God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
by Kurt Vonnegut
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recommends it for:
cynical idealists
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Read in December, 2007
I began this book with uncertainty. I couldn't decided whether I liked Vonnegut's style or whether I hated its dry humor. I apporached the plot with morbid curiosity. The protagonist is a trainwreck, and I couldn't tear myself away from the book. it seems that this is the authors intention. I was uncomfortable watching Mr. Rosewater's life fall apart, until I realized that Rosewater enjoyed it. He is a an insane philanthropist, iresponsible with his money. But by the end of the book their is so...more
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"A sum of money is a leading character in this tale about people, just as a sum of honey might properly be a leading character in a tale about bees."
This was the very first Vonnegut book I ever read, when I was 12 years old. I remember finishing it and thinking to myself "what the hell did I just read?" and promptly turned around and read Slaughterhouse-Five, Welcome to the Monkey House, Cat's Cradle and a bunch of others. I'm not sure if I understand...more
This was the very first Vonnegut book I ever read, when I was 12 years old. I remember finishing it and thinking to myself "what the hell did I just read?" and promptly turned around and read Slaughterhouse-Five, Welcome to the Monkey House, Cat's Cradle and a bunch of others. I'm not sure if I understand...more
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Read in April, 2008
The strength of this book is in its social commentary about the very rich rather than the story itself. The writing is good, and at times scathingly funny. The story is somewhat disjointed and not all that satisfying overall, but worth the read for the humor and style. Eliot Rosewater was born into a filthy rich family, and as an adult administers the Rosewater Foundation. He renounces his family's ways, lives like a pauper, and tries to give away as much of the foundation's money as he can....more
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Read in January, 2008
It seems like loads of people think this book is pro-socialism, but it seems to me like more of a hopeless rant against society with no attempt at positive suggestions. Don't get me wrong--his style is entertaining: sincere but at times surprisingly blunt and humorous.
However, the content falls short for me, and Vonnegut comes across as one of those people who are always whining about what he/she dislikes about society and then never does anything to fix it. I'm an amateur though, so what ...more
However, the content falls short for me, and Vonnegut comes across as one of those people who are always whining about what he/she dislikes about society and then never does anything to fix it. I'm an amateur though, so what ...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
thinkers, vonnegut fans, the proletariate
One of those books where, if you read it in multiple sittings, you kind of want to go back and read it again because you're wondering if you missed the plot somewhere. But you didn't. This is basically a story about several people, with lots of back story, converging to become a part of a single event. But Vonnegut makes Elliot Rosewater an engaging protagonist. He is born into power but rejects it, choosing a life of service to others that is either eccentric or insane. And when the machin...more
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Read in January, 1997
recommends it for:
youth with the pretensions of liberal politics--wealthy youth
i learned that kurt vonnegut wrote a play called happy birthday wanda june.
this book is, i think, the culimination of certain ever present themes that exist in vonnegut's work. and thus, the best impression of vonnegut that vonnegut would ever do:
fuzzy morality that is really quite clear.
sadness wrapped in a humor so dry that it's almost not palatable, but somehow, so genuine...oh i dunno--
i just really like this one. who knows? maybe because the women are so haunted and distant. maybe b...more
this book is, i think, the culimination of certain ever present themes that exist in vonnegut's work. and thus, the best impression of vonnegut that vonnegut would ever do:
fuzzy morality that is really quite clear.
sadness wrapped in a humor so dry that it's almost not palatable, but somehow, so genuine...oh i dunno--
i just really like this one. who knows? maybe because the women are so haunted and distant. maybe b...more
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Read in December, 2007
So I always demurred from being a Vonnegut fan in high school and early college, when it was so cool to be a fan, stolidly pushing throughing nineteenth century two pound books of either British or Russian origins. This is because I was an idiot. Vonnegut is no master of plot, but how important is plot where everything is fucked through and through, and nothing is working toward a meaning-
But then that is too simple, he really just tells us what we already know, in whimsical tones, in lov...more
But then that is too simple, he really just tells us what we already know, in whimsical tones, in lov...more
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Not quite as full and fullfilling as other works by Kurt. This novel was very short and not really to the point. To me, it felt as if Eliot was being portrayed as the American people while his father and everyone of his "keepers" are the American Government. the General idea Vonnegut tries to convey is that the Government will always try point you in the direction they feel is correct, no matter how absurd it is. And, if at any point in time you stray off their path, or idea, of what i...more
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
Vonnegut fans
I'm on a mission to read all of Vonnegut's books this year. I chose this one because the reviews on the back swore it was a hilarious read. I didn't find it to be so, but I still enjoyed most every word and giggled enough to be able to nod in agreement if someone asks, "Was it funny?"
