Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Dial Press Trade Paperback (1998), Edition: 1st THUS, Paperback, 288 pages
Description
Eliot Rosewater is tortured by a fabulous inheritance he feels he does not deserve, so he devotes himself to drink, and to a life serving the dull, the ugly, the irrelevant and the useless. This is a novel about the pleasures, pains and perversions of people and money. It is the story of a millionaire's lunacy, the obsessions of a famous family and the collective madness of a nation.
User reviews
LibraryThing member snorkstress
To paraphraze Winston Churchill, if you don't weep over Vonnegut's acclaimed social satire at 20, you have no heart. If you still weep while re-reading it at 35, you have no brain. By masterfully portraying the abyss between the "dirt-poor" and "filthy rich", wittily arguing that the latter are far
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more useless than the former, Vonnegut only casually mentions the fairly well-washed millions in between; the ground on which the demarcation lines are blurred, and his personal rules of humanism are frequently set aside in favor of garden-variety street smarts. Vonnegut's trademark quirky characters, vivid style, and tight, beautifully wrapped up plot are, as always, very useful weapons in his emotional blackmail: if you don't see the world on his terms, if you take neither side, be ashamed of yourself! Be very ashamed of yourself... Show Less
LibraryThing member verenka
Kurt Vonnegut is my favourite author. I love everything he wrote. I didn't find this book as brilliant as some of his other work but I still liked it a lot. Just because it's him and I love his style and his crazy characters and how he gives a little cameo to Kilgore Trout in all his books.
LibraryThing member ecataldi
I definitely appreciated this much more on the second go around. Admittedly it's not my favorite Vonnegut novel, but I still think it's pretty solid... in an off the wall kind of fucked up way. This black comedy satire novel, pokes fun at everything: the wealthy, how Americans view poverty, science
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fiction, family trees, foundations, and more. Eliot Rosewater is the head of the insanely rich Rosewater Foundation and since he's been head he's been mostly drunk and not altogether sane. He'll write out grants for morphine, poetry, whatever anyone in his crazy community asks for. Shit hits the fan when it turns out that there is another Rosewater relation who might be more legally sane and responsible to take over the foundation since Eliot has no children. It's zany, over the top, and filled with the Vonnegut charm. Show Less
LibraryThing member karieh
Now that I have been writing book reviews on almost everything I read, I feel compelled to write at least a few words on this incredible novel of Kurt Vonnegut’s – of which thousands of reviews have been written already.
I kept having to check the publishing information to make sure that it was
“Thus did a handful of rapacious citizens come to control all that was worth controlling in America. Thus was the savage and stupid and entirely inappropriate and unnecessary and humorless American class system created. Honest, industrious, peaceful citizens were classed as bloodsuckers, if they asked to be paid a living wage. And they saw that praise was reserved henceforth for those who devised means of getting paid enormously for committing crimes against which no laws had been passed. Thus the American dream turned belly up…” Can anyone say Wisconsin in 2011?
And, “An even more instructive motto, in the light of history made by the Noah Rosewaters, might be: Grab much too much, or you’ll get nothing at all.”
I tore through this book, amazed not only by Vonnegut’s amazing social commentary, but also by the small pauses of quiet beauty he describes, scenes of a country that was and might not be much longer. “That’s such an American sound, you know? School out and the flag down? Such a sad American sound. You should hear it sometime when the sun’s gone down, and a light evening wind comes up, and it’s suppertime all over the world.” So descriptive…I can see and feel the scene exactly.
I must thank my aunt again for what turned out to be one of my best birthday presents…a book that seems one written in the past but most applicable for our tenuous present. If only we had an Eliot Rosewater to save us, to realize the unjust reality he describes that so many Americans now live in.
“…fright about not getting enough to eat, about not being able to pay the doctor, about not being able to give your family nice clothes, a safe, cheerful, comfortable place to live, a decent education, and a few good times? You mean shame about not knowing where the Money River is?”
“The what?”
“The Money River, where the wealth of the nation flows. We were born on the banks of it – and so were most of the mediocre people we grew up with, went to private schools with, sailed and played tennis with. We can slurp from that mighty river to our hearts’ content.”
Because even in a land where there is the theoretical chance that a person can become “self made”, what matters now more than ever, is how close one was born to that magical Money River.
I kept having to check the publishing information to make sure that it was
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written 46 years ago and not 46 minutes ago. Some of the concepts are so prescient as to seem almost spooky. (Or perhaps that means they are timeless…but caught up in today’s crazy political spectrum, I am going with the prophetic angle.)“Thus did a handful of rapacious citizens come to control all that was worth controlling in America. Thus was the savage and stupid and entirely inappropriate and unnecessary and humorless American class system created. Honest, industrious, peaceful citizens were classed as bloodsuckers, if they asked to be paid a living wage. And they saw that praise was reserved henceforth for those who devised means of getting paid enormously for committing crimes against which no laws had been passed. Thus the American dream turned belly up…” Can anyone say Wisconsin in 2011?
And, “An even more instructive motto, in the light of history made by the Noah Rosewaters, might be: Grab much too much, or you’ll get nothing at all.”
