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MARCH 2007 |
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Review of Vonnegut's A Man Without a Country (2007) For better or worse, A Man Without a Country isn’t easily classifiable as it’s part memoir, part political commentary, and part writing how-to guide. The book is also filled with illustrations, which are often just gray, quote-filled boxes with Vonnegut’s wiry signature scrawled across the bottom right corner. Throughout his oeuvre his prose seems to warn of the future that awaits humanity as a result of technological advancement – often triggering environmental collapse in the process – and his views are as strong as ever here. “Don’t spoil the party, but here’s the truth: We have squandered our planet’s resources, including air and water, as though there were no tomorrow,” Vonnegut says on pages 44 and 45, “so now there isn’t going to be one.” Earlier, however, he supports his statements by saying that “Michael Faraday built the first electric generator only a hundred and seventy-two years ago” (43), “the first oil well in the USA, now a dry hole, was drilled in Titusville, Pennsylvania, by Edwin L. Drake only a hundred and forty-five years ago,” and “the Wright brothers, of course, built and flew the first airplane only a hundred and one years ago. It was powered by gasoline” (44). Aside from politics, Vonnegut’s usual witticisms shine through like usual, especially in passages related to his lifestyle. “Here’s the news: I am going to sue the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company, manufacturers of Pall Mall cigarettes, for a billion bucks! Starting when I was only twelve years old, I have never chain-smoked anything but unfiltered Pall Malls. And for many years now, right on the package, Brown and Williamson have promised to kill me” (39-40). He continues, “But I am now eighty-two. Thanks a lot, you dirty rats. The last thing I ever wanted was to be alive when the three most powerful people on the whole planet would be named Bush, Dick, and Colon.” Also, when he turns his sights to creative writing, he states, “First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you’ve been to college. And I realize some of you may be having trouble deciding whether I am kidding or not. So from now on I will tell you when I’m kidding. For instance, join the National Guard or the Marines and teach democracy. I’m kidding” (23). There’s definitely insight to be gained from the latest Vonnegut, as is the case with every one of his works, and A Man Without a Country is surely worth the small amount of effort it takes to sop up all he has to say here. Like most of his books, AMWaC is humorous while admonishing, self-deprecating yet endearing, and above all, entertaining. It’s not his best, but it could quite be the last Vonnegut installment we see during his lifetime, which is a sad, sad thought. His impact is immeasurable. Jason Jordan is many things. He is assistant editor and staff reviewer for this magazine. He was the host of the Bean Street Reading Series. He was an editor of The IUS Review. He has been a featured writer at the Tuesday Night Reading Series in Evansville, Indiana. His writing appears in The Edward Society and The2ndHand. He teaches college writing to college students. His book is called Powering the Devil's Circus and his website is located here. He is a writer. |
