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Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage

kurt vonnegut jr.

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“[Kurt Vonnegut] is either the funniest serious writer around or the most serious funny writer.”— Los Angeles Times Book Review

In this self-portrait by an American genius, Kurt Vonnegut writes with beguiling wit and poignant wisdom about his favorite comedians, country music, a dead friend, a dead marriage, and various cockamamie aspects of his all-too-human journey through life. This is a work that resonates with Vonnegut’s singular the magic sound of a born storyteller mesmerizing us with truth.

“Vonnegut is at the top of his form, and it is wonderful.”— Newsday

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1981

This edition

Format
300 pages, Paperback
Published
May 11, 1999 by Dial Press Trade Paperback
ISBN
9780385334266
ASIN
0385334265
Language
English

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About the author

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kurt vonnegut jr.

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Kurt Vonnegut, Junior was an American novelist, satirist, and most recently, graphic artist. He was recognized as New York State Author for 2001-2003.

He was born in Indianapolis, later the setting for many of his novels. He attended Cornell University from 1941 to 1943, where he wrote a column for the student newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun. Vonnegut trained as a chemist and worked as a journalist before joining the U.S. Army and serving in World War II.

After the war, he attended University of Chicago as a graduate student in anthropology and also worked as a police reporter at the City News Bureau of Chicago. He left Chicago to work in Schenectady, New York in public relations for General Electric. He attributed his unadorned writing style to his reporting work.

His experiences as an advance scout in the Battle of the Bulge, and in particular his witnessing of the bombing of Dresden, Germany whilst a prisoner of war, would inform much of his work. This event would also form the core of his most famous work, Slaughterhouse-Five, the book which would make him a millionaire. This acerbic 200-page book is what most people mean when they describe a work as "Vonnegutian" in scope.

Vonnegut was a self-proclaimed humanist and socialist (influenced by the style of Indiana's own Eugene V. Debs) and a lifelong supporter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The novelist is known for works blending satire, black comedy and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five (1969), Cat's Cradle (1963), and Breakfast of Champions (1973)

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Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
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brom2020
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Vonnegut. It is impossible to think of anything to say about this miracle of a man. I cannot stand to think that such a light in my life, and the lives of others is gone. One who wishes to relive the beauty, humor, and pure joy of Vonnegut can pick up this book any time. They may also pick up another one of his books, whatever it takes to get their fix. I can't think of anything better than spending a day reading Vonnegut.
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soYaaqo
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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A collection of essays, speeches and magazine articles, this work feels a bit 'thrown together'. But there are some gems within, including some good advice for fledgling writers: "Did you ever admire an empty-headed writer for his or her mastery of the language? No... Find a subject you care about. It is this genuine caring, and not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style."
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mistersunday
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Every Vonnegut reread is a fresh and wholesome new read. I fully intend to keep rereading until I either drop dead or the inevitable chaos of utter boredom with life itself overcomes me.
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jayjavelyn
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Vonnegut is always enjoyable to read. Of his nonfiction books that I've read, this is probably my second favourite (Wampeters wins) as it offers unique insight into who he was as a person that his other nonfiction books don't necessarily. The way it was told, combining excerpts with his reflections and additions, was also engaging. Some of the essays were a little boring, and I probably wouldn't have been super interested in most of them had I not been researching Vonnegut, so my rating isn't super high. Nonetheless, I love Vonnegut as a person, so it's always rewarding to read his thoughts and opinions.
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Zeenogre
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Для меня наследие Воннегута как мыслителя и публичного спикера интересно не менее, а может и более, чем его рассказы или романы. Читая эти «плоды тщеславия», как он выражается, поневоле заражаешься его ощущением сво��оды, восхищаешься способностью высказывать свое мнение и смелостью поднимать наиболее острые темы современности. Он не стесняется говорить о том, что ему действительно важно, не боится показаться наивным или недалеким человеком. Он называет вещи своими именами, даже если это кому-либо и не понравится. А таких недоброжелателей за его жизнь, судя по книге, находилось немало. Для меня было открытием, что в США его книги не только изымали из библиотек, но даже сжигали, что конечно только придало им дополнительной закалки. «Вербное воскресенье» - не просто сборник подзалежавшейся или вообще ранее не опубликованной публицистики, это своеобразный жизненный путь автора, его убеждения и заблуждения, его радости и печали, его надежды и разочарования. На первый взгляд он беззаботен и щедро сыпет остротами, но очень быстро становится ясно, что вездесущий юмор — это только средство, помогающее ему говорить о действительно серьезных вещах, избегая пошлости и нравоучения.
В процессе чтения, понимаешь, что нам в Украине здорово не хватает таких писателей, с такой же внутренней свободой, видимой бесшабашностью и в то же время способностью говорить на самые серьезные темы. Нередко среди нас преобладает зашоренность, ограниченность и узость мышления, что конечно не сочетается с хорошим чувством юмора. Последнее, как известно, является индикатором интеллекта, и творчество Воннегута, конечно, служит лучшим тому подтверждением.
Благодаря такому преимуществу, книга читается легко и приятно. Ощутимым препятствием на пути может стать только незнание американского контекста.
Множество имен, событий и географических локаций были хорошо известны американскому читателю 1980-х и мало что скажут современному читателю-иностранцу. Тем не менее, это не уменьшает значимости произведения.
Многие вещи, сказанные стариной Куртом, остаются актуальными и по сей день.
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GioGio0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Reading Vonnegut is such a rewarding experience. It's also such an easy one, his words flow with such ease - as if he is in the room and addressing you alone.

I enjoyed this, but I so longed for it to be a story, for the appearance of Trout or Pilgrim - or even Hoover. I miss Mr Vonnegut.

God Bless You.

And so he went.
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polofruit
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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This was my first Vonnegut, almost twenty years ago to the day. Maybe an unusual starting point, being an "autobiographical collage," a "blivet," etc. It definitely intrigued me enough to dig for more by him. Upon re-reading it, I definitely see what made me want to dig in for more by the guy, and I might even recommend others start with it, rather than one of the handful of Vonnegut "classics" you'd think someone would want to begin with. If you think you'd enjoy Vonnegut talking about politics and religion, giving his family history (probably more than you'd expect-- but it's also more interesting than you might expect!), exploring some surprising and some not-so-surprising topics, and even including lyrics to a couple of Statler Brothers (!) songs, I recommend digging in! The short story and play he includes in this one aren't among his best creative work, but the short essays, speeches, and other writings in here include some of my favorites.
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issayori
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Hard to rate. This is his second "autobiographical" piece I've read. As far as fiction, I've only read Slaughterhouse Five. I didn't like it. I get it, I understand his humor, but I just don't like it. Yet, reading his nonfiction, I feel I would have really liked him as a person. I agree with many of his thoughts. Some I just don't get. He spends a lot of pointless time exclaiming about pointlessness (see Jonathan Swift and Jekyll and Hyde). At other times, especially about religion, spirituality, and the state of being agnostic, he seems to me profound. He was without a doubt, a very complex individual. What else is a cynic but a wounded idealist?
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