Kurt Vonnegut

This post is coming from one of my favorite places on earth, Eli's coffee. Imagine Starbucks, but in an old house, with cheaper coffee, better food, and better music. It's also the center of town. I don't think I've ever come here without seeing someone I know.

Now it's book review time.
I just finished Look at the Birdie by Kurt Vonnegut. It's a collection of his unpublished short stories, and I enjoyed it almost more than his novels. These stories come from his pre-novelist days, when he was writing for magazines who wanted short, surprising, compelling stories.

The stories are very Bradbury-esque; they're mostly science fiction, but very character driven. They are also more conventional than his novels, which make the surprise endings even more surprising. If you're already a Vonnegut fan, this book is a nice, easy break from his typical novel. If you're not yet a Vonnegut fan, these stories would be a perfect introduction to him.

Each story is accompanied by one of his drawings, which are as startling, unconventional, and beautiful as his writing.