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Kurt Vonnegut

True@1stLight

True@1stLight

New Member
Well there's been no Vonnegut thread to this point, which although I"m busy at the moment, needs to be remedied!

Anyone feel free to start it up with your thoughts on him.....
 
someone mentioned one of his quotes to me. and as i was searching info about him, i came up with this:

And more on this site


1950 saw the publication of Vonnegut's first short story, "Report on the Barnhouse Effect." Vonnegut has expressed some dissatisfaction with his short stories, saying that he mostly wrote them for money while working on his novels, which are more important to him. But some of his stories are accomplished works; many readers have their first exposure to Vonnegut through these stories, which combine in condensed form Vonnegut's trademark humor, fantasy, and social commentary. The fifties saw the publication of dozens of Vonnegut's short stories and two novels.
During the sixties, Vonnegut published a collection of short stories and four more novels, including his sixth and greatest novel, Slaughterhouse Five. He has continued to write prolifically; his most recent novel in 1997's Timequake.
Vonnegut has been an important mentor for young pacifists since he began writing. His novels are known for their dark humor and playful use of science fiction, as well as their serious moral vision and cutting social commentary. Although his novels have been criticized for being too simplistic, he has a cult following of readers who love his imagination and his sense of humor. He is at once irreverent and highly moral, and this rare combination has made him a valuable voice in American literature.

I thought people on the bookforum once recommended Slaughterhouse Five. :confused:
 
SH5 certainly is the best known one for its antiwar commentary. However, I wouldn't overlook his other works, some of which I find much more interesting.

For example, his commentary on the absurdity of the human race, and it's characteristics (Galapagos).

My favorite novel of his would probably have to be The Sirens of Titan . :) He has the great ability to make you laugh at some very serious critiques of our society. He almost finds it amusing that we take ourselves seriously, and while reading his books, it's hard to!
 
Sirens of Titan could well be his best, True@.

Here are some more detailed thoughts on his books. Sorry I had to link instead of just cut-n-paste, but it's too long to post here!
 
Shade said:
Sirens of Titan could well be his best, True@.

Here are some more detailed thoughts on his books. Sorry I had to link instead of just cut-n-paste, but it's too long to post here!
Click to expand...

Thank you, enjoyed reading those summaries/reviews. A WARNING to those that are looking to read his books but haven't yet BEFORE YOU CLICK ON SHADE'S LINK!! THERE ARE SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!

Of course if you don't mind :p , feel free!
 
Shade, you have a very good website. Considering green is my favourit color. :D

sorry, True, for this off-topic note.
 
Thanks, wc. All are welcome.

Spoilers eh? Perhaps... but hell, who reads Vonnegut for the plots anyway!
 
Shade said:
Thanks, wc. All are welcome.

Spoilers eh? Perhaps... but hell, who reads Vonnegut for the plots anyway!
Click to expand...

Tu shay...... <---I've always wondered what the correct spelling of this was?
 
Mutter Nacht

Mother Night is the one book by Vonnegut that I ever have read.

I was looking for a modern novel suited for comparison with Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (which by the way is my all time favourite). By chanse I came across Vonnerguts novel, in swedish print it had a silver/black/red cover showing a swastika above a naked body of a woman. And the title! Perfect, I thought.
It WAS kind of perfect, the comparing of those two novels led me to Vergilius writing the Aneiden, and the responsability of the intellectual NOT to serve the propagandamachine.
 
I love Kurt Vonnegut to death - that's why I've read almost everything he has written.

I agree with you, True, that The Sirens of Titan is his best effort, followed closely by his best known work, Slaughterhouse-five. I also very much enjoyed Galapagos.

In my opinion, Vonnegut is essential reading.

Cheers
 
Vonnegut wrote a lot of good stuff, at least until the turn of the millenium.

Cat's Cradle is another good one. It features ice that is stable at room temperature (Ice-9); I'm surprised no one's made a movie of this one yet. My favorite short story of his is "Harrison Bergeron" (the obvious choice, I know). I also really enjoyed Breakfast of Champions (though I know a lot of others don't; I'm a sucker for cartoons) and Bluebeard. But of course you can't go wrong with Slaughterhouse Five or God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.

Amongst his worst are Slapstick and Timequake. The latter is supposedly his final novel, but he's said that before (Slaughterhouse Five was also supposed to be his last book; he said in the 1970s "I'm through with novels, it's all plays now"). Of course he's 81 now, so he probably means it this time. Too bad he didn't go out with a bigger bang. Timequake is arguably the worst thing he's written. It's the first book of his I couldn't finish.

He still pops out a magazine article now and then. They're usually really good, but come across as cut and pastes of his books. Now he's selling limited edition prints on his website. Prints of drawings like that featured in Breakfast of Champions.
 
Amongst his worst are Slapstick and Timequake. The latter is supposedly his final novel, but he's said that before (Slaughterhouse Five was also supposed to be his last book; he said in the 1970s "I'm through with novels, it's all plays now"). Of course he's 81 now, so he probably means it this time. Too bad he didn't go out with a bigger bang. Timequake is arguably the worst thing he's written.
Click to expand...

Hrmm. Is that so. after I finish his The Sirens of Titan, then I could have something to talk.
 
Oh, I am a huuuuuge Vonnegut fan. Seriously. I actually saw him give a symposium at Case Western University in Cleveland last spring, and it was unbelievable. The way he spoke reminded me a lot of the way one would envision Mark Twain. So witty, but at the same time, it just seems like he just doesn't give a damn. He told this great story about how life is basically just shit most of the time, but every once in a while you have a moment where you are not unhappy, so essentially that means you are happy. And when you have those moments, you should just stop whatever you are doing, say to yourself, "Hmm, I am happy right now." and keep going. I make it sound a little like a hallmark card, but trust me, the way he told it was just great. I am always torn between his books. Each time I read one it becomes my new favorite. haha.
 
Book of the month

Just wanted to let all you Kurt Vonnegut fans know that February's discussion book is Slaughterhouse-Five. Good or bad, let's hear your comments.
 
I'm currently reading Thank You, Mr. Rosewater on the side. It's my first Vonnegut, and I really like the humor and style. I feel like I'm missing something though. I'll re-read paragraphs because I feel like I'm failing to pick up on some obscure symbolism or some other device. Would I be correct in feeling that way? Does he embed his stories with little symbolic nuggets that I need to look for to get the full effect? Or should I just take the story at face value? Or am I just a freak for taking this too seriously and not just enjoying the book? :rolleyes:
 
I'm a huge Vonnegut fan, although I've only finished one book (Slaughterhouse-Five). I'm a little over mid-way through Hocus Pocus, and I simply adore it. After Hocus Pocus, one of my co-worker's, an English major in college, suggested I pick up Cat's Cradle and Galapagos. After those two, does anybody have any suggestions?
 
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