Kurt Vonnegut: A Man Without A Country
By Keith Boykin, in books
Tuesday, November 22 2005, 10:29AM
Ever since I read The Sirens of Titan 20 years ago for a college class, Kurt Vonnegut has been one of my favorite writers. His latest work, A Man Without A Country, is a fitting ending for the author who has devoted his life to using words to entertain and educate.
For those hoping to find another classic work of Vonnegut fiction, be warned, this is not a novel. Instead, it is a memoir of Vonnegut's own thoughts, writings, and reflections at 83. Vonnegut is unapologetically liberal, and he uses this book to espouse unconventional wisdom that most contemporary writers would rather avoid.
At 145 pages, it's a quick afternoon read, but don't mistake brevity for lack of gravity. He defends Karl Marx, compares Christianity to socialism and resurrects long forgotten historical figures like labor activist Powers Hapgood, anti-technology folk hero Ned Ludd, innovative doctor Ignaz Semmelweis, Socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debs, and the controversial general Leonard Wood, who massacred hundreds of Moro Indians in the Philippines.
Vonnegut, who witnessed the bombing of Dresden in 1945, has used this experience throughout many of his life's writings, and A Man Without A Country is no exception. Those who appreciated Vonnegut's whimsical, irreverent writing style will find it still on display in this new book.
The book is also quite current. Vonnegut blames many of today's problems on leaders with "psychopathic personalities." He takes on the president, the vice president, and the former of secretary of state, whom he refers to as "Bush, Dick and Colin." And he compares petroleum to drugs, asking why we don't fight a war on fossil fuels, which he calls "the most abused, addictive and destructive drugs of all."
Vonnegut also explores the writing process, reminds us of his fictional character Kilgore Trout, and advises young writers to avoid semicolons. ("They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.") But at the end of the book he breaks his own rule on semicolons to make a point. ("Rules only take us so far, even good rules.")
My favorite Vonnegut book, Player Piano, was his first novel, written decades ago. But even in old age the author refuses to give up or give in. I am always entertained when reading Vonnegut, and his latest book is no exception to that rule.
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Comments conceal
castiron
November 22 2005, 1:25PM
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll pick it up during my downtown over the Thanksgiving weekend.
clay cane
November 22 2005, 2:09PM
thanks for posting - ive been meaning to email you and ask for the name of this book again!
cmoney
November 22 2005, 7:52PM
I best remember Vonnegut from his cameo appearance in Rodney Dangerfield's comedy classic "Back to School". In the scene, Vonnegut was hired by Daingerfield to ghost write a book report on one of his own books. He received a terrible grade and scathing criticism from the professor. It was a great piece of comedy where Vonnegut's writing was the butt of the joke. As silly as it was, it was good to see an intellectual who was able to laugh it himself and not take himself too seriously.