
Bluebeard
The Autobiography of Rabo Karabekian (1916-1988)
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Narrated by:
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Mark Bramhall
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By:
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Kurt Vonnegut
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.Listeners also enjoyed...




















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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.
Underrated great work
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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.
A tale of painting and war and one big secret
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If you love Vonnegut
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A great story of a fractured soul.
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My first Kurt Vonnegurt book
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Good realist truth telling
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Grew on me
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Perfect narrator
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Masterful
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A short, sad, but beautiful narrative
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