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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
This is Vonnegut's final novel, and it definitely reads that way. He basically took a failed manuscript, rewrote it so it was part novel, part memoir, and called it a day. It's a fascinating read, but definitely a bit on the scatterbrained side. Absolutely worth reading if you're a fan, but don't make it your entryway into Vonnegut's novels.
I can always rely on Vonnegut to kickstart my reading again after a bit of a drought as his style is so effortless to read. The story isn't very strong here, more of a tale surrounded by ideas, musings, and biographical snippets. It's less like reading a novel and more like spending time with a wry and wise old companion.
it was mid (I had to pause every few pages so I could stop crying)
I'm in the weird position of listing this as "fiction" and "non-fiction," because it's Vonnegut. It's kind of entertaining to read someone who has just totally given up on their writer's block. The man could never REALLY keep himself totally out of his books, but this is when he takes his book over, and in frustration, ends his fiction career with a clambake with all of his characters and friends. Perfectly weird way of doing it.
Another note on the end of Vonnegut (I still have a few left of his to read, but this feels like a pretty natural culmination of his work, while A Man Without a Country and Armageddon In Retrospect both seemed like essay collections) is that I've finally come to a point I disagree with him on: I don't love the strand of Ludditism that runs through his work. He seems to want a deconstruction of all technology, being somewhat skeptical after going through the extremely mechanized WWII and seeing machines put people out of business. The best example was in Player Piano, but he mentions machines as robbing people of their dignity in a number of his books. I read this book on my Kindle, which I love, and I write on my computer, which I also love. For me, technology has expanded my ability to keep in touch with the people I love, and it has enhanced my ability to communicate with people I have similar interests with. While some people might argue that it's a removed type of connection, because it's not face to face, I do think technology has been a force for good, overall, in my life. It's a tool, and it can be used for good or evil. I understand why Vonnegut wasn't a fan though.
Another note on the end of Vonnegut (I still have a few left of his to read, but this feels like a pretty natural culmination of his work, while A Man Without a Country and Armageddon In Retrospect both seemed like essay collections) is that I've finally come to a point I disagree with him on: I don't love the strand of Ludditism that runs through his work. He seems to want a deconstruction of all technology, being somewhat skeptical after going through the extremely mechanized WWII and seeing machines put people out of business. The best example was in Player Piano, but he mentions machines as robbing people of their dignity in a number of his books. I read this book on my Kindle, which I love, and I write on my computer, which I also love. For me, technology has expanded my ability to keep in touch with the people I love, and it has enhanced my ability to communicate with people I have similar interests with. While some people might argue that it's a removed type of connection, because it's not face to face, I do think technology has been a force for good, overall, in my life. It's a tool, and it can be used for good or evil. I understand why Vonnegut wasn't a fan though.
3.5/5 stars.
Not my favorite Vonnegut book and I wouldn't be surprised if he felt the same way.
There were, of course, the excellently succinct observations about the human condition, and moments of simple, bald honesty that I love so much in his work, but it was missing the wacky quality that rounds it all out for me. I wanted more about the Timequake.
Not my favorite Vonnegut book and I wouldn't be surprised if he felt the same way.
There were, of course, the excellently succinct observations about the human condition, and moments of simple, bald honesty that I love so much in his work, but it was missing the wacky quality that rounds it all out for me. I wanted more about the Timequake.
A completely incomprehensible rambling mess of a book, it's more like whatever remained of Vonnegut's ideas--snippets of stories and family history--that he decided to compile into a final work...two stars because I laughed so hard I cried at a couple of lines related to "Bunker Bingo Party." The rest is readable and you could try to connect the dots but in the end it's not worthwhile (which could be the theme). Surface-level understanding of historical figures, events, and philosophy written in broken sections. It goes nowhere and says nothing. Even the main concept--the timequake--is barely explored.
This book prompted me to write a long letter to Kurt Vonnegut, which I, of course, never sent.
This was a bad book to start reading Kurt Vonnegut with, it feels like a stream of consciousness that would feel more substantial if I had a connection already with any of his other work.
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The individual is the penny. The extended family is the dollar.