Excellent and detailed, Shields bio gives a close up portrait of the man and some of the motiviations behind his works. The New York Times review saidExcellent and detailed, Shields bio gives a close up portrait of the man and some of the motiviations behind his works. The New York Times review said it revealed Vonnegut as a sad man. I didn't really get that, but he certainly had some sad moments. Given KV's wit and sarcasm and I can also definitely see some big laughs in there. I also enjoyed reading Vonnegut's comments on his own work.
Nice to find out that my favorite Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan was possibly his favorite. he says that it was his only book "that wrote itself. All the others refused." It was also good to find out that KV was a jazz fan. One of the photos in the book even has him sitting at a table with Eddie Condon in Condon's nightclub. I think the author may have missed a connection here. Author Richard Gehman is mentioned several times as a friend of Kurt's. Gehman collaborated with Condon on Eddie Condon's Treasury of Jazz....more
Nothing less than five stars will do for this one.
I wanted to have a better concept of Vonnegut’s personality in preparation for reading Kurt VonnegutNothing less than five stars will do for this one.
I wanted to have a better concept of Vonnegut’s personality in preparation for reading Kurt Vonnegut’s biography “And So It Goes.” I thought a book of non-fiction by KV would be appropriate so I revisited this after nearly 40 years since my first reading. I remembered virtually nothing from my original read. My intent was to read a chapter now and then and to alternate with several books of short stories and non-fiction I’ve been reading. After a short period I realized my attention was exclusively with Vonnegut and devoted all of my attention to this volume. I found Vonnegut’s essays and lectures as fascinating as his fiction, a trait he shares with Jorge Luis Borges.
I was struck by how much Vonnegut’s thinking paralleled my own (If only I could write as well!) and by how compellingly he spoke for so many of my generation. Through all of this his signature mix of poignancy and humor, so typical of his fiction, was present at all times. Among the topics discussed are the Vietnam War, the Biafran tragedy, and the presidential campaign of 1972, particularly relevant in this election year and amazingly timely and prescient.
Sometime in the mid 1960s I was in a small bookshop on St. Mark's Place in NYC. I saw a paperback by an author previously unknown to me. The book was Sometime in the mid 1960s I was in a small bookshop on St. Mark's Place in NYC. I saw a paperback by an author previously unknown to me. The book was Sirens Of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. I read it and became a Kurt Vonnegut fan. Cat's Cradle was the second book by KV that I read and I decided to read everything I could by him.
A while back I started to revisit Vonnegut and began with "Sirens of Titan" and now "Cat's Cradle," I enjoyed them as much on the second go around as I did on the first more than 40 years ago. Amazing how much of a good book is remembered after all that time! Vonnegut is at once humorous and poignant. I'll be revisiting more of his work....more
If you like Vonnegut (I do) then this book is an intersting finish to a great body of work. As always, Vonnegut says what he has to say. He mixes a seIf you like Vonnegut (I do) then this book is an intersting finish to a great body of work. As always, Vonnegut says what he has to say. He mixes a serious message with a great deal of humor. I'm sorry there won't be more from him further down the line....more
Another reread - this time it's been at least 30 years. Sirens is the first Vonnegut I read back in the 60s. It remains my favorite of all Vonnegut boAnother reread - this time it's been at least 30 years. Sirens is the first Vonnegut I read back in the 60s. It remains my favorite of all Vonnegut books. ...more
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