Ranking Kurt Vonnegut's novels

[Nerds_feather]

pretty excited about this: my co-conspirator over at the blog took it upon himself to rank 14 Kurt Vonnegut novels. this is probably one of the best posts we've had:

http://www.nerds-feather.com/2012/06...-vonnegut.html

curious if the other Vonnegut fans here would agree with his opinions, or order them differently?

[Mr. Aware Eagle]

I would perhaps put God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater higher. But maybe that's because I just read it a week ago and it's still quite fresh on my mind.
I'm sure many people here know about this, but Vonnegut once rated his own novels:

• Player Piano B
• The Sirens of Titan: A
• Mother Night: A
• Cat's Cradle: A-plus
• God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater: A
• Slaughterhouse-Five: A-plus
• Welcome to the Monkey House: B-minus
• Happy Birthday, Wanda June: D
• Breakfast of Champions: C
• Slapstick: D
• Jailbird: A
• Palm Sunday: C

[J-Sun]

Originally Posted by Mr. Aware Eagle

I'm sure many people here know about this, but Vonnegut once rated his own novels:

• Player Piano B
• The Sirens of Titan: A
• Mother Night: A
• Cat's Cradle: A-plus
• God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater: A
• Slaughterhouse-Five: A-plus
• Welcome to the Monkey House: B-minus
• Happy Birthday, Wanda June: D
• Breakfast of Champions: C
• Slapstick: D
• Jailbird: A
• Palm Sunday: C

I didn't - thanks for that information. That's pretty amazing self-awareness - he graded his children! And got it about right. I might completely change my opinions if I re-read them because it's been a long time but the grades for his first six novels look reasonable. He seems a little harsh on Breakfast. The only others I've read (if memory serves) were Deadeye Dick and Galapagos which he wrote after he gave out grades. I'd probably give Deadeye a C- and Galapagos a D. Maybe that's a little harsh, too, but my point is that they aren't as good as the earlier ones.

[julirew]

I agree with his harsh rating of "Breakfast of Champions." I remember reading it and being very worried that he was about to commit suicide. I'd had a suicide in the family, and Vonnegut was like family to me.

[Allegra]

I'd move up God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and Jailbird up in Nerds_feather's list; and yes, the old man himself's ranking is about right (except Happy Birthday, Wanda June which I haven't read).

[Fried Egg]

I've only read "Sirens of Titan" and "Slaughterhouse 5" and I can only agree that the latter was better than the former.

Not much more useful to add until I get around to reading more of his novels. I have "Cat's Cradle" lined up to read next...

[Connavar]

Good to know he thought highly of Sirens of Titan its the only Vonnegut book i have ever bought, got it a second hand because his name only and there were no other famous book of his.

[gully_foyle]

I would have to rank Sirens of Titan no 1. The absurdity is perhaps on a slighltly grander scale than Slaughterhouse 5, but I thin sl5 to be the most significant of his work.

[Nerds_feather]

You guys all make good points.

I can't claim credit for the list though...it's by one of the other blog contributors!