Attention Vonnegut mourners

On Apr 17, 4:57 pm, A.Noni... RemoveThis @nospam.tv wrote:
> Hey folks, why don't you stick around, let's discuss Vonneguts books
> and ideas here.
> This used to be a very active group. I think K would appreciate it if
> we continued discussing his books here; I know I would...


I have been walking around in a haze since I learned the news last
week. I want to go on and on about the genius that was Kurt. Where
to start? Probably where i'll end this post: "the Smarties HAD to be
getting outside help!" - Timequake. More later when I clear the fog
of dissappointment that is the death of the greatest writer this
country produced.

- liquidiamonds
 >> Stay informed about: Attention Vonnegut mourners 

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 23:02:47 -0400, jetypo.RemoveThis@SpamErzBytesysmatrix.net
(Olin Jenkins) wrote:

>Greetings, all:
>
>In article <65da23p0pg83n5ram36neqfsb0lgul77oc.RemoveThis@4ax.com>, here.RemoveThis@nothere.com wrote:
>
>> Hey folks, why don't you stick around, let's discuss Vonneguts books
>> and ideas here.
>> This used to be a very active group. I think K would appreciate it if
>> we continued discussing his books here; I know I would...
>
>Amen. The first thing that comes to mind is Kilgore Trout: "You were sick
>but now you're well... and there's work to do!" (from _Timequake_).

"Timequake" was largely dismissed as "not so good" but I not only
enjoyed it the first time through, I enjoyed it even more a few months
later when I re-read it!

I do think it was very much an "insiders'" book, and for those who
weren't big Vonnegut fans, they probably didn't get it.

I find that many people just don't appreciate the humor in Vonnegut's
books. If you ask them they'll tell you they "got it, but just didn't
think it was that good". I say, that if you really GET it, you have to
see that it IS that good!

Of course, Vonnegut himself gave "Slapstick" a C- or D or something
like that, and I thought it was brilliant! To tell such a hilarious
yarn, in so few words!

Admittedly, it wasn't real "meaty", but I love it.
 >> Stay informed about: Attention Vonnegut mourners 

On 18 Apr 2007 07:24:51 -0700, liquidiamonds9.RemoveThis@gmail.com wrote:

>On Apr 17, 4:57 pm, A.Noni....RemoveThis@nospam.tv wrote:
>> Hey folks, why don't you stick around, let's discuss Vonneguts books
>> and ideas here.
>> This used to be a very active group. I think K would appreciate it if
>> we continued discussing his books here; I know I would...
>
>
>I have been walking around in a haze since I learned the news last
>week. I want to go on and on about the genius that was Kurt. Where
>to start? Probably where i'll end this post: "the Smarties HAD to be
>getting outside help!" - Timequake. More later when I clear the fog
>of dissappointment that is the death of the greatest writer this
>country produced.
>
> - liquidiamonds

I'm glad some people love KV and his works as much as I do. I've lost count how
many times I've read each book...but many. "If this isn't nice, I don't know
what is."
 >> Stay informed about: Attention Vonnegut mourners 

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:26:32 -0700, Phil P. <phil.TakeThisOut@nospam.com> wrote:

>On 18 Apr 2007 07:24:51 -0700, liquidiamonds9.TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:
>
>>On Apr 17, 4:57 pm, A.Noni....TakeThisOut@nospam.tv wrote:
>>> Hey folks, why don't you stick around, let's discuss Vonneguts books
>>> and ideas here.
>>> This used to be a very active group. I think K would appreciate it if
>>> we continued discussing his books here; I know I would...
>>
>>
>>I have been walking around in a haze since I learned the news last
>>week. I want to go on and on about the genius that was Kurt. Where
>>to start? Probably where i'll end this post: "the Smarties HAD to be
>>getting outside help!" - Timequake. More later when I clear the fog
>>of dissappointment that is the death of the greatest writer this
>>country produced.
>>
>> - liquidiamonds
>
>I'm glad some people love KV and his works as much as I do. I've lost count how
>many times I've read each book...but many. "If this isn't nice, I don't know
>what is."
Yes, for some reason, none of my friends seem to appreciate KV the way
I do; it's hard for me to understand why anyone would not be able to
see his genius.

He made so much sense, while also being absurd.
 >> Stay informed about: Attention Vonnegut mourners 

That sounds like a great idea. This group used to receive a lot of traffic
but it's been a while. I think now is the perfect time to revive it.

It's hard to describe the feeling after hearing of Kurt's demise, a blue
haze comes close. It's made more difficult by the fact that I don't
personally know anyone who enjoyed reading his books as much as I do. It's
like having to mourn a great friend no one knew. You can't go on and on
about what a great writer he was or what an impact he had on your life to
those who never even heard his name. The fact of the matter is that he had
a huge impact on my values, morality and outlook... and that is a good
thing. In fact, it's sad to say but he probably had more of an impact on my
views than my own father, who died recently. My father never told me his
opinions and views, but I knew Kurt's.

In the 7th grade the librarian at my school gave me her personal copy of
"Cat's Cradle" to read saying she thought I would enjoy it and emphasized
that she wouldn't give it to anyone. I was honored. I read it eagerly,
devouring it like a character in one of KV's books. <"So this is it? Now
it can be told?"> I don't even remember the librarian's name. So it goes.
I read everything I could find by Kurt. In college I scoured through
magazines looking for articles by or about him. What a wonderful gift he
had... and gave to us all. Everything was beautiful Kurt.

I didn't mean to turn this into a psychotherapy session, just wanted to
express my grief to those who would understand best. Thanks for listening
and sharing.

