Great review. I agree with you when you say that Bluebeard is one of Vonnegut's more human novels. I read this book after Deadeye Dick, which I'd consider to be one of his darkest, so the sweetness of this novel left quite an impression on me. Certainly a book that should be celebrated!
I was on the fence about getting this book but after i saw this review a month ago I decided to purchase. I very much enjoyed it! This is my 9th Vonnegut. The book was such a pleasant read. I put this at #4 on my list of Vonnegut so far. So Thank You for doing a book review on Bluebeard!
I read this book quite a while ago and recently downloaded the audio book so I could listen to it at work. My feeling is that as Kilgore Trout was KV's alter ego in many of his books Rabo Karabekian is in this book. Just think of the part where Circe Berman asks why he doesn't use semi-colons in his writing, well that IS KV. The war parts are all Vonnegut when he left german military prison in 1945. I think it is autobiographical but in terms of KV. I think KV thought himself unsucsesful because he couldn't convince that many people that he was a serious artist (writer) and the painting in the potatoe barn is infact THIS book where he tried to put as many people as he could from his real life. Take for example Circe Berman. I think thati s in fact his real wife Jill Krementz and that Allison White's daughter Celeste is Vonneguts youngest daughter Lily. I also think possibly he wanted to leave this as his last book. Could I be wrong about these conjections. Of Course. What do you think.
That's a very interesting theory you present, guitarstrunged. I personally felt that it was in fact the sweetest book he wrote, in that, he wasn't constantly trying to remind the reader of how pathetic and insane humanity was. Instead, it felt as if he was trying to ease the reader into understanding that there is a goodness within us that is often kept hidden, often kept locked away, because it is often all we have left to hold onto that has yet to be torn from our hands and mercilessly condemned by society. The story felt much more fragile and innocent, than I believe his later books did, and I agree it seemed to be referencing the many different types of people Vonnegut had lived around or was affected by, during his life. Thank you for the review, MsTerriB , by the way!
J Vasquez Nuts! I didn't get that impression from the book and that means I'll have to go through it again to try and see what you are refering to.Thanks J Vasquez, thanks!
I wish I could answer you! This review was from 10 years ago and I apparently don't have a good enough memory to remember what it was, lol! I think I need to re-read this though, and hopefully I will be able to answer this question at that time. Thank you for asking.
Awesome, hope you find the time to re-read and share your thoughts! Dying to know, since this was the only substantial review I found on UA-cam. I liked the ending, but I cannot articulating why. The final mystery in the potato shack is a painting titled “Now it is women turn” which depicts a harsh scene of the final day of a harsh war, where each character in this vast scene is given a unique story. This is a beautiful symbol, that I cannot pretend to understand what it means. My best explanation is that Rabo is saying that Men have traditionally been in power, thus they are responsible for causing the wars that lead to both the suffering of men and women. It is time we allow woman to assume the authority. This interpretation certainly aligns with Marilee thoughts on war. She says: “The whole point of war is to put women everywhere in that condition. It's always men against women, with the men only pretending to fight among themselves.” When Rabo titles his war painting “It’s women’s turn,” he is echoing Marilee’s message and asserting that the world would be more peaceful if women were allowed to lead. I’m sympathetic to this thesis, and I think the prose Kurt uses to articulate it is beautiful. However, I think Marliee and Rabo are over-simplifying the cause of war, and the solution for preventing it. For example, gender-equality in Israel is great. There are many Women in political and military positions. Despite this, Israel is currently waging a genocide in Gaza. If someone took a photo of Gaza and called it “Now it’s women’s turn,” I think it would be off-the-mark. I don’t believe you can view war as strictly “male vs female” phenomena, although I certainly agree that gender equality is a necessary, but insufficient step to a more peaceful existence. That was longer than I intended! Anyway, it would great to get your insight, especially from a female perspective
Great review. I agree with you when you say that Bluebeard is one of Vonnegut's more human novels. I read this book after Deadeye Dick, which I'd consider to be one of his darkest, so the sweetness of this novel left quite an impression on me. Certainly a book that should be celebrated!
