Vonnegut: best one to start?

[mnemosyne's lobotomy]

I'd like to read some Vonnegut. Where to start? I've had Cat's Cradle recommended. This or Slaughterhouse 5?

[mnemosyne's lobotomy]

Breakfast of Champions?

[Grant Sharkey]

I started on Slaughterhouse Five - but i think Cat's Cradle is also a very nice start.

Don't do Timequake too early and you'll be fine. Breakfast of Champions is a little slow to start for me, but i think it's because i've read so much of his stuff that it was him taking it easy - but it's worth it.

Just be good to yourself and read it.
So it goes.

[tim the enchanter]

Slaughterhouse 5?

:thumbsup: :2c:

[Jugghaid]

I would say slaughterhouse 5, but that's just me.

[bnyswonger]

Cat's Cradle is almost lyric...it's where I would start.

[spezzy]

Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle are both great books.

My first one? Slapstick. And I was hooked.

[MrJoshua]

I've forgotten the name of the first Vonnegut book I read. How embarassing. It was the one with this quote. "Go take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. Why don't you go take a flying fuck at the MOOOOON!"

It was pretty entertaining. It's been years, though. I should really go back and re-read some of his stuff.

[spezzy]

I've forgotten the name of the first Vonnegut book I read. How embarassing. It was the one with this quote. "Go take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. Why don't you go take a flying fuck at the MOOOOON!"

It was pretty entertaining. It's been years, though. I should really go back and re-read some of his stuff.

Slapstick.

[Grant Sharkey]

Spezzy is throroughly trustworthy in her Vonnegut ways. Remember this.

[burdizzos]

Welcome to the Monkey House is a good intro to his style of writing and showcases some of his more humorous work.

I went on a Vonnegut bender a few years ago and I'm not sure if I've recovered.

[Les Izzmor]

Didn't you also just recently get London Calling? What exactly were you doing while an undergrad?


Cat's Cradle or Slaughterhouse 5 is a good starting point.

But. Also try Sirens of Titan, God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, Hocus Pocus, Deadeye Dick, Breakfast of Champions, Mother Night, Player Piano.

Pretty much all of his stuff is good.

[spezzy]

Spezzy is throroughly trustworthy in her Vonnegut ways. Remember this.

haha. I've read most of his stuff at least five or six times.

For some reason, it never gets old for me.

Vonnegut is my hero.

[basshunter]

Good god, I've no idea how to answer this question...just read!!!!!

[Grant Sharkey]

haha. I've read most of his stuff at least five or six times.

For some reason, it never gets old for me.

Vonnegut is my hero.

I can read some books again and again. Not all of his. Despite trying.

[ahpook]

i started with slaughterhouse 5

[Zamfir]

Good god, I've no idea how to answer this question...just read!!!!!

Don't rush me. :mad:


pulls out Hooked On Phonics

[lug]

another vote for Cat's Cradle.

[Jugghaid]

It's amazing to me how many musicians really enjoy reading. In real life, most people I know just don't read a lot. Personally I've always read constantly. Probably my upbringing. Our family still give books as gifts and always has. It seems to me that a very high percentage of musicians are also voracious readers. Maybe it's a left brain thing. ;)

[Les Izzmor]

It's amazing to me how many musicians really enjoy reading. In real life, most people I know just don't read a lot. Personally I've always read constantly. Probably my upbringing. Our family still give books as gifts and always has. It seems to me that a very high percentage of musicians are also voracious readers. Maybe it's a left brain thing. ;)

I read a ton.

But. Calling me a musician might be stretching it a bit. :D

[spezzy]

It's amazing to me how many musicians really enjoy reading. In real life, most people I know just don't read a lot. Personally I've always read constantly. Probably my upbringing. Our family still give books as gifts and always has. It seems to me that a very high percentage of musicians are also voracious readers. Maybe it's a left brain thing. ;)

I agree. Most people I run into really don't read that much.

One of my best friends and I became friends because when he came into my house (to visit my roommate), he saw that I read Vonnegut.

It's hard to find people to talk about books with.

[Zamfir]

It's amazing to me how many musicians really enjoy reading. In real life, most people I know just don't read a lot. Personally I've always read constantly. Probably my upbringing. Our family still give books as gifts and always has. It seems to me that a very high percentage of musicians are also voracious readers. Maybe it's a left brain thing. ;)

The really ironic thing is that where reading is concerned, I've had to fight my entire adult life with what I jokingly used to call occupational narcolepsy. :D
Pop open a book, I'm drowsy in 30 minutes or less.

The Internet keeps me awake, so... :smack:

I give books as gifts because I don't know what else to get people. :confused:

[cdb]

Breakfast of champions gets my vote followed by slaughterhouse 5

[Zamfir]

Just finished Bluebeard on the plane over here. Darn good. Some good Vonnegut-isms let loose. :thumbsup:

[Les Izzmor]

Just finished Bluebeard on the plane over here. Darn good. Some good Vonnegut-isms let loose. :thumbsup:

I liked Bluebeard a lot.

[bnyswonger]

I liked Bluebeard a lot.


I did too. :thumbsup:

Pretty much like all of them actually. ;)