A Man Without a Country
by Kurt Vonnegut
I’ve never read a Kurt Vonnegut novel, but I’ve heard so many wonderful things about his writing from his fans, I decided to give him a chance. I asked my brother if he had any of his books, and the only one he had was A Man Without a Country, a compilation of essays. Immediately, I was charmed by his conversational yet extremely intelligent tone. There are thirteen essays in total, varying from political opinions to childhood memories, and while I didn’t fall in love with every single one of them, I was riveted by his writing style and opinions.
Vonnegut is a deep thinker with a hint of cynicism, but also interweaves humor through the paragraphs. He can juxtapose dark and light sentences, and because of his accessible tone, the contrast works and makes you think. I loved the parts of his personality that seemed old-fashioned; it made me imagine he’d be a delight to talk to at a cocktail party.
It’s a very short read, a book you could easily knock out in an afternoon, so if you’ve ever been tempted to read Kurt Vonnegut but haven’t wanted to commit to a full novel, definitely check this out to see if you like his style. He’s won me over, and in my next trip to the bookstore, I just might bring home one of his novels.
Vonnegut is a deep thinker with a hint of cynicism, but also interweaves humor through the paragraphs. He can juxtapose dark and light sentences, and because of his accessible tone, the contrast works and makes you think. I loved the parts of his personality that seemed old-fashioned; it made me imagine he’d be a delight to talk to at a cocktail party.
It’s a very short read, a book you could easily knock out in an afternoon, so if you’ve ever been tempted to read Kurt Vonnegut but haven’t wanted to commit to a full novel, definitely check this out to see if you like his style. He’s won me over, and in my next trip to the bookstore, I just might bring home one of his novels.