I tore through this book, amazed not only by Vonnegut’s amazing social commentary, but also by the small pauses of quiet beauty he describes, scenes of a country that was and might not be much longer. “That’s such an American sound, you know? School out and the flag down? Such a sad American sound. You should hear it sometime when the sun’s gone down, and a light evening wind comes up, and it’s suppertime all over the world.” So descriptive…I can see and feel the scene exactly.
I must thank my aunt again for what turned out to be one of my best birthday presents…a book that seems one written in the past but most applicable for our tenuous present. If only we had an Eliot Rosewater to save us, to realize the unjust reality he describes that so many Americans now live in.
“…fright about not getting enough to eat, about not being able to pay the doctor, about not being able to give your family nice clothes, a safe, cheerful, comfortable place to live, a decent education, and a few good times? You mean shame about not knowing where the Money River is?”
“The what?”
“The Money River, where the wealth of the nation flows. We were born on the banks of it – and so were most of the mediocre people we grew up with, went to private schools with, sailed and played tennis with. We can slurp from that mighty river to our hearts’ content.”
Because even in a land where there is the theoretical chance that a person can become “self made”, what matters now more than ever, is how close one was born to that magical Money River.
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LibraryThing member danconsiglio
It would appear that my quest to read a less than awesome Kurt Vonnegut book must continue. Damn it, man, can't you write something that isn't enjoyable and poignant? What the hell? Why not just write a book that is only great? Do they have to all be awesome? Doesn't this get old to you?
This here
This here
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is a satire of the American class system and Western capitalism. As usual it is hilarious, and honest, and well-conceived, and blah blah blah isn't Vonnegut just one of the best American writers ever. I mean, he really is. This book also rules. I liked it a whole lot. Show Less
LibraryThing member VictoriaNH
Recommend this book highly. It is about money, the undeserving rich who inherit their wealth and their attitude toward the rest of humanity. Hard to believeit was written in 1965 and not this year. Things don't change much.
LibraryThing member robfreeze
Awesome book, way better then Slaughterhouse Five (which I read just before reading this one).
LibraryThing member dczapka
It's always tempting to fall into the trap of saying that Vonnegut's books tend to be, as a whole, repetitive and reductive. And while many of them feel very similar to others -- and God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater certainly fits that mold -- they all succeed by virtue of addressing subtly different
In this book, we're invited to see the horrid results of wealth, greed, and litigation, through the eyes of two Mr. Rosewaters, both of whom are guilty only of doing as best as they can given their mindsets and circumstances. One man overcomes his lineage, one seems destined to succumb to it.
After a fascinating satirical meditation on the nature of mental illness, it ends with a surprising last-page twist that somehow manages to feel too rushed to be valid and too appropriate to be disputed at the same time.
It's classic Vonnegut through and through, which is a good or bad thing depending on what you think of him. Me, I thought it was a brisk, charming, and disarming read.
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aspects of the despicable human nature we're all heir to.In this book, we're invited to see the horrid results of wealth, greed, and litigation, through the eyes of two Mr. Rosewaters, both of whom are guilty only of doing as best as they can given their mindsets and circumstances. One man overcomes his lineage, one seems destined to succumb to it.
After a fascinating satirical meditation on the nature of mental illness, it ends with a surprising last-page twist that somehow manages to feel too rushed to be valid and too appropriate to be disputed at the same time.
It's classic Vonnegut through and through, which is a good or bad thing depending on what you think of him. Me, I thought it was a brisk, charming, and disarming read.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
Kurt Vonnegut satirizes the 1% before it was popular. I'll bet he had everyone in mind. But, I did not get the full effect of the satire...it wasn't that funny. I guess you had to be there
LibraryThing member SnowcatCradle
By far my favorite work by Vonnegut. More readable and humorous than Slaughterhouse-five, but without the nearly exhausting humor of Slapstick and Breakfast of Champions.
LibraryThing member BooksForDinner
Money, suicide, at least one Dresden reference, crazy people, Kilgore Trout... another classic Vonnegut novel. Felt a little disjointed at the end, but still great.
LibraryThing member bontley
fantastically readable, subtle and lyrical and satirical. One two many characters, however. Perhaps a tad digressive.
LibraryThing member HadriantheBlind
I don't seem to understand why some people classify Vonnegut as a humorist. I find his books to be intensely sobering and the kind of thing that a lot of people should read.
LibraryThing member bartt95
Vonnegut at his absolute best. Entertaining, with a great set of characters (Kilgore Trout!) and brilliant narration, and satirically perfectly on point.
Mr. Rosewater is considered insane because he helps the useless, rejected and stupid without any personal gain. He needs no reason other than
Mr. Rosewater is considered insane because he helps the useless, rejected and stupid without any personal gain. He needs no reason other than
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humanity, and even though his father and lawyers try to help him, to prove him sane, for the sake of their fortune and their greed, Eliot never understands why he can't do what he does, sees no reason not to, and happily, carelessly keeps doing so. Show Less
LibraryThing member dickmanikowski
I thought that I had read all of Vonnegut's early novels long ago, but I'm pretty sure this was new to me.
