About this title: Kurt Vonnegut's first new book in nearly 10 years is a collection of the essays he has published during that time, illustrated with his inimitable--and often hilarious--line drawings. Vonnegut writes on such topics as death, literature, the state of the American soul, the necessity for making art, and, of course, the administration of George W. ...
read more
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780812977363ISBN:081297736X
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. one page fold. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 145 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Seven Stories Press
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780739466223ISBN:0739466224
Description: Very Good. Appears unread, clean pages, no spine or page creases, no writing, minor shelf-wear to cover including scratches on back cover and a dimple. read more
Description: Good+ Good Plus condition, a reading crease in spine, no slant, light edgewear, contents clean and unmarked, binding firm, 146 pages on life art politics and himself from the late American original. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780812977363ISBN:081297736X
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 145 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. read more
Edition: First Edition, Fourth Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Seven Stories Pr, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9781583227138ISBN:158322713X
Description: Fine in Near Fine jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. An excellent hardcover copy, apparently unread and almost like new. The spine is solid and square, and the hinges are tight. The book's white exterior shows virtually no wear. The text is clean and unmarked. The dustjacket is almost as good but has some faint scuff marks. It bears the publisher's original price of $23.95. ---------------------------------------- is the last book Vonnegut published in his lifetime. It is a collection of short ... read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Seven Stories Press
Date Published: 2005-09-15
ISBN-13:9781583227138ISBN:158322713X
Description: Like New. Excellent condition. Clean DJ--just a little creased section at the top of the spine. Clean pages. No marks. Prompt shipping & FREE delivery confirmation. read more
Edition: Illustrated.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780812977363ISBN:081297736X
Description: Fine. No dust jacket as issued. Spine straight, binding tight, no reader/remainder/library marks, ft cover slight edge curl, pgs flat w/sharp pages, very slight shelf wear. 145 numbered pgs. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. Photos or other information on this item available by e-mail. Daily responses to orders/e-mail. E-mail confirmation of shipment. Check our feedback. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780812977363ISBN:081297736X
Description: Good. Good+ condition. Sturdy binding with smooth spine. Sturdy flared cover as pictured with vivid color, 3" bend on front, and lightly bumped corners. Half-inch scuff on endpaper and facing page, otherwise clean unmarked text. ____________ Softcover, Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2007 first printing in this format, ISBN 0-8129-7736-X, 145 pages. ISBN-10 081297736X, ISBN-13 9780812977363. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Random House Trade
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780812977363ISBN:081297736X
Description: Fine. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 145 p. Contains: Illustrations. Audience: General/trade. Book is in excellent condition. Cover and pages are clean, binding is tight. We ship daily, Satisfaction Guaranteed. read more
"This was the first book I ever returned to a bookstore. I really couldn't believe that I'd paid something like $15 for this book. I guess I don't understand Vonnegut's humor. To me, he simply rambled on and on. For instance, many pages (was it a whole chapter?) were devoted to Mr. Vonnegut describing every detail of how he mails a letter. It sounded like an 8-year-old wrote it. I'm paraphrasing....."Then I get an envelope out of my drawer, and I take a pen and write the address on the front. Then I walk down two flights of stairs to get to the sidewalk. Then I walk to the Post Office to buy a stamp because I don't have any. When I'm there I flirt with the girl because she is pretty." It took me maybe an hour to read this book, and I would very much like that hour given back to me.
I liked Sirens of Titan and Galapagos was ok, so I know Mr. Vonnegut can write. I just don't know what happened with this one."
"Another good reads reviewer said that Kurt Vonnegut's death was such a great loss because "nobody thinks the way he did." So true, and such an understatement. There's just no other mind that works anything like his. Of course, every mind is unique, but most of us are depressingly ordinary, myself included. Sigh...
This book is an odd compilation of the meandering thoughts, observations and reminiscences of Vonnegut at the age of 82. There are some 2 star WTF moments where you have to make allowances for the scattered thoughts of a doddering old genius. However, the 4 and 5 star moments are so extraordinarily good that they more than make up for any lapses.
Vonnegut is so audacious, outspoken, bizarre, and hilarious in the way he presents things we all think about. He had me laughing 'til I gave myself coughing fits, nodding my head saying, "Why didn't I think of that?", and yes, even getting choked up and teary-eyed here and there.
As a secular humanist, Vonnegut did not believe in an afterlife. From page 80 of the book:
"And if I should ever die, God forbid, I hope you will say, 'Kurt is up in heaven now.' That's my favorite joke."
"Vonnegut breezes through turn-of-the-century American life in aphoristic, often curmudgeonly free-association. While the inkwell of cantankerous wit hasn't run dry, this book is a bit of an exercise in redundancy; the contained thoughts and criticisms are better developed in his later works, particularly Timequake.
It is admittedly a treat that Vonnegut gave us one last opportunity to enjoy his pithy prose in such a loose, intimate collection of essays. Unfortunately, he also ran through these observations and bon mots rather too faithfully in his last lecture tour, which was a disappointment (particularly given how off-the-cuff his prose feels here). While the warmth of his sarcasm is always enduring, it's likewise depressing that Kurt couldn't finish his career with a work less firmly entrenched in the inflexible Vonnegut idiom of smirking punchlines."
This book is a treatise / memoir / farewell / final / love / letter to his audience / hysterical political rant.
Unfortunately, we listened to it on audio book... Jacob is not as familiar with his work and didn't know about the illustrations. It was a great diversion on our last trip home though.
He also made some really good points - mostly about how destructive men have been to the earth in a relatively short period of time. I defintiely need to get a copy of the book.
Plus you know, any Bush-hater is a friend of mine.
Confession: Originally the slashes in the second sentence were the word c.um. But I thought that word, especially combined with "Bush-hater" might lead to massive amounts of disappointment if people landed here by way of a search of some kind."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
