Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut

Amy     

historical fiction

Bluebeard is the story of Rabo Karabekian, a fictional WW2 veteran who made a living painting abstract art in the company of several of the abstract expressionist masters while failing at life most of the rest of the time.

This is the first Kurt Vonnegut book I’ve completed. I had attempted Slaughterhouse-Five and couldn’t get into it. Twice. I hate war novels. Bluebeard was quirky and seemingly light-hearted. But at its heart it’s the story of a troubled man trying to make it through his difficult life by expressing himself--first through art and secondly through writing his life story. It jumps around quite a bit and doesn’t have a central plot. So, it was slow-going for me. I fell asleep several times while reading it. Yet, it was enjoyable. It was humorous. Much of Rabo’s life is tragic. But, he is largely passive about life, meandering along like a leaf floating down a stream. He doesn’t really take any responsibility for things that have gone wrong. He’s fortunate that he has money to keep him afloat. But, by the end of the book, he knows himself better and, hopefully, will make more of an effort to share his life with others and make his days more meaningful in an effort to be happier.

I loved all the references to abstract art since I am a lover and appreciator. However, I believe the author intended to highlight abstract expressionism as a wasted effort. That’s okay. I understand many people don’t appreciate it. The women are all treated as diversions and mysteries who cannot be solved. The men are all struggling to make it through life or are seemingly doing exactly what they want to be doing but are not doing it well. So, everyone is flawed. 

I won’t be rushing out to read more Vonnegut but I’m glad I read it.