Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007)

shyatt3 · 04-12-2007, 02:15 PM

To all you Vonnegut fans, he has died. He has long been one of my favorite authors. Thanks, Kurt, for all your work!

Bumpman · 04-12-2007, 02:34 PM

I saw it too... It's so depressing.

shyatt3 · 04-12-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumpman

I saw it too... It's so depressing.

Perhaps just as Kurt would have liked it?

flyaway · 04-12-2007, 04:30 PM

So it goes.

shyatt3 · 04-12-2007, 04:32 PM

You clever thing, you.

I wondered how many liked him around these parts.

Rai · 04-12-2007, 10:31 PM

Its a shame that great writers also grow old. Still, I think the old man is enjoying every bit of his afterlife so there's nothing to worry about

carvinC980t_kid · 04-12-2007, 10:33 PM

this was a bummer to hear. the aurthor of some of my favorite writings... and he was an indiana native!

SisterMidnight · 04-13-2007, 02:07 AM

i was devastated to hear this, i actually broke down and cried at work. a young girl looked at me bewildered and said "well he was old" and i said "yeah, well i'm still sad" tears flowing down my face.. there is a nice article/tribute here:

And so it goes

i adored vonnegut he was my favorite author of all time, and i was lucky enough to hear him speak at our local university some years back. i was more thrilled by that than any concert or gig i've ever been to.. if you haven't read anything of his you should. he was brilliant and so funny! his style was completely unique and he could write scathing social commentary wrapped up in whimsy and black humor that helped you laugh at anything, no matter how tragic. he will be missed...

shyatt3 · 04-13-2007, 02:09 AM

Sister, that's a beautiful way to describe him. Do you have a favorite?

SisterMidnight · 04-13-2007, 02:14 AM

slaughterhouse five. definitely. his masterpiece and my favorite novel of all time.

what's your favorite, steven?

shyatt3 · 04-13-2007, 02:24 AM

That was the one that got me hooked. I remember being quite reluctant to read it, though I think that mostly had to do with it being put upon me. After I actually did read it I was hooked and went on a Vonnegut spree. It's a very difficult favorite for me, but I love God Bless You Mr. Rosewater and Sirens of Titan. Then again, there's just too many great ones!!!

SisterMidnight · 04-13-2007, 02:32 AM

cat's cradle and mother night were favorites, too.. yeah once you're hooked you don't want to stop until you've read them all

shyatt3 · 04-13-2007, 02:39 AM

Oh yes, Cat's Cradle, I love that one too. I've tried over the years to get my friends and loved ones into him, though with mediocre luck at best.

SisterMidnight · 04-13-2007, 02:57 AM

you have to be open to non-linear storytelling and a very different approach to literature to appreciate vonnegut, i think. he was an innovator and didn't follow standardized rules of writing (but that only made him all the more interesting to read for me!)

i mean in the beginning they labeled him a pulp science fiction writer and said his writing was too simplistic (what?!) no one knew quite what to make of him at first, and those are the kind of artists i always love the most.. groundbreakers

it's nice to talk to someone else about him who understands, i don't feel quite so sad now

shyatt3 · 04-13-2007, 03:04 AM

Yes, I feel likewise.

Bumpman · 04-13-2007, 09:26 AM

Apparently they're making Cat's Cradle into a film this year. Leonardo Di Caprio's production company bought the rights to it.

Which is weird.

Hendrik · 04-13-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumpman

Apparently they're making Cat's Cradle into a film this year. Leonardo Di Caprio's production company bought the rights to it.

Which is weird.

Just because it's DiCaprio? Hey, that's not quite open-minded from you, eh?

shyatt3 · 04-13-2007, 08:55 PM

That could be interesting.

SisterMidnight · 04-15-2007, 01:43 AM

i really don't like it when they make his books into movies, they never do the original work justice.. slapstick was terrible, slaughterhouse-five wasn't great (or i didn't like it anyway) and even mother night, which was pretty well done, didn't capture the novel for me

i'm still in mourning i think.. he was an agnostic and known for being skeptical of religion, but i read here (because i haven't read his last series of essays) that he wanted his epitaph to be

"The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music."

i thought that was really beautiful, and comforting somehow..

rest in peace, kurt

shyatt3 · 04-15-2007, 03:22 AM

I think it may be nearly impossible to make a movie of his books and get across even the basic tone of what's going on. In fact, it may very well cheapen it. I suppose that's a different topic though.

He was definately skeptical of religion, but it always seemed to be in its social application. I really do like that epitaph though, it helps to capture a part of agnostics that aren't generally understood, I think. There are many people who are skeptical about religion, though are not necessarily skeptical about God. That line really internalizes it all, and I think that fits in nicely with Vonnegut in general. And I agree, it is both beautiful and comforting.

flyaway · 04-15-2007, 09:58 AM

I read he was stealing Billy Pilgrims epitaph! Which is also going to be mine I think. Also he wasn't agnostic, he was a Humanist.

shyatt3 · 04-15-2007, 01:21 PM

Humanism doesn't exlude agnosticism, in fact they quite often include one another (though they of course don't have to). Same goes with atheism, they are not exclusive, but often inclusive of one another (this was my major in school).

In fact, it's often you'll find that humanism is more practiced as a philosophy, and not always a strictly religious matter.

tj · 04-15-2007, 05:24 PM

Oh!! I've just found out...

I only got into him two years ago when a friend of mine recommended Slaughter House Five...

Rest In Peace Kurt...

tj · 04-15-2007, 05:26 PM

This is also kind of strange... now that I think of it... On the day he died I was in the local book store and I was amazed at how many of Kurt's books they now had in stock.

04-12-2007, 02:15 PM	#1
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) To all you Vonnegut fans, he has died. He has long been one of my favorite authors. Thanks, Kurt, for all your work! Last edited by shyatt3; 04-12-2007 at 02:19 PM.

04-12-2007, 02:34 PM	#2
Bumpman ... Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,801	I saw it too... It's so depressing. __________________ Mic Christopher Is Great

04-12-2007, 04:30 PM	#4
flyaway Eskimo Geek Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 530	So it goes. __________________ "I would love to hold you up, but my fingers just aren't strong enough"

04-12-2007, 10:31 PM	#6
Rai Eskimontologist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Robo-Hungarian Empire Posts: 2,345	Its a shame that great writers also grow old. Still, I think the old man is enjoying every bit of his afterlife so there's nothing to worry about __________________ "There's, another example. See, here I'm now sitting by myself, uh, er, talking to myself. That's, that's chaos." "If you find you've got a dragon charging at