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Kurt Vonnegut Has Passed

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Rick Waldroup, Apr 12, 2007.

  1. Rick Waldroup

    Rick Waldroup Guest

    One of the great American novelists of our time, Kurt Vonnegut has passed away. He was 84 years old. While he is probably best known for Slaughterhouse Five, I was always partial to Cat's Cradel and Breakfast of Champions. He will be missed.
     
    Rick Waldroup, Apr 12, 2007
    #1
  2. VoidRaven

    VoidRaven

    586
    Jul 13, 2006
    Lagrange, OH
    He will indeed be missed. A literary great now gone.
     
    VoidRaven, Apr 12, 2007
    #2
  3. Rick Waldroup

    Rick Waldroup Guest


    Yep Don, this is a bummer. By the way, for those who may not know, he is married to a great photographer, Jill Krementz.
     
    Rick Waldroup, Apr 12, 2007
    #3
  4. TOLady

    TOLady

    14,461
    Mar 31, 2005
    Toronto Canada
    Despite his commercial success, Vonnegut battled depression throughout his life and in '84 attempted suicide with pills and alchohol, joking later about how he botched the job.
    His mother killed herself just before he left for Germany during WWII, where he was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge.
    He was being held in Dresden when Allied bombs created a firestorm that killed and estimated 135,000 people in the city.
    He spent 23 years struggling to write about the ordeal, which he survived by huddling with another POW inside an underground meat locker labelled slaughterhouse-five.

    What a tortured mind he must have had. A great writer indeed.
     
    TOLady, Apr 12, 2007
    #4
  5. Toby D

    Toby D

    1,172
    Mar 7, 2006
    Iowaay
    RIP Kurt. I wonder, there was a quaint tradition in Iowa City. Kurt studied there and ever since, the current residents who live in that house are required to put on a party May 1. Some claim its written into the lease. Every year it came off, usuaully a large affair and very merry(inebriated). I wonder if it still happens, though it will be somber this year. I hope it continues as a reminder of a great and tortured genius.
     
    Toby D, Apr 12, 2007
    #5
  6. kaige

    kaige

    177
    Mar 22, 2007
    Backofbeyond, B.C.
    I read all his novels and every now and then I re-read one to
    help re-humanize myself.
     
    kaige, Apr 12, 2007
    #6
  7. Clix Pix

    Clix Pix Subscribing Member

    27,685
    May 4, 2005
    8 miles from the Apple store at Tysons (No. VA)
    I'm sad to learn this news. One of the truly great and gifted writers of modern times....
     
    Clix Pix, Apr 12, 2007
    #7
  8. Retief

    Retief Subscribing Member

    15,248
    Jan 26, 2005
    Marysville, WA
    For many reasons I find this sad news indeed.

    1. The world loses a talented writer, and one who always made me think
    2. It is yet another reminder of my own mortality
    3. I have to agree with Rick ...... :wink: :wink: :biggrin: :tongue: :tongue:

    RIP Kurt, the world will miss you, but we will always have your words to remind us.
     
    Retief, Apr 12, 2007
    #8
  9. Rick Waldroup

    Rick Waldroup Guest

    I like #3 the best.:rolleyes:  :rolleyes:  I know that must have been a real pain for you. Good. I'm glad.:biggrin: :biggrin:

    You know, this brings up an interesting observation. We have some real American literary giants that are getting up there in years- Updike, Mailer, Roth, just to name a few. I have a feeling we will be losing more of our literary masters here in the near future.
     
    Rick Waldroup, Apr 12, 2007
    #9
  10. ZBaum

    ZBaum Guest

    RIP Kurt. He is easily my favorite author. His work has such a humor and at the same time, so much truth about humans and the ways that we live. He knew no boundaries, and as a result, his books were outstanding. I might have to reread some of his books now...
     
    ZBaum, Apr 12, 2007
    #10
  11. alexf

    alexf

    20,439
    Dec 16, 2006
    Miami Beach, FL, USA
    Sad news indeed.

    I blogged about it very early today, including a link to the best obit I read today.


    And one of his quotes:
    "True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country." -- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
     
    alexf, Apr 12, 2007
    #11
  12. stephen.s1

    stephen.s1

    3,178
    Jan 13, 2006
    Southern CT
    "..so it goes."
     
    stephen.s1, Apr 13, 2007
    #12
  13. fictional math

    fictional math Guest

    it seems a little off to say it but i do hope kurt's passing will encourage more people to introduce themselves to his terrific body of work and others to be reminded of it.

    as the years pass his novels become more and more urgent and important. most of us could stand to take a few lessons from them to heart in our everyday lives.

    a world class voice in fiction
     
    fictional math, Apr 13, 2007
    #13
  14. Neige

    Neige

    734
    Jun 10, 2006
    On the Redwood Coast
    One of his most memorable statements was that artists are society's canary in the coal mine. He was one of the greatest and I will miss his presence.
     
    Neige, Apr 13, 2007
    #14
  15. Jaws

    Jaws

    2,304
    Mar 27, 2007
    Columbia, MD
    This is my favorite quote of his:

    "I can think of no more stirring symbol of man's humanity to man than a fire engine." Kurt Vonnegut
     
    Jaws, Apr 14, 2007
    #15
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