“I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don’t let anyone tell you different.”
– Kurt Vonnegut

After finishing “Bluebeard” and considering what I should write about the book, the aforementioned quote came to mind. The book was pure entertainment, nothing more.

This wasn’t my first Kurt Vonnegut book. I read “Cat’s Cradle” many years ago, however, I don’t remember much about it except that I liked it.

This one I enjoyed as well. After a period of time in which I read only non-fiction, it was nice to have a book which was meant to be enjoyed and nothing more.

The book is the autobiography of a fictional man named Rabo Karabekian (1916-1988). Rabo was an Armenian immigrant who grew up in San Ignacio, California. He is descendant of Armenian Massacre survivors who found a fortune in the form of rubies and jewels in the mouth of one of the dead among the massacre. Unfortunately, Rabo’s parents were tricked out of their riches by a man named Vartan Mamigonian.

Rabo, the main character, goes through his entire life story which includes things such as fighting in WW2, losing an eye in battle, being a famous painter, falling in love, and more. I definitely recommend this to anyone who is in the mood for entertainment and imagination. People who appreciate history, art, and humor will enjoy this book.

Here is a quick excerpt from the book that I enjoyed:

Mrs. Berman told me a legend about Gypsies I had never heard before: “They stole the nails from the Roman soldiers who were about to crucify Jesus,” she said. “When the soldiers looked for the nails, they had disappeared mysteriously. Gypsies had stolen them, and Jesus and the crowd had to wait until the soldiers sent for new nails. After that, God Almighty gave permission to all Gypsies to steal all they could.”