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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
dark
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Like most Vonnegut, these previously unpublished shorts capture a sentiment that is both accessible and thought provoking. All the suspense and readability of a dime novel but with a punch of reality that transcends general entertainment value. Not all of the stories capture lightning in a bottle. Occasionally I reached the end of a story that sort of plateaued without the kind of complex and conflicted resolution that mark's the Vonnegutian wit. That's to be expected, I suppose, as even the best writers surely have an end to their fount of work.
More prevalent than the abrupt malaise filled ending is the pleasing sense of being discomfited that comes from stories like "The Petrified Ants." The absurd compliments the historical and cultural context of the story to bring us a world we know and yet revile. "The King and Queen of the Universe" resonated a lot as well in it's appraisal of negative experience being life affirming (and of course along with the class commentary).
I'm still on a journey to acquire and read all he's written, and though we're surely close to the end perhaps there will be a few more like-minded collections unearthed in the next couple years. Always a treat.
More prevalent than the abrupt malaise filled ending is the pleasing sense of being discomfited that comes from stories like "The Petrified Ants." The absurd compliments the historical and cultural context of the story to bring us a world we know and yet revile. "The King and Queen of the Universe" resonated a lot as well in it's appraisal of negative experience being life affirming (and of course along with the class commentary).
I'm still on a journey to acquire and read all he's written, and though we're surely close to the end perhaps there will be a few more like-minded collections unearthed in the next couple years. Always a treat.
I typically struggle with short stories. I can't explain it, but I lose interest quickly, unlike with a novel. That being said, I finished this collection of Vonnegut's stories in 2 days. Vonnegut is brilliant in his writing. Each story is almost like a riddle, leading the reader to the answer. I was enthralled up to the last page.
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Not his best... I think these would have been better with some editing. Might be the reason they were unpublished?
3.5 really. Can see why most of these went unpublished. None are bad stories but few really stand out and the ones that do seem rather un-Vonnegut.
Most of them were great little stories and totally classic Vonnegut. I just wish a majority of the narrators didn't sound like hardcore chain-smokers. That was kind of distracting.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I'm running out of new-to-me Vonneguts to read and it makes me really sad. His books changed my life. These were solid, which makes the idea of someone trawling through his unpublished files after his death less unseemly to me.