-Gary
 >> Stay informed about: Attention Vonnegut mourners 

On Apr 18, 4:01 pm, "Gary" <paul.prot....DeleteThis@tralfamadore.com> wrote:
> That sounds like a great idea. This group used to receive a lot of traffic
> but it's been a while. I think now is the perfect time to revive it.

I agree that it is a perfect time and a healthy outlet to deal with
the loss of an author we all enjoyed.

> It's hard to describe the feeling after hearing of Kurt's demise, a blue
> haze comes close. It's made more difficult by the fact that I don't
> personally know anyone who enjoyed reading his books as much as I do. It's
> like having to mourn a great friend no one knew. You can't go on and on
> about what a great writer he was or what an impact he had on your life to
> those who never even heard his name. The fact of the matter is that he had
> a huge impact on my values, morality and outlook... and that is a good
> thing. In fact, it's sad to say but he probably had more of an impact on my
> views than my own father, who died recently. My father never told me his
> opinions and views, but I knew Kurt's.

I too feel the void of not having the outlet to discuss KV's works and
to deal with his loss. The impact on who I am now can be traced more
to KV than to my own father; however, when I realized that my father
did not have long to live, especially considering his lifestyle, I did
"snatch" a few minutes here and there with him. My father was in the
service in WWII and was close to KV's age. I remember talking to my
father about the war and what he remembered. I have my father's
letters from that time period; however, it was different than
"Slaughter House Five" in that the letters were not as detailed or
funny as the book.

> In the 7th grade the librarian at my school gave me her personal copy of
> "Cat's Cradle" to read saying she thought I would enjoy it and emphasized
> that she wouldn't give it to anyone. I was honored. I read it eagerly,
> devouring it like a character in one of KV's books. <"So this is it? Now
> it can be told?"> I don't even remember the librarian's name. So it goes.
> I read everything I could find by Kurt. In college I scoured through
> magazines looking for articles by or about him. What a wonderful gift he
> had... and gave to us all. Everything was beautiful Kurt.

I started out reading my brother's copy of "Slaughter House Five" as
a senior in high school. My peers were struggling with the classics
and I was reading Vonnegut besides the other books. It was cool, I
was a rebel in those days. I went out the next year and bought the
hardcover edition of "Breakfast of Champions" for my birhtday.

>
> I didn't mean to turn this into a psychotherapy session, just wanted to
> express my grief to those who would understand best. Thanks for listening
> and sharing.
>
> -Gary

What psychotherapy? I think Vonnegut raised, or at influenced,
millions more kids than his 7 children. I am glad that he was there
in his books!

Jay
 >> Stay informed about: Attention Vonnegut mourners 

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:01:59 GMT, "Gary"
<paul.proteus RemoveThis @tralfamadore.com> wrote:

>That sounds like a great idea. This group used to receive a lot of traffic
>but it's been a while. I think now is the perfect time to revive it.
>
Right!

>It's hard to describe the feeling after hearing of Kurt's demise, a blue
>haze comes close. It's made more difficult by the fact that I don't
>personally know anyone who enjoyed reading his books as much as I do.

Exactly my problem, too! Thank goodness for the net, to be able to
read what others are saying about him, how important he was to them,
too.


>It's like having to mourn a great friend no one knew. You can't go on and on
>about what a great writer he was or what an impact he had on your life to
>those who never even heard his name. The fact of the matter is that he had
>a huge impact on my values, morality and outlook... and that is a good
>thing. In fact, it's sad to say but he probably had more of an impact on my
>views than my own father, who died recently. My father never told me his
>opinions and views, but I knew Kurt's.
>
Oh, yes; Kurt probably had a much bigger impact on me than my parents
did.

>In the 7th grade the librarian at my school gave me her personal copy of
>"Cat's Cradle" to read saying she thought I would enjoy it and emphasized
>that she wouldn't give it to anyone. I was honored. I read it eagerly,
>devouring it like a character in one of KV's books. <"So this is it? Now
>it can be told?"> I don't even remember the librarian's name. So it goes.
> I read everything I could find by Kurt. In college I scoured through
>magazines looking for articles by or about him. What a wonderful gift he
>had... and gave to us all. Everything was beautiful Kurt.
>
>I didn't mean to turn this into a psychotherapy session, just wanted to
>express my grief to those who would understand best. Thanks for listening
>and sharing.

My first girlfriend turned me on to Kurt, back in 1971. I became a big
fan immmediately and proceeded to read every book of his from then on.
Seeing a new Vonnegut book at the bookstore was a big deal, for me. I
could hardly wait to get home and start reading it!

He had a major impact on my way of thinking, especially towards God
and religion.
 >> Stay informed about: Attention Vonnegut mourners 

On 20 Apr 2007 06:44:18 -0700, Jbird728 <jay25117 DeleteThis @ptd.net> wrote:

>
>I too feel the void of not having the outlet to discuss KV's works and
>to deal with his loss. The impact on who I am now can be traced more
>to KV than to my own father; however, when I realized that my father
>did not have long to live, especially considering his lifestyle, I did
>"snatch" a few minutes here and there with him. My father was in the
>service in WWII and was close to KV's age
Mine was too. My dad was in the infantry in Belgium at the end of the
war. He helped liberate a concentration camp of Jews, and to this day
he cannot really talk about that part of it.
>

> I think Vonnegut raised, or at influenced,
>millions more kids than his 7 children. I am glad that he was there
>in his books!
>
>Jay
>
I know he sure had a big influence on me. For one thing, he kept me
from falling into the trap of so-called Christianity.

I think that is ironic, since K's basic message was "Be kind and
loving; respect one another".
 >> Stay informed about: Attention Vonnegut mourners