R.I.P. Mr. Vonnegut

[B-Mental]

:( I just heard that Kurt Vonnegut died at the age of 84. I don't know about others, but my literary flag flies at half staff. I feel a funk setting in. Read more about Vonnegut at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut
:(

[dramasnot6]

Oh no, this is horrible news.My grievances go out to his family and fans. He was and still is one of my favorite authors. When I read Cat's Cradle it changed my life.
Here is to a one heck of an author, may his works be read and appreciated for eternity.

[Isagel]

I heard in an interview last year that he said he had enough, that he had all the life he could stand and then some. I can´t find anything more fitting than the last poem I have read by him:

REQUIEM - by Kurt Vonnegut

The crucified planet Earth,
should it find a voice
and a sense of irony,
might now well say
of our abuse of it,
"Forgive them, Father.
They know not what they do."

The irony would be
that we know what
we are doing.

When the last living thing
has died on account of us,
how poetical it would be
if Earth could say,
in a voice floating up
perhaps from the floor
of the Grand Canyon,
"It is done."
People did not like it here.

Kurt Vonnegut
February 4, 2005


People liked Kurt Vonnegut. I hope that mattered to him.

[B-Mental]

People liked Kurt Vonnegut. I hope that mattered to him.

I've read that people would just camp out on or near his property and that he would walk out and greet them.

[Virgil]

Heard on the radio this morning. Actually due to an accident at home. Sorry to hear it. Never read him though.

[Logos]

R.I.P. :( (http://www.vonnegut.com/)

[AChristieFan]

Hi All,
I don't know if anyone has posted about this yet but Author Kurt Vonnegut died last night of Brain Injuries. Here is the link to the article on AOL.

http://news.aol.com/entertainment/articles/_a/novelist-kurt-vonnegut-dies-at-age-84/20070412004809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

[papayahed]

Hey We should read a Vonnegut book.

[kilted exile]

Hey We should read a Vonnegut book.

Well I have been meaning to read Slaughterhouse 5, this could be as good a time as any.

[B-Mental]

I'm up for it. Its been a long time since I first read S5.

[PeterL]

It is a sad day. He wasn't my favorite author, but he wrote some excellent literature, and some of his writing has had significant influence on American thought.

[Sancho]

I’ll miss his voice.

He wrote about the gallows humor he witnessed during the fire bombing of Dresden when he and his fellow POWs were holed up underground in "Slaughterhouse 5": One of the other prisoners leaned over and said to him, “I wonder what the poor people are doing tonight.”

Vonnegut on old age, writers and death:

"When Hemingway killed himself he put a period at the end of his life; old age is more like a semicolon,"

"My father, like Hemingway, was a gun nut and was very unhappy late in life. But he was proud of not committing suicide. And I'll do the same, so as not to set a bad example for my children."

[JBI]

I personally didn't care for this author, though I appreciate what he wrote in terms of contribution to people's lives, and influence on the world. RIP.

[Stieg]

RIP

Never read Vonnegut though I attempted to read Slaughterhouse 5 before, with much due condolences maybe I'll pick the book back up.

[Jean-Baptiste]

Thank you, Mr. Vonnegut, for everything you've given us. It seems you've finally come unstuck in time.

[avidreader7]

Q) And how would you compare the movement against a war in Iraq with the anti-war movement of the Vietnam era?

Then as now, TV did not like anti-war protesters, nor any other sort of protesters, unless they rioted. Now, as then, on account of TV, the right of citizens to peaceably assemble, and petition their government for a redress of grievances, “ain’t worth a pitcher of warm spit,” as the saying goes.

Q) That said, do you have any ideas for a really scary reality TV show?

“C students from Yale.” It would stand your hair on end.

Q) What targets would you consider fair game for a satirist today?

a-holes.

http://www.alternet.org/story/15098/

He had alot to say about propaganda, too.

[Riesa]

would love to re-read some vonnegut, count me in. ah brings highschool mem'ries a sailin' in. vonnegut and tom robbins ~ life wouldn't have been the same without 'em. R.I.P old man. thanks.

[scotpgot]

I JUST finished reading Cat's Cradle (my first Vonnegut). I really enjoyed it and it freaked my out when I heard he had died only days after I finished reading his book.

RIP

[B-Mental]

I mentioned that Vonnegut had died to a coworker. He was perplexed and had never heard of him. I have to remind myself that some people consider the funnies in the paper 'a good read'.

[Scheherazade]

To All Vonnegut fans!

We are reading Slaughterhouse-Five in memory of this popular author.

Please join us here (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23816).

[cuppajoe_9]

Kurt Vonnegut is in heaven now...

(If you don't think this is funny, it's because you haven't read Timequake)

[PeterL]

RIP

Never read Vonnegut though I attempted to read Slaughterhouse 5 before, with much due condolences maybe I'll pick the book back up.

If you didn't like "SlaughterHouse Five", then you might try one of his more linear novels instead. "Ice Nine" is easy to get through and has much the smae message as Slaughterhouse Five". My personal favorite was "The Sirens of Titan", which I thought was easy to read.

[Bii]

So it goes.

[malwethien]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/books/12vonnegut.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

I just heard about it today and was quite shocked! I'm sorry if there is already a similar post smehwere in the forum...I couldn't find one.

It's so sad! He was one of my favorite authors....

[dramasnot6]

I hiked into town today and searched 3 secondhand bookstores as well as 2 regular bookstores for Slaughterhouse-Five. There was only one store that had any Vonnegut and I bought it right away, "The Sirens of Titan ". I was dissapointed that no bookshop brought in some Vonnegut just as a tribute to him and promotion of his works in honor of him. Very sad.

[B-Mental]

I heard that his books have been selling very hot since his passing.

[avidreader7]

I JUST finished reading Cat's Cradle (my first Vonnegut). I really enjoyed it and it freaked my out when I heard he had died only days after I finished reading his book.

RIP

That's too bad for you. I can see where you'd be freaked out. Atleast you are familiar with his writing now, though. As another poster here mentioned his books are selling very well since his death. Which is a good thing. G'Night

[dramasnot6]

I heard that his books have been selling very hot since his passing.

I guess everywhere but here :(

[malwethien]

I guess everywhere but here :(

good thing I have a lot of his novels already.....

[avidreader7]

If you didn't like "SlaughterHouse Five", then you might try one of his more linear novels instead. "Ice Nine" is easy to get through and has much the smae message as Slaughterhouse Five". My personal favorite was "The Sirens of Titan", which I thought was easy to read.

Never read Ice Nine.

He recommended people dance in their homes/apartments. His humor made him special, too. I spose you'd have to have a keen wit to endure his life experience. To blow off steam.

Love and hug your friends and family this evening. Sleep time for real.

[avidreader7]

I posted on the wrong thread.