Bluebeard

The Autobiography of Rabo Karabekian (1916-1988)

By: Kurt Vonnegut

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Bluebeard, published in 1987, is Vonnegut's meditation on art, artists, surrealism, and disaster.

Meet Rabo Karabekian, a moderately successful surrealist painter who we meet late in life and see struggling (like all of Vonnegut's key characters) with the dregs of unresolved pain and the consequences of brutality. Loosely based on the legend of Bluebeard (best realized in Bela Bartok's one-act opera), the novel follows Karabekian through the last events in his life, which are heavy with women, painting, artistic ambition, artistic fraudulence, and as of yet unknown consequence. Vonnegut's intention here is not so much satirical (although the contemporary art scene would be easy enough to deconstruct), nor is it documentary (although Karabekian does carry elements of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko). Instead Vonnegut is using art for the same purpose he used science fiction clichés in Slaughterhouse-Five: as a filter through which he can illuminate the savagery, cruelty, and essentially comic misdirection of human existence.

Listeners will recognize familiar Vonnegut character types and archetypes as they drift in and out through the background; meanwhile Karabekian, betrayed and betrayer, sinks through a bottomless haze of recollection. Like most of Vonnegut's late works, this is both science fiction and cruel, contemporary realism at once, using science fiction as metaphor for human damage as well as failure to perceive.

Listeners will find that Vonnegut's protagonists can never really clarify for us whether they are ultimately unwitting victims or simple barbarians, leaving it up to the listener to determine in which genre this audiobook really fits, if any at all.

©1987 Kurt Vonnegut (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Underrated great work

As a huge Kurt Vonnegut fan I was late to this book because it always appears quite low on any “best of“ list.

I am writing this review to hopefully encourage others coming from a similar place, perhaps feeling like they don’t need to read “another Vonnegut“ book if it’s not as good as the others.

Well I certainly cannot speak to the motivations of people who made those lists it strikes me that the feminine and feminist points of view central to this book contributed to its being underrated by critics.

All of the classic Vonnegut characteristics are here, wonderful dialogue, imaginative situations, biding social critique, and historical context. In addition we get one of the most satisfying endings to any Vonnegut book – and I have read all but three of them.

Whether you are a Vonnegut fan wondering if you should read just one more or someone new to his work this book is highly recommended and enjoyable. Even more so in these modern times when, thankfully, a feminist point of you is being taken more seriously in terms of societal consequences.


Highly recommended.

A tale of painting and war and one big secret

Vonnegut is in top form in this tale of a painter whose secret barn contains a mysterious project he will tell no one about. Coaxed by a roommate to write his autobiography, we read his life story as he types it, with frequent interjections of current events--a clever pacing technique that I quite enjoyed.

The title refers to the legend of Bluebeard, a man who tells every new wife that they can have the run of the mansion, as long as they do not look behind one certain door. Inevitably, the new wife looks behind the door and finds the bodies of his previous wives--who have looked behind the door. This short story is similar to the passion project (or is it nothing?) in the barn behind the protagonist's house.

Woven into the story is a surprising tale of how poorly women are treated throughout history, and particularly during war, that I found very moving.

Nicely paced and well narrated, I enjoyed this book very much and definitely recommend it.

If you love Vonnegut

Another great Vonnegut work delving into what makes us tick as human beings. He always seems to find the real.

A great story of a fractured soul.

Was a good story of a man who could not come to terms with who he is. its not the words spoken by which he is defined as much as he attempted to make him self so shallow it was the background of a man who opened his home and his life to a cast of strangers over time his wanting to not care but none the less caring enough to shelter, feed, and look after others. being so terribly humble in thinking his failure in art was who he is and not seeing the great love of human that he is. his final painting giving homage to all those from all walks of life finding a home in his happy valley. that despite what they were he loved them all enough to paint them with story and all.

My first Kurt Vonnegurt book

I've had this book on my "to read" list for so long that I forgot my motivation. I know that Kurt Vonnegurt is a famous author, but I had no idea of what to expect. It was a good story, and I was only disappointed by the fact that I found out that many of his books are loosely tied together, and this is one of his later books. Still it was weird reading an autobiography of a fictional person. Yet, when you think about it, all fictions are somewhat autobiographical in a way.

Grew on me

At first I was uncomfortable with this book. As it and I progressed, a change happened and I began to like it. In the end, I think it’s one of the best books Kurt did. I really enjoyed it. It lingered with me.....a long while. And so it goes.

Perfect narrator

This narrator should do every vonnegut book. He nailed it. The book is excellent too.

Masterful

A profoundly american experience of wit and solidarity with the world at large, history at large. The best critique of mid century art on record.

A short, sad, but beautiful narrative

A gorgeous exploration into the definition of failure and success. Told from the point of view of a self-titled failure.

One of the best narrator performances

Pretty standard Vonnegut (fun, provocative, beautifully written, etc) but I felt that it didn't come together in the end. But wow the narrator was amazing, he did a phenomenal job conveying emotion and tone, and especially with all sorts of subtle accents.