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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
READ HARDER 2018: A book published posthumously // Look, even unfinished, not-quite-fit-for-publication Vonnegut is still Vonnegut and I still enjoyed reading these stories more than I probably should have. I wish he’d been able to polish a few of them in his lifetime (like Ed Luby’s Key Club or King and Queen of the Universe).
The audiobook features a variety of great narrators. In particular, Barbara Rosenblat (Miss Rosa from OITNB!).
The audiobook features a variety of great narrators. In particular, Barbara Rosenblat (Miss Rosa from OITNB!).
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 rounded up. There were are few shorts stories I really liked and one that I thought was okay and the others I can see why they were not published until after Vonnegut passed away.
I don't 5 star things easily, but this book is 5 stars. The stories were attention grabbing, absorbing, and the endings left me satisfied. They were all thought provoking, but entertaining and out of the box. Just amazing.
I'm always wary of collections of "unpublished" work that appear after an author's death, usually because they contain mostly "unpublishable" stuff. This collection does have some weak stories, and the baseline of the whole thing is only about average strength for Vonnegut, but it really does underline his talent as a writer. Some stories (several, in fact) are totally formulaic almost all the way to the end, but his endings somehow manage to be reliably new and not disappointing. I'd rather the stories themselves weren't so predictable-- and some aren't, especially the title story, which is quite good. All in all, it's obviously not Vonnegut's best work, but even his weaker writing is better than most, and this is an easy beach or cottage read worth bringing along.
These previously unpublished short stories are so different from his style. They're fantastic.
I've always been a big Vonnegut fan, so it's a treat for me when any "new" unpublished work comes out. This volume was definitely a major treat. Vonnegut was a master of the short story, and every one of these offerings shimmers, in my humble opinion. If forced to pick favorites, I guess I'd cite The Honor of a Newsboy, Hall of Mirrors, the volume's opening piece Confido, Ed Luby's Key Club, and King and Queen of the Universe, but honestly, every single story was a sweet reminder of how much I have always loved the sarcasm, satire, surprise twists and sense of fair play that permeate Vonnegut's work. I guess the fact that I couldn't really narrow my "favorites" down to any less than one out of three of the stories says something about how much I enjoyed this collection. If you're a fan, you'll need to check this gem out.
Vonnegut can do no wrong, in my humble opinion! -Susan :)