Nicholas Guadagnino Glad to see someone else appreciate this book too!
I was on the fence about getting this book but after i saw this review a month ago I decided to purchase. I very much enjoyed it! This is my 9th Vonnegut. The book was such a pleasant read. I put this at #4 on my list of Vonnegut so far. So Thank You for doing a book review on Bluebeard!
I’m so glad you liked the book and that you found the review encouraging!
Bluebeard is my favorite book ever
I read this book quite a while ago and recently downloaded the audio book so I could listen to it at work.
My feeling is that as Kilgore Trout was KV's alter ego in many of his books Rabo Karabekian is in this book. Just think of the part where Circe Berman asks why he doesn't use semi-colons in his writing, well that IS KV. The war parts are all Vonnegut when he left german military prison in 1945.
I think it is autobiographical but in terms of KV. I think KV thought himself unsucsesful because he couldn't convince that many people that he was a serious artist (writer) and the painting in the potatoe barn is infact THIS book where he tried to put as many people as he could from his real life. Take for example Circe Berman. I think thati s in fact his real wife Jill Krementz and that Allison White's daughter Celeste is Vonneguts youngest daughter Lily. I also think possibly he wanted to leave this as his last book. Could I be wrong about these conjections. Of Course. What do you think.
Well, I'll have to think about all of your conjectures but you might be on to something. I do think Karabekian is likely a Vonnegut alter ego.
That's a very interesting theory you present, guitarstrunged.
I personally felt that it was in fact the sweetest book he wrote, in that, he wasn't constantly trying to remind the reader of how pathetic and insane humanity was. Instead, it felt as if he was trying to ease the reader into understanding that there is a goodness within us that is often kept hidden, often kept locked away, because it is often all we have left to hold onto that has yet to be torn from our hands and mercilessly condemned by society. The story felt much more fragile and innocent, than I believe his later books did, and I agree it seemed to be referencing the many different types of people Vonnegut had lived around or was affected by, during his life.
Thank you for the review, MsTerriB , by the way!
J Vasquez Nuts! I didn't get that impression from the book and that means I'll have to go through it again to try and see what you are refering to.Thanks J Vasquez, thanks!
Awesome read it really covered many dynamics of the human condition thanks! Nice review...
Can you elaborate on what happened towards the end of the book that surprised and pleased you?
I wish I could answer you! This review was from 10 years ago and I apparently don't have a good enough memory to remember what it was, lol! I think I need to re-read this though, and hopefully I will be able to answer this question at that time. Thank you for asking.
Awesome, hope you find the time to re-read and share your thoughts! Dying to know, since this was the only substantial review I found on UA-cam.
I liked the ending, but I cannot articulating why.
The final mystery in the potato shack is a painting titled “Now it is women turn” which depicts a harsh scene of the final day of a harsh war, where each character in this vast scene is given a unique story.
This is a beautiful symbol, that I cannot pretend to understand what it means.
My best explanation is that Rabo is saying that Men have traditionally been in power, thus they are responsible for causing the wars that lead to both the suffering of men and women. It is time we allow woman to assume the authority.
This interpretation certainly aligns with Marilee thoughts on war. She says: “The whole point of war is to put women everywhere in that condition. It's always men against women, with the men only pretending to fight among themselves.”
When Rabo titles his war painting “It’s women’s turn,” he is echoing Marilee’s message and asserting that the world would be more peaceful if women were allowed to lead.
I’m sympathetic to this thesis, and I think the prose Kurt uses to articulate it is beautiful. However, I think Marliee and Rabo are over-simplifying the cause of war, and the solution for preventing it.
For example, gender-equality in Israel is great. There are many Women in political and military positions. Despite this, Israel is currently waging a genocide in Gaza. If someone took a photo of Gaza and called it “Now it’s women’s turn,” I think it would be off-the-mark. I don’t believe you can view war as strictly “male vs female” phenomena, although I certainly agree that gender equality is a necessary, but insufficient step to a more peaceful existence.
That was longer than I intended! Anyway, it would great to get your insight, especially from a female perspective
I did not enjoy the book as much as breakfast of champions or mother night but it was all right overall