Tuesday, April 25, 2017

V - Kurt Vonnegut

In my early twenties, I read five or six of Vonnegut. I remember reading one of his short stories to a class of mine. The kids said the guy in the story was crazy. The character was a millionaire who pretended and lived the life of a poor piano player by choice.

Even though high school kids love sarcasm. Satire is another matter.

Kurt-Vonnegut-US-Army-portraitI have to confess, I don't remember what any of the books were about. I just remember they were a wild ride. Now I read so  I can learn to write. I've become an even bigger book snob and critic. But my taste for a little joyful fun in a book is keener than all that deep thought from my youth. I doubt I revisit Vonnegut. But you might enjoy the ride.

Slaughterhouse Five made Vonnegut financially secure. We should all be so lucky. The book was based on his experiences in World War II. He survived the bombing of Dresden by hiding in a metal locker of a slaughterhouse as prisoner of war.
-

7 comments:

  1. Jamie GhioneApril 25, 2017 at 10:52 PM

    I gave in this year to read Slaughterhouse Five. Now i want to read more of Vonnegut. Cat's Cradle is a possibility.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ann BennettApril 26, 2017 at 2:31 PM

      In doing A to Z, I have created an incredible TBR list. Plus I have bought a few books of other bloggers. But I want to re-read at least one of Vonnegut's books. I don't know if I will love them the way I did or if they are standing up to the test of time.

      Delete
  2. Elephant's ChildApril 25, 2017 at 11:35 PM

    I read a lot of Vonnegut in my youth. And read a memoir by one of his son's more recently. The whole family sounded damaged. Which I suspect is true of many veteran's families.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hilary Melton-ButcherApril 26, 2017 at 3:44 AM

    Hi Ann - I know I haven't read any of his works ... so thank you for bringing him to our (my) attention ... survival through the War was such a fraught and horrific time ... and as EC notes - War damages so many in other ways ... I must remember to check him out further at some stage ... all the best - Hlary

    http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/v-is-for-vaynol-cattle.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pat HattApril 26, 2017 at 8:37 AM

    I sure wouldn't mind being financially secure. Being rich and acting poor at least keeps one rich.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jean DavisApril 26, 2017 at 8:57 AM

    I remember we read some of his stuff in creative writing class back in high school, but I can't recall which pieces.
    Discarded Darlings - Jean Davis, Speculative Fiction Writer, A to Z: Editing Fiction

    ReplyDelete
  6. Out on the prairieApril 26, 2017 at 9:03 AM

    I read them all. I went to a lecture he did at the writers workshop he had been part of in college.

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Zephyr

 Zephyr is a soft, peaceful breeze. And I thought it had to be an imaginary animal. For many of you, we will not meet again until the next A...

  • George Eliot
    There are few stories as touching as Silas Marner which is the story of a man afflicted with seizures who finds a foundling. The child saves...
  • Being a Big Bad Biker
    This big brute of a biker walks into a bar. To let everyone know he has come to create a little trouble and to stay out of his way. He walk...
  • I've been to the bridge
    I’ve been to the bridge where the water overflowed. The road with swirling eddies and an ice cold grip Steadying my step the river ca...