The author of Slaughterhouse Five presents a collection of essays and reminiscences, offering a self-portrait that assesses his own life and the current state of the world. Reprint. NYT.
Fates Worse Than Death
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From Publishers Weekly
These 21 essays, combining personal recollections and political reiterations, lack a unifying theme; they are likely to disappoint even Vonnegut fans.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
This is a stimulating if rambling book of essays that discusses everything from the ugliness of the 1988 presidential campaign to male bonding in the stories of Ernest Hemingway. Maybe because Vonnegut has never hung around political speechwriters, he is pessimistic about the future of life on Earth and frankly nostalgic for the days when we were free of the certain knowledge that we would make this planet uninhabitable. Yet on the positive side, he sees in this country a decrease in racism (which he concedes may be only temporary). Some of the ideas here will be familiar to Vonnegut readers, such as the unnecessary bombing of Dresden or the now outrageous fact that Thomas Jefferson owned slaves, but all are offered in the hope of improving our chances at survival and often with disarming humor. Moralize, he tells young writers, but be sure to sound reader-friendly, like Cervantes rather than Cotton Mather. Recommended for most collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/91.
- Jack Shreve, Allegany Community Coll., Cumberland, Md.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Jack Shreve, Allegany Community Coll., Cumberland, Md.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
Here we have a sequel, not that anyone has clamored for one, to a book called Palm Sunday (1980), a collection of essays and speeches by me, with breezy autobiographical commentary serving as connective tissue and splints and bandages. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Here we have a sequel, not that anyone has clamored for one, to a book called Palm Sunday (1980), a collection of essays and speeches by me, with breezy autobiographical commentary serving as connective tissue and splints and bandages. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
As a huge fan of Kurt Vonnegut, I enjoyed the insight that Fates Worse Than Death provided. This book gave me a better sense of Kurt Vonnegut the man, not just the writer and gave me a better appreciation of his other novels.
Format:Paperback
These essays give us a rare look in to the mind of a genius. He expounds on subjects ranging from mental illness, family relationships, death and war. Sounds depressing, but an optimism shows through. Vonnegut masterfully points out the adsurdity around us and shines the light of sanity on it. The essays are as relevant and mind opening today as they were when he wrote them over a decade ago. Although this is not the Veonnegut work I would recommend to someone unfamiliar with his work, anyone will benefit from reading it.
Format:Paperback
It's always interesting to read an autobiographical report on someone's life. You can get a few insights on what to do and what not to do with your own life. As to hopelessness as an avenue to creativity, this SOMETIMES happens. Hopelessness has many legs and often travels into less exaulted fields than creativity. But what Mr. Vonnegut says is well expressed and can serve as a beacon of hope to the down and outers. As to the literary shock jock style of writing throughout the book, it's a attention grabber and also good for laughs. Though Mr. Vonnegut on page 185 does wisely point out the limits of humor. On paper, he is likeable man who seeks an occasional "peak experience" to make life worthwhile. Or if he doesn't seek it, here and there he finds it anyway.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
"De Mess We's In" (Amos and Andy)
To borrow a verb from Hawthorne, I was "purposed" here. Having eaten the garbage of the day's media reports, I picked up this book for the "cleansing" redux. Read more
Published on May 10 2002 by L. Dann
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vonnegut--humorous, engaging and entertaining
I prefer non-fiction works and this one from Vonnegut is very entertaining and presents his views of society and the world. Read more
Published on Sep 4 2001 by "drsullivan34"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brutally honest commentary
Here in this book we get Vonnegut's cynical but honest commentary on everything from talk show hosts to his own experiences with suicidal depression. Read more
Published on July 8 2001 by Bill R. Moore
4.0 out of 5 stars
how this book helped me
I read "fate worse than death" during wait for outcome of my husband's heart surgery in Indianapolis hospital. Read more
Published on Jun 28 2000
4.0 out of 5 stars
Honest veiw of Human Acitvity
I read this book a mere month ago, and it's idea and concepts still are freh in my mind. Vonnegut expressed himself the way he did 20 years ago. I absolutly loved this book. Read more
Published on April 4 2000 by starybabe
5.0 out of 5 stars
I laughed, I cried... not really.
This is a great book for anyone who likes Kurt Vonnegut. If you enjoyed Slaughterhouse Five, you will enjoy hearing him recount stories about his experience in WWII, and also... Read more
Published on Aug 1 1999
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another tedious, yet interesting, look at the man himself
Oh, great. Another "Autobiographical collage", as though there's anything left to say we really want to here after trudging through "Wampeters, Foma, and... Read more
Published on July 3 1997
5.0 out of 5 stars
Because He had it worse than me
As I sat under the only palm tree on the island, I would visualize just how good I really had it. Even though I would most likely be alone I would have my sanity. Read more
Published on Nov 4 1996
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