Customer Reviews

Canary in a Cat House

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The thing about this book is that one needs to know is that this was originally published before "Welcome to the Monkey House," another Vonnegut short story collection. When "Monkey House" was printed, they took all but the title story and included them in it. Because of that, if you own "Monkey House," you own all of the stories already (except for "Canary in a Cat House" which can be found in the new book, "The Bagombo Snuff Box"). Regardless, if you are a true Vonnegut fan, you will want it. Otherwise, you might be better off with "Monkey House", as it is less expensive since they no longer print this book in anything but library binding. Peace.

Any and all Vonnegut is worth buying and reading. This collection of short stories from early in Vonnegut's career is no different. But, buyer beware--if you are looking for Vonnegut stories you've not read before, you will be disappointed! All of these stories were included in Welcome to the Monkeyhouse and Bagombo Snuff Box. If, like me, you've gotta have it all...DON'T PASS THIS ONE UP! A very hard to find collector's item.

Vonnegut, as usual, has written delightful characters and wonderfully satiric plots in these short stories. Interested readers will find all stories herein, except "Hal Irwin's Magic Lamp", in "Welcome to the Monkey House". Canary in a Cathouse has a cool cover, but unless you are collecting, save your dough.

I was disappointed when I read this book, because almost all of the stories were in Welcome to the Monkey House. I love Vonnegut, but this isn't one of his best.

I looked for this book for a long time, only found old used copies until this reprint came around. I jumped for joy.

The book carries some of Kurt's best and most brilliant short stories, showing us why he was so highly respected as a short story writer, even though he is more known for his novels.

Like all of his other books - makes you smile, cry and think. He tells you about familiar things in a different way, mostly about yourself. People who know Vonnegut will love it. Those who don't will fall in love.

A brief collection of some of Vonnegut's earliest (and finest) short fiction. Of course all this and much more is available in the mass-market paperback "Welcome to the Monkey House" which includes a great deal of additional material (not all of it good) so this volume is exclusively for book-collectors rather than readers. The only story in this collection not available in "Monkey House" is the forgettable "Hal Irwin's Magic Lamp", which even Vonnegut scholars will be hard-pressed to take any interest in. All that aside, there are some terrific stories here.

Vonnegut can be sentimental as in "D. P." about a Displaced Person and "The Manned Missiles" which imagines an early space flight, but the pathos of these stories seems more awkward than artistic - some readers may not appreciate having their emotions manipulated quite so blatantly. More successful are his forays into science-fiction-based morality tales, such as "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" (military application of telekinesis) "Unready to Wear" (transcending the flesh) "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" (challenges of overpopulation) and "The Euphio Question" (happiness by the kilowatt). These stories show Vonnegut at his best: funny, inventive, philosophical, often even hopeful - a far cry from that universe-crushes-damaged-puppets trip that mars so many of his novels - so science fiction fans not familiar with the Master's work would do well to start here.

I was disappointed when I read this book, because almost all of the stories were in Welcome to the Monkey House. I love Vonnegut, but this isn't one of his best.

This is Vonnegut doing what he does best, poking fun of the world and life in general.

Vonnegut is pure genius with a tremendous sense of humor and an ucanny understanding of human nature. His wit and brilliance are evident in all of his writings. I have read everything he has ever published and would probably enjoy reading a recipe or a grocery list if it were written by him.