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Armageddon in Retrospect: And Other New and Unpublished Writings on War and Peace by Kurt Vonnegut
obnoxiouslyollie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
samharnold's review against another edition
3.0
This is a collection of classic writings by Kurt Vonnegut. The short story nature of the book means that I did not enjoy this book as much as some of his others. This is down to personal preference though. The writing is as excellent as previous Vonnegut. A must if you like this author.
thursday48's review
4.0
I've been meaning to read some Vonnegut for quite a while and picked this up during bout of books. It was a super fast read about the a bunch of war things. It was really good but so sad and kind of depressing. I really liked this book and want to read more from Vonnegut. I appreciated that this book was hard to read, it was so heavy but war is hard and heavy and it just felt right.
Maybe not an A+ book to read during a readathon because I didn't sit with this as long as I would have liked but still a really good read.
Maybe not an A+ book to read during a readathon because I didn't sit with this as long as I would have liked but still a really good read.
dontpanic42's review
4.0
Very interesting collection of short stories as well as some non-fiction, all on the subject of war and its effects (mainly on the individuals touched by it). If you enjoy Vonnegut's fiction, I think you will also enjoy this collection: he brings to bear the same wit and the same keen insights to moments both touching and troubling that make all of his writing such a pleasure to read.
rizzfitz's review
5.0
Vonnegut to me is like my palate cleanser. I can read anything if I return back to this beautiful moralistic hilarious and violent satire every few reads. I wish I could have listened to the man do pure stand up. If you are a pacifist, critic of America, or ethics riddled person otherwise and haven't read Vonnegut, I don't know what to do with you.
amberhayward's review
4.0
OH CRAP I HAVE NOT LOGGED ON IN FOREVER.
Duh. I liked this book a lot. The forward by Baby Vonnegut was great and all of the stories were excellent. I don't really think I need to get into any detail since it doesn't matter. If KV wrote the Twilight series I would think it was awesome. Of course I am going to like the most recent batch of previously unpublished short stories on the subject of war by him despite the fact that no one in the book sparkles in the sun.
Duh. I liked this book a lot. The forward by Baby Vonnegut was great and all of the stories were excellent. I don't really think I need to get into any detail since it doesn't matter. If KV wrote the Twilight series I would think it was awesome. Of course I am going to like the most recent batch of previously unpublished short stories on the subject of war by him despite the fact that no one in the book sparkles in the sun.
jkathleen5's review
4.0
Vonnegut is one of my favorite authors and I love when I read any of his work that I haven’t read before. This was a great collection of essays and short stories centered around the topics of war and peace and humanity with Vonnegut’s signature wit and humor. Some stories were stronger than others, but the one I can’t stop thinking about is “Wailing Shall Be in All Streets.” It’s a much more real and personal story of the bombing of Dresden (compared to the fictionalized version in Slaughterhouse Five) and really lays bare Vonnegut’s view of war and its destruction.
“We accepted their congratulations with good grace and proper modesty, but I felt then as I feel now, that I would have given my life to save Dresden for the World’s generations to come. That is how everyone should feel about every city on Earth.”
“We accepted their congratulations with good grace and proper modesty, but I felt then as I feel now, that I would have given my life to save Dresden for the World’s generations to come. That is how everyone should feel about every city on Earth.”
koreilly's review
3.0
Posthumously published work is always a little bit icky, reaking somewhat of cashing in on an author's celbrity by publishing things they chose not to in their time here. This book ebbs and flows between the two. Some of the writing is illuminating on the character of Kurt Vonnegut and his own war-time experience. Anyone who has read his most famous novel knows a high level overview of it but it is still interesting to read a non-fiction view of his experience in Dresden during the war.
Some of the content though is fiction or what have you that Kurt obviously didn't want published due to a low-quality or amateurish nature. None of it is really terrible but a collection of stories about POWs during the war seem more like generic mid century dime fiction then the quirky heart-filled stuff you expect from Vonnegut.
So overall I would really only recommend this to Vonnegut completionists.
Some of the content though is fiction or what have you that Kurt obviously didn't want published due to a low-quality or amateurish nature. None of it is really terrible but a collection of stories about POWs during the war seem more like generic mid century dime fiction then the quirky heart-filled stuff you expect from Vonnegut.
So overall I would really only recommend this to Vonnegut completionists.
ewybren's review
4.0
Armageddon in Retrospect is a series of short stories by Kurt Vonnegut, revolving around war and its effects on both civilians and soldiers. While I prefer Vonnegut's novels to his short stories, I do think that his works that allow for reflection on his time in the Armed Forces are some of his best.