Welcome to Litsy!

And that's a wrap! I saved Vonnegut's last for last, which turned out to be the right call, I think. If this had been the first thing of his I'd read, I'm not sure I would have known what to make of it. As a swan song, though, it's perfect - a novel not quite coming together, the well of ideas running dry, repurposed into a meta-narrative reflecting on a life approaching its end and all of those who were a part of it.

Wanted to read something short so I settled for this collection of speeches by Kurt Vonnegut. Some of his views are slightly outdated but overall he was a deeply inspirational man who advocated for communities and togetherness. A lot of what he talks about is still eerily relevant today.

5 Stars • Welcome to the Monkey House is a 1968 collection of 25 short stories by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., blending science fiction, satire, and social commentary. The title story depicts a dystopian world with overpopulation and government-enforced anti-sex drugs. Rebel Billy the Poet kidnaps a Suicide Parlor hostess to restore human connection, critiquing societal control. ⬇️

#Read2025

Listened to for #AuthorAMonth September #KurtVonnegut Overall, I enjoyed this college commencement speeches, although they do get repetitive, especially toward the end. With the two stories read & listened to previously, I feel like I have read enough for now. Would I try one of his better known novels at some point? Maybe.🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm feeling this quote about #poetry. I'm learning to appreciate poetry more these days, but it seems like such a personal thing, more so than any prose.

#kurtvonnegut #aam

For crying out loud Vonnegut, stop meandering on about yourself and write a damn story!

#AuthorAMonth

Whew! Is this book outdated or what? Most of the stories in this book (about 75%) are good to great. Some stories, however, either completely lost me or were just not that good. And then there are the few that are just ewww. Take the story that is also the title of book—a bit misogynistic or worse? Set in the future, a 70+ woman is a virgin, who is kidnapped and then “subjected” to sex (it‘s not apparently meant to be considered “rape” from the ⬇️

Well.

I got to a quarter deep and just couldn‘t continue. I‘m sure there‘s more inviting Vonnegut to try instead but this was all that was available in my library at this moment. I told myself I‘d allow one author to be DNF if situation called, I guess this one‘s it for me. #AuthorAMonth

Billed as extremely funny, I was so looking forward to listening to this book. Alas, I started it right after reading his If This Isn't Nice, What Is? I felt so preached at in that book, so when it started up again with this book I bailed. Maybe I‘ll try it again someday but it just didn‘t work for me this month. On another note, I am enjoying his short stories that I‘m currently reading. #authoramonth @Soubhiville