Vonnegut passed away

[tonyj]

Author Kurt Vonnegut passed away at age 84 after suffering a brain injury from a fall.

And so it goes.

I will miss his humor and musings. I will miss that clever insight that makes me look at the world in a different way. He helped me realize that although a person is an *, that person is a fellow human and is worthy of our kindness.

We need so many more of his type who can use intelligence and perspective and wit to challenge conventional thought in an entertaining way.

The world is an emptier place without him.

And so it goes.

I hold the lingering hope that he isn't really dead, but that some aliens came and offered him a ride to the moon. I know he would have taken it.

And so it goes.

[madjack]

R.I.P. Kurt...discovering/reading his books as a young man was both entertaining and enlightening and I think him for his works...I think I will just think of him and a young Valerie Perine, hanging out somewhere neat........
madjack

[Ira]

I plead guilty:

I don't think I ever read anything by him, and I don't think any of his books were required reading in my schools, but I may be wrong.

What are his "biggies?"

[tonyj]

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

Ira--I'm amazed you haven't read his work. Some of your writing reminds me of his style. I don't normally recommend books to people as taste in literature is so personal, but I know you would enjoy his writing. If nothing else, read Slaughterhouse-Five which recounts the bombing of Dresden, Cat's Cradle, and Breakfast of Champions. He wrote something like 19 books in all.

[Ira]

During "lunch" just now, my friend told me about Slaughterhouse Five--and of course, I knew the book. I never READ it, but I knew the name.

Seriously, 50 years old and I never opted for nor was I forced to read any of his stuff in school.

[angib]

Vonnegut had a clarity of thought that is very rare, and sometimes very shocking, and I've found that a few of his insights have become an integral part of me. In particular his thoughts about death have given me more understanding, and comfort, than anything else.

I'd say Tony's right, he might well suit you, Ira.

Andrew

[asianflava]

All I know was that he was in Rodney Dangerfield's movie "Back to School."

[Hamcan]

Vonnegut had a clarity of thought that is very rare

I would like to second that opinion.

I seem to recall that he once said "they shouldn't have crucified Jesus 'cause his dad was a real powerful guy." I think the present situation may prove the wisdom of that remark. [ btw: He was a self described atheist.]

JG

[wolfix]

I never read his stuff until I was 45..... It was truly fun.. A few of my older friends had him as a teacher when he taught at the Iowa Writers Workshop...
They say he was brilliant as a teacher too.
I resisted his stuff because in my younger days everyone was reading him.....He was somewhat of a local celebrity around Iowa City way back then.
One of his daughters married Geraldo Riveria.......

Ira......I read where you were involved in a advertising agency in New York. I was a ad major and interviewed for a few agencies in the mid 70's.
So it figures my favorite Vonnegut book was about a propaganda writer.... "Mother's Night." You will identify with it from your advertising days...
Basically it was about an American who writes propaganda for Germany during WW2...... It's a little different then his other stuff......

[Ira]

I was a ad major and interviewed for a few agencies in the mid 70's.

Ever hear of Jerry Della Femina? That's who I worked.

So Mother's Night sounds cool for me, but maybe I should make that the second one I read. So I guess Slaughterhouse 5 first?

[tonyj]

I was a ad major and interviewed for a few agencies in the mid 70's.

Ever hear of Jerry Della Femina? That's who I worked.

So Mother's Night sounds cool for me, but maybe I should make that the second one I read. So I guess Slaughterhouse 5 first?

That would be my choice. In fact, I think I might read it again.

[EZ]

I was listening to some people on talk radio yesterday that were saying they read Kurt Vonnegut in their college days and found it was intereresting and funny. Now, after having a real job for years and raising a few kids they tried to read it again and couldn't get through it. Those are their views not mine. Times change and people change and I guess a person's outlook often does too. I have never read anything by him but I think I should.

Ed

[Ira]

I was listening to some people on talk radio yesterday that were saying they read Kurt Vonnegut in their college days and found it was intereresting and funny. Now, after having a real job for years and raising a few kids they tried to read it again and couldn't get through it.

That's a good point, but I never grew up anyway.

Plus, reading something a second time always changes your perspective. "Johnny Got His Gun" blew me away in the early 70s, but when I read it again in the late 80s it didn't have the same effect on me at all.

Of course, in the early 70s, good pot was just 30 bucks an ounce and therefore very plentiful.

Do you think that could have somehow altered my perceptions?

[cam5e]

Kurt will always be a giant on the stage of American Literature. Kurt has become "unstuck" in time.

[madjack]

I was listening to some people on talk radio yesterday that were saying they read Kurt Vonnegut in their college days and found it was intereresting and funny. Now, after having a real job for years and raising a few kids they tried to read it again and couldn't get through it.

That's a good point, but I never grew up anyway.

Plus, reading something a second time always changes your perspective. "Johnny Got His Gun" blew me away in the early 70s, but when I read it again in the late 80s it didn't have the same effect on me at all.

Of course, in the early 70s, good pot was just 30 bucks an ounce and therefore very plentiful.

Do you think that could have somehow altered my perceptions?

...geez Ira...30 bucks...man were y'all getting ripped off...I guess transportation was at a premium from the swamp to the apple.....
madjack