It wasn't funny in a comedic way, which on the surface I'm sure makes no sense. It was funny in the same way making fun of someone else is funny. It's not actually funny so much as we chuckle out o...more
It wasn't funny in a comedic way, which on the surface I'm sure makes no sense. It was funny in the same way making fun of someone else is funny. It's not actually funny so much as we chuckle out o...more
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Read in October, 1998
[Note - this review combines Vonnegut's Slapstick and God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater] These two Vonnegut novels don't seem similar, but they both contain the character Norman Mushari - a lawyer who represents family members with unfair financial situations (relative to their siblings). Both books were equally disturbing - Slapstick a bit more so because of its odd, futuristic New York. I especially enjoyed the autobiographical introduction. God Bless You was an interest satire - but sad in tha...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
Most people
More Vonnegut. More insightful satire on American culture, more gay references than what I expected. I don't think I enjoyed this as much as I did Hocus Pocus but still definitely worth the read. I started reading this immediately after Hocus Pocus and had to put it down for about a month. Luckily, no one asked for it at the library and my appetite for it came back to me.
I also noticed that the socialist commentary was much more obvious in this one. Ends like a cheezy movie, but a good ch...more
I also noticed that the socialist commentary was much more obvious in this one. Ends like a cheezy movie, but a good ch...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
cynical people with lots of time
so pretty much this is supposed to be some kind of funny novel and so on and so forth, I'm a little more than halfway though and still waiting for my first laugh, should be coming any minute now... pretty much it's for all these so-called educated people who think they understand the nature of man and how life is. Very cynical and while not a complete bore not one I'd recommend. I guess the moral was pretty good. but honestly could've been said in a couple sentances so it was pretty boring.
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I re-read this every couple of years; it's one of Vonnegut's best.
Mr Rosewater's shambling house of gilded cards falls apart whenever the pressure becomes too much, and he is his worse critic.
He experiences major blackouts and loses months at a time. He's the town drunk, honorary firehouse master and daddy's rich boy gone wrong. And he is so very sorry for all the trouble he causes.
Like most of Vonnegut's books, the character is drawn with empathy, humour and history.
Mr Rosewater's shambling house of gilded cards falls apart whenever the pressure becomes too much, and he is his worse critic.
He experiences major blackouts and loses months at a time. He's the town drunk, honorary firehouse master and daddy's rich boy gone wrong. And he is so very sorry for all the trouble he causes.
Like most of Vonnegut's books, the character is drawn with empathy, humour and history.
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the director of our student television station gave this to me when i worked for him around christmas my freshman year of high school. i didn't read it until i was a senior in college but if ever there was a book to read and say, that's so nicole. there's no robots or music, but there is a guy whose generous heart makes him a little looney in the eyes of everyone else. and he's an volunteer fire fighter, which is two sidesteps from floor fire warden in my book.
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
Yes
I'm currently reading this one. So far, so good. Vonnegut's sociopolitical beliefs are coming through loud and clear, as usual. It's witty, it's funny, and the female characters are all shallow, materialistic bitches, which seems to be a running theme for Kurt. That is my one big gripe about the author. His female characters are largely undeveloped, except for being spoiled, frigid, and stupid. I'll keep reading his stuff until I prove myself wrong, though.
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I have total respect for Vonnegut, but unfortunately I can't seem to get into his work. His humor is a too dry to strike my funny bone and I get disoriented when his storylines jump around, as they often do. I have also tried to read Timequake and Slaughterhouse Five, but lost interest halfway through. Whether or not you like Vonnegut, I recommend trying out Tom Robbins as he has a similar tone but with more accessible storylines and humor (in my opinion anyway).
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Read in November, 2007
I just like Vonnegut. As Vonnegut goes, however, this book doesn't stand up next to Timequake or Hocus Pocus or Cat's Cradle or Slaughterhouse 5. It was a light, entertaining read, focused largely on Vonnegut's beloved Socialism. The book didn't really grab my interest until better than halfway through.
The clever ending was very satisfying, but I could have used a wrap-up of the fates of the Rhode Island Rosewaters, as well as Norman Mushari.
The clever ending was very satisfying, but I could have used a wrap-up of the fates of the Rhode Island Rosewaters, as well as Norman Mushari.
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Read in October, 2006
This is the first Vonnegut I read, and my lease favorite. The book follows Elliot Rosewater through a mid-life crisis and into an asylum. Most of the book is funny, displaying Rosewater’s misguided attempt to help people and the follies that come with living life.
While I enjoyed the read, it lacks a lot of the power found in his other works. Of course, even though it’s at the bottom of my list, it’s still Vonnegut and a solid read.
While I enjoyed the read, it lacks a lot of the power found in his other works. Of course, even though it’s at the bottom of my list, it’s still Vonnegut and a solid read.
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ok, my diagnosis is that this is my absolute favorite vonnegut book. it steers away from the science fiction aspects of a lot of vonnegut's books, but it has a huge heart and characters who are complex and immoral. the message is awesome in this book and, of course, i chuckled most of my way through it. Keep an eye open for a description of the gay restaurateur's novel, yet blatantly homoerotic dish on the menu.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.82 (4066 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.82 (3991 ratings) number of reviews: 151popular shelves
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"Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule I know of, babies: god damn it, you've got to be kind.
"
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