Thursday, April 12, 2007

A Giant Falls

Kurt Vonnegut died today. If you don't know who he was, well, go to a librabry and start reading. One of my favorite authors and the man whose work carried me through lesser assignments in high school. Probably best known for his novel "Slaughterhouse 5", which is undeniably great, but my favorite work of his remains "God Bless You Mr. Rosewater" In a world where we are told that cranky idiots like Imus are heirs to the tradition of Mark Twain, today we have lost a man who truly was fit to step into that tradition and carry it on. The last few times I saw Vonnegut speak I was left with the impression that he was not in good shape, but he never seemed to lose his wit, and for that I'm thankful. I will no doubt be stopping at a bookstore today and grabbing a few of his books to replenish my shelves. His ability to write and suck me into even his short stories never ceased to amaze me. I will miss him.

God Bless You Mr. Vonnegut.

21 Comments:

Blogger Phronk said...

Agreed...this is a huge loss. I'll also be picking up the books of his that I forgot to read before.

10:05 AM  
Blogger DJ MotorCityMonk said...

Never read any Vonnegut - sorry for your loss.

10:49 AM  
Blogger Lil Bit said...

Not really familiar w/Vonnegut, Limpy... I'll have to check him out. Thx for the new author to look into. =)

12:41 PM  
Blogger Maggie said...

I agree completely. I loved Slaughterhouse Five. Still have the copy I read in high school and some of his essays.


No one comes close to his type of satire.

1:27 PM  
Blogger The Q said...

I always appreciated being "forced" to read his books in high school. That gave me an excuse to continue and read the other ones. Not that I needed an "excuse" to read, mind you. I am a reading whore.

2:58 PM  
Blogger eclectic said...

His voice was unique, yet entirely accessible. Thank goodness it lives on in his books. I, too, wish him godspeed on his way.

3:06 PM  
Blogger cathy said...

Another one bites the dustcover.

4:57 PM  
Blogger Phollower said...

I hadn't heard about that. Thanks for mentioning it. He is easily my favorite author. I've read a pretty fair number of his books. To this day whenever I hear a blackbird I say, "Poo-tee-weet". Breakfast of Champions is probably my favorite. When you're 3 pages in and he says, "Here's my picture of an asshole" and he draws an * you know you're in for a good one. I saw him on The Daily Show a few months ago and you're right, he didn't look good. It's really too bad. He'll be missed.

So it goes.

5:09 PM  
Blogger Big Pissy said...

Nice tribute.

I read some Vonnegut in high school.

I'll have to re-read my favorites~'Slaughterhouse Five' and 'Breakfast of Champions'.

5:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I read about his death this morning...

it's sad.

6:18 PM  
Blogger Melanie said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

3:15 AM  
Blogger Melanie said...

The "bunny" comment was me (Melanie). Sorry about that. I was logged into my daughters blog and it's not open to the public. But I'm assuming you still got the message.

3:18 AM  
Blogger Melanie said...

Well shit! I guess it's because I don't have a blog but still have my profile and her blog is under my email address. Whateva! You get the point;) Geez! Excuse my blonde moment....(rolling eyes). Have a good day;)

Mel

p.s. hope you at least got the original comment..

3:20 AM  
Blogger Lady K said...

Never read him, but I'm all over it. Any time the world loses a great author is tragic.

6:48 AM  
Blogger JoeinVegas said...

Oh, and I thought it was Valerie Perrine (oh Miss Tessmeyer) as Montana in the movie version.

I agree, his books are pretty good.

8:26 AM  
Blogger Party Girl said...

I was pretty shocked when I heard the news yesterday.

I, too, suddenly feel the need to buy some of his books.

Sad that we don't think to do those things when someone is still around.

10:51 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

May Kurt rest in peace.

8:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I do not have one person that I admire like this. It's sad really.

3:53 AM  
Blogger Saints and Spinners said...

Cat's Cradle was the first Vonnegut novel I read, and it's still my favorite. "Unusual travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God," has been a principle I've taken to heart. Thank you, Mr. Vonnegut.

9:52 PM  
Blogger Brighton said...

So sad, huge literary loss.

2:29 AM  
Blogger limpy99 said...

Phronk, I imagine his sales will spike. Deservedly so.

MCM, it's not too late. Do yourself a favor and pick one up.

Lil Bit, well worth doing.

Maggie, I was actually looking to replace some dog-eared copies of his stuff I have at home, but wound up buying three I didn't have instead.

Soozieq, oh "READING" whore. Never mind.

Eclectic, amen to that.

Cathy, that's cold. Vonnegut probably would have appreciated it. Queen, however, will probably sue you.

Phollower, I saw him on TDS as well and remember thinking he didn't have long to go.

BP, I think there will be a lot of rereading going on for his books.

Rhonda, yep.

Mel, nope, I have no idea what the original comment was. Or where your blog is.

Lady K, start reading then. I know you have plenty of rehab time coming up.

Joe, now I have to google Valerie Perinne.

PG, I did buy a lot of his books while he was around. I'm just going to go buy more now. Like I need an exciuse to hang around bookstores.

Nick, indeed.

JDR, I'm sure you do, they just haven't died yet. That's when this stuff really hits home.

Alkelda, "Cat's Cradle" is one of the ones I bought today. Read it before, but my copy fell apart awhile ago. Very good book.

Trish, indeed. He was still writing well to the end.

10:53 AM  

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