitions of prisoners. A wild romp and one of the few later books that is a must for Vonnegut fans

Rating:
Summary: 4 and 1/2 Stars
Review: Although not Kurt Vonnegut's best novel, Deadeye Dick is an enlightening, fast-paced, and highly entertaining satrical look at the death of innocence and the randomness of life. Through the plot and the life of the protonagist, Rudy Waltz, we are shown how seemingly random and completely unforseeable events can completely change and/or wreck a person's life. Everything we do, however seemingly trivial, has a consequence. Vonnegut's writing style is as fluid and graceful as ever, with a prose, quick wit, and pace that will keep you reading. His ever-present humor and light touch with weighty subjects is apparent from the very first page. A good read that you will enjoy. If you are new to this author, I would recommend reading something like Cat's Cradle first, but this is a fine novel and recommended for all Vonnegut fans.

Rating:
Summary: Vonnegut is up to his old tricks
Review: Another failed Vonnegut character mopes through life, bemoaning his failures and viewing all with a jaundiced eye, as he waits for the end. This is a note that Vonnegut strikes often: a poor ineffectual fool passively accepts his fate in an absurd, random universe. The more Vonnegut I read, the more tired I become of this tune, but I must admit that the author makes some interesting points along the way.

This time the fool is Rudy Waltz, who gained the nickname of Deadeye Dick when he fired a gun into the air, inadvertantly killing a pregnant woman a block away. The story is fascinating and real when dealing with this tragic mistake and its consequences. I couldn't help but feel some disappointment as the more absurd qualities of the story (ie, neutron bombs and radioactive mantlepieces) asserted themselves. Vonnegut writes well about real people dealing with real problems. I wish he would have restrained himself from introducing so many surreal elements; they smack of gimmickry and self-conscious symbolism.

Rating:
Summary: Vonnegut is up to his old tricks
Review: Another failed Vonnegut character mopes through life, bemoaning his failures and viewing all with a jaundiced eye, as he waits for the end. This is a note that Vonnegut strikes often: a poor ineffectual fool passively accepts his fate in an absurd, random universe. The more Vonnegut I read, the more tired I become of this tune, but I must admit that the author makes some interesting points along the way.

This time the fool is Rudy Waltz, who gained the nickname of Deadeye Dick when he fired a gun into the air, inadvertantly killing a pregnant woman a block away. The story is fascinating and real when dealing with this tragic mistake and its consequences. I couldn't help but feel some disappointment as the more absurd qualities of the story (ie, neutron bombs and radioactive mantlepieces) asserted themselves. Vonnegut writes well about real people dealing with real problems. I wish he would have restrained himself from introducing so many surreal elements; they smack of gimmickry and self-conscious symbolism.

Rating:
Summary: don't bother
Review: As much as I love Kurt Vonnegut, I failed to be moved by this book. It lacks the energy needed to hold the plot together, and it was only a vague curiosity and feeling of obligation which kept me from abandoning it halfway through. Hardcore Vonnegut fans may appreciate it regardless, but for anyone else I would recommend The Sirens of Titan (my personal favorite) or one of Vonnegut's many other wonderful novels.

Rating:
Summary: A book for kids from one to ninety-two
Review: Dead eye was the second novel of Kurt Vonnegut that I read. I thought that this book was just as entertaining and as delightfully humorous, as the last one that I read. It is kind of scary like Mike Wrong said about how he takes on society so innocently. I have heard a lot of good things about slaughter five. My mother has read it and she said it was of her favorite Kurt Vonnegut novels. I think that Deadeye Dick would be better than Slaughter house five. In deadeye Dick Vonnegut does allow you to read on different levels. I love the way that Vonnegut takes this sad story and adds some humor into it. This will probably be the most memorable book that I have read. Whether it is the average human individual who should not be allowed to be possess nuclear weapons, Kurt Vonnegut champions the theme that a man is too immature and a beast to handle technology. Who can deny humans the power they know how to create? He leaves no sloution for us to think about. Before I never really understood the funny but sad part of his books either untill I read this book. I will always enjoy Vonnegut because he is was so thought provoking and had crazy, page turning ideas that Deadeye Dick,though, really captures that humor mixed with sadness. I find that Rudy Waltz is one of the most sympathetic characters in literature and his struggles to overcome the stigma of being Deadeye Dick are genuinely moving and this is a good introduction to his work. I think that it is a wonderfull work of literature. This novel proves that Vonneget is the king of black humor. He takes something that is more grimm than people can imagine and he makes it so funny. As I read this book I couldnt put it down, his characters are superb. The story is great, and his style of writting really drives you into the book. I especially like the way Vonneget uses his main character to tell his story,in playwright fashion. Deadeye Dick was a blast of fresh air. A dark comedy involving Rudy Waltz who accidently shoots a pregnant woman. Killing her child when he points his gun out of his windows, and fires for the sake of it. Afterwards, theres complete chaos the book deals with one wild thing after another and makes fun at the darker side of nuclear bombs. Hitlers art, to take over the world gourmet cooking and public atrocity exhibitions of prisoners. A wild romp and one of the few books that I have enjoyed. I strongly recommend this book to people from 4 years of age of 98. If you can read this book then it's kind of for you. If you like humours novels then this book is definetly for you. If you do not have a copy of this book at your house then you must definetly go out and get one.

Rating:
Summary: Vonnegut is a True Master
Review: Deadeye Dick grabbed me by the scruff and brought me into a world that i belived was real. Few authors are capable of such mastery. This novel has a powerful theme which is unique in many ways, and could not be realized in the same manner by anyone but Vonnegut himself. Don't just read this book, savor it like a literary delicasy.