Interesting read, but not really grabbing. Definitely Vonnegut, tough.
Interesting read, but not really grabbing. Definitely Vonnegut, tough.
LibraryThing member NickConstantine
Elliot Rosewater is a drunk, volunteer firefighter who also happens to be the owner of a town. With an endless budget and mind run a little crazy with booze, Elliot decides to do experiments in human nature. He is the sole answerer of a telephone line for people who need a listening ear. Also, Mr.
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Rosewater finds and falls in love with a graphic pulp science fiction novel by one Kilgore Trout. Kilgore is Vonnegut’s favorite recurring character which is evident because of all the funding and adoration that Rosewater rains upon Mr. Trout. This is another fun and complicatedly comical tale by Vonnegut. There isn’t much about Vonnegut’s writing that I don’t like, although once I tried to read everything he ever wrote in a row and nearly lost all hope in humanity and religion. Show Less
LibraryThing member NicholasPayne
Not A-list Vonnegut, but pleasant enough.
LibraryThing member kvrfan
I haven't read Vonnegut for 40 years. He was something of the "voice" of my generation, and while I enjoyed "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater," I wonder whether his brand of snarky cynicism better appeals to a reader in his teens/twenties than where I am in life right now. In "Rosewater" the rich are
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corrupt, the poor are stupid, and we're left with the lesson that we should be nice to one another. Overall, at my age I found the book more of a diversion than a real read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Awfki
2023-10-15: I didn't get far and I'll come back to it but it wasn't the escape I needed from Awake.
2023-11-10: I think it's a recurring thing with Vonnegut that I dislike his books at the beginning and then love them further in. This book is genius. Elliot is the Buddha and Jesus and Lao Tzu all
2023-11-19: I'm kind ambivalent about this one. The whole story was about how insane Elliot was because he treats people with kindness and respect. Even Elliot thinks he's insane. He certainly doesn't seem to see that he's right and it's the rest of the world that's broken. Elliot may be the only person that Elliot doesn't treat with compassion.
2023-11-10: I think it's a recurring thing with Vonnegut that I dislike his books at the beginning and then love them further in. This book is genius. Elliot is the Buddha and Jesus and Lao Tzu all
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rolled up in a wrapper of compassion. He sees that the bullshit is bullshit where everyone else thinks it's gold. He cares about people just because they're people and because of that everyone thinks he's insane. 2023-11-19: I'm kind ambivalent about this one. The whole story was about how insane Elliot was because he treats people with kindness and respect. Even Elliot thinks he's insane. He certainly doesn't seem to see that he's right and it's the rest of the world that's broken. Elliot may be the only person that Elliot doesn't treat with compassion.
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LibraryThing member Booktacular
This was one of those books that sat around on my shelves waiting for the right moment to be read. It is very timely right now, dealing with wealth inequality and the inability of the rich to empathize with the rest of society.
Overall I loved this one, but the ending left just a bit to be desired
This is vague, but that's how I roll.
Overall I loved this one, but the ending left just a bit to be desired
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for me. It had one of those abrupt Vonnegut endings that you only see coming because you know you're running out of pages. This is vague, but that's how I roll.
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LibraryThing member MaureenCean
I love Vonnegut. So creative. This goes into my permanent collection since I'll never understand it all, and thus may try again in the future. Loved the discussion between Eliot and the Senator where Eliot described the River of Money, it was brilliant.
LibraryThing member fuzzy_patters
This satire about American money and where it comes from could have been written today and would be just as poignant. Elliot Rosewater realizes that he has been born near the "money river" and wants to be a man of the people. For that, everyone thinks he's crazy.
LibraryThing member booklove2
Eliot Rosewater and money are the main characters in this Vonnegut classic. A satire about money! So glad it's satire. This is very good. Crackup after crackup, each and every page. Reminds me of the Marx brothers. I began to wonder if Vonnegut just thinks naturally in satire and humor ALL the
*Book #133 I have read of the '1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die'
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time, just to combat all the darkness in his life. I love seeing how much Vonnegut loved crafting words together in this one. I could really see how much he loved words. I did NOT expect to love this more than Breakfast of Champions! 7/8 of the Vonnegut books I have read now have been favorites. (Player Piano went over my head.) The money aspects to this one reminded me a bit of 'Trust' by Hernan Diaz, if it had been a satire. *Book #133 I have read of the '1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die'
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LibraryThing member BenKline
Doing my yearly re-read of one of Vonnegut's novels. As always this is another one of his terrific satiric novels pointing out the 'flaws' in treating people like people. Humans like humans. Instead of treating people like servants, or users, or below us.
LibraryThing member sarahlh
I usually dig Vonnegut, but this one failed to click with me at all. It didn't work as a satire and it had one of the driest, boring openings I've read in recent years. I can't really think of a single character I successfully connected to in one way or another and the ending was daft (basically,
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everything from the bus ride onwards seemed ridiculous). But hey, the writing was pretty solid! Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original publication date
1965
Physical description
288 p.; 7.47 inches
ISBN
0385333471 / 9780385333474