BOOKS ON VONNEGUT'S LIFE
1. Vonnegut in America : an Introduction to the Life and Work of Kurt Vonnegut - Jerome Klinkowitz and Donald L. Lawler
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press/S. Lawrence (1977)
ISBN-13: 978-0440093435
This biography chronicles Vonnegut's impact on American culture through his literary work and humanist efforts. It also analyzes many of his important works published before 1977. It may be a little outdated but it does provide a very accurate depiction of his influence in the sixties and seventies.
2. Love as always, Kurt : Vonnegut as I knew him - Loree Rackstraw
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Da Capo Press (March 10, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0306818035
An intimate memoir from lifelong friend, Lori Rackstraw, of her correspondence with Kurt Vonnegut. The memoir includes photos and never-before-published correspondence. Lori offers new insight and perspective on the tumultuous life of Kurt Vonnegut. A very captivating read.
3. And so it goes : Kurt Vonnegut, a life - Charles J Shields
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.; First Edition edition (November 8, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0805086935
Just recently published, this much anticipated book chronicles Vonnegut's life with such thoroughness and effectiveness that its hard not to be enchanted. Shields captures the ups and downs of Vonnegut's life flawlessly. I personally consider it one of the best biographies of Vonnegut on the market.
4. We never danced cheek to cheek : the young Kurt Vonnegut in Indianapolis and beyond - Majie Alford Failey
Paperback: 175 pages
Publisher: Hawthorne Publishing; 1st edition (January 18, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0984145683
This memoir captures Vonnegut as a young boy and teenager in Indianapolis. It brings to light many forgotten aspects of his childhood and illustrates his famous love/hate relationship with Indianapolis that can be seen in many of his works. This book also contains 12 pages of color photographs many of which had never been published.
5. The Vonnegut Effect - Jerome Klinkowitz
Paperback: 232 pages
Publisher: University of South Carolina Press; Reprint edition (November 30, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1611170078
Compelling narrative of Vonnegut's life and how it indirectly and directly worked its way into his writings. A powerful work that not opens many doors to Vonnegut's life but opens some hidden ones to his writings.
6. Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut (Literary Conversations) - edited by William Rodney Allen
Paperback: 356 pages
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi (October 1, 1988)
ISBN-13: 978-0878053582
William Rodney Allen compiles many conversations conducted with Vonnegut that deal with how to begin writing, life, and prose. A great collection, also available on audiobook.
BOOKS ON VONNEGUT'S WORKS
1. Slaughterhouse-five by Kurt Vonnegut (Critical Insights) - Leonard Mustazza
Hardcover: 358 pages
Publisher: Salem Pr Inc; Har/Psc edition (October 15, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1587657214
Offers insight to the thought provoking classic "Slaughterhouse-Five." This guide is especially essential to newcomers of Vonnegut who may not be familiar with his prose and literary style.
2. Critical companion to Kurt Vonnegut : a Literary Reference to his Life and work - Susan Elizabeth Farrell
Hardcover: 532 pages
Publisher: Facts on File (August 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0816065981
This thorough guide to all of Vonnegut's work is a must have! It draws parallels between Kurt's life experiences and his writings. It also helps piece together Vonnegut's literary prose and writing techniques.
3. Kurt Vonnegut's America - Jerome Klinkowitz
Paperback: 142 pages
Publisher: University of South Carolina Press (September 15, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1570039553
This book offers new insights on Vonnegut's writings and American culture. Klinkowitz chronicles Vonnegut's reactions to many changing events in America's history and analyzes his written responses to it. A very compelling read that makes you want to reread all of Vonnegut's works in order to peel back layers of Vonnegut's philosophy.
4. Kurt Vonnegut: A Critical Companion (Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers) - Thomas Marvin
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Greenwood; First Edition edition (May 30, 2002)
ISBN-13: 978-0313314391
This book provides critical discourse on many of Vonnegut's writings and connects the dots between Vonnegut's life experiences and his writings. Also discusses Vonnegut's slow rise to fame and his status as a cult icon.
5. The Novels of Kurt Vonnegut: Imagining Being an American (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy) - Donald E. Morse
Hardcover: 232 pages
Publisher: Praeger (July 30, 2003)
ISBN-13: 978-0313319143
Analyzes Vonnegut's unique sense of writing style and literary prose and demonstrates how it has helped secure his claim to one of the all time great American authors.
6. Kurt Vonnegut and the Centrifugal Force of Fate - Gary McMahon
Paperback: 259 pages
Publisher: McFarland (January 27, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0786439935
McMahon compares Vonnegut to Merlin because of all the magic contained in his writings. This book demonstrates the power of Vonnegut's writing and contains a very interesting section where the author compare Vonnegut's works to that of his peers Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe.
7. Understanding Kurt Vonnegut (Understanding Contemporary American Literature) - William Rodney Allen
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: University of South Carolina Press (August 20, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-1570038860
This book serves as a companion for many of Vonnegut's works and is meant to be for amateurs and Vonnegut scholars alike. William Rodney Allen examines the distinctive stylistic approaches that Vonnegut used and breaks them down.
8. Chaos Theory and the Interpretation of Literary Texts: The Case of Kurt Vonnegut. - Kevin A. Boone
Hardcover: 191 pages
Publisher: Edwin Mellen Pr (June 1997)
ISBN-13: 978-0773485532
This novel presents the principals of chaos theory and applies them toward literature. In the case of Kurt Vonnegut this volume examines the shift from modernism to postmodernism, stating the date of the transition as the bombing of Hiroshima. The end of the book examines how a body of fiction that repeatedly focuses upon death camps, war, greed, futility, and failure (Slaughterhouse-Five)can remain affirmative and positive.
9. At Millennium's End: New Essays on the Work of Kurt Vonnegut - Kevin A. Boone
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: State University of New York Press; First Printing edition (May 2001)
ISBN-13: 978-0791449301
This collection of essays examine eleven different aspects of Vonnegut's works and lifetime achievements. One interesting essay focuses on the difficulties in adapting Vonnegut's plays to the big screen and another was written on his humanist vision. A thoughtful and well put together collection.
10. The Vonnegut Encyclopedia: An Authorized Compendium - Marc Leeds
Hardcover: 712 pages
Publisher: Greenwood Press (November 30, 1994)
ISBN-13: 978-0313292309
The Vonnegut Encyclopedia is the authorized, comprehensive, and descriptive catalogue of the characters, themes, phrasing, and imagery found in all of Vonnegut's works. It contains connections found in between texts whether it be images or characters (most notably Kilgore Trout, a character who makes multiple appearances in many of of Vonnegut's works).A must have for any serious Vonnegut scholar.
11. Kurt Vonnegut: Images and Representations (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy) - Marc Leeds
Hardcover: 216 pages
Publisher: Praeger (May 30, 2000)
ISBN-13: 978-0313309755
This book discusses many of the literary images and representations in Vonnegut's writings, and analyzes how the graphic art and representations of his ideas in different types of media, such as film.
12. Reading. Learning. Teaching Kurt Vonnegut (Confronting the Text, Confronting the World) - P. L. Thomas
Paperback: 178 pages
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing (July 28, 2006)
ISBN-13: 978-0820463377
This book attempts to confront what teachers teach and how they can teach through the vivid texts Vonnegut offers his readers. A compelling read that breaks down how to teach Vonnegut to nearly all ages.
