#kurt vonnegut jr
by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
What’s it about?
It’s about an optometrist who, as a result of exposure to a low-rate science fiction author in a psychiatric hospital, believes he has been abducted by aliens and can travel through time.
What’s it really about?
In perhaps the biggest disjoint between the first and second paragraphs of these blog posts, it’s about the cruel nature of war, in particular the experience of prisoners of war in Nazi Germany.
What? How did we get from there to here?
Unlike most works of science fiction, the science fiction element is almost irrelevant; it’s nothing but a scaffolding to construct the real story: what his experiences as a prisoner of war in Germany taught him about human nature. Although if you’ve read Game of Thrones and you can’t handle a supernatural narrative device used to recount the inhumanity of war, you should probably present yourself to the relevant authorities at first light.
What should I say to make people think I’ve read it?
“So it goes.”
What should I avoid saying when trying to convince people I’ve read it?
“It’s not as good as Slaughterhouse Four.”
Should I actually read it?
Yes. It will make you want to be a better person.
Rating: ★★★★★
This is absolutely a new favorite book of mine. The novel provides a non-linear narrative of the life of Rabo Karabekian. An artist and veteran is writing his life story, talking about events in his life between the telling of real-time events. It’s about self-destruction as much as it is creation, and it’s humorous as much as it is bitterly ironic.
There are thoughts from Rabo periodically that really make you think about America and its people and about the role of others in our lives. This was a really great read that I couldn’t put down, I finished it in a matter of hours.
–
Saylor Rains
Find me and this review on Goodreads.
Bluebeard
“Oh, happy Meat. Oh, happy Soul. Oh, happy Rabo Karabekian.”
kar*a*bek*i*an (,kar-a-‘bek-ē-an), n. (from
Rabo Karabekian, U.S. 20th cent. painter).
Fiasco in which a person causes total de-
struction of own work and reputation
through stupidity, carelessness or both.
hand drawn in my moleskine/colored digitally
my twelfth attempt at illustrating one of Kurt Vonnegut’s books
(originally posted HERE on Aug 30th 2011)
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Jailbird
“You couldn’t help it that you were born without a heart. At least you tried to believe what the people with hearts believed- so you were a good man just the same.”
hand drawn in my moleskine/colored digitally
my eighth attempt at illustrating one of Kurt Vonnegut’s books
(originally posted HERE on July 9th, 2011)
www.mattmims.com
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God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies–:
” ‘God damn it. you’ve got to be kind’ “ - Eliot Rosewater
*R*
hand drawn in my moleskine/colored digitally
my fourth attempt at illustrating one of Kurt Vonnegut’s books
(originally posted HERE on Apr. 28, 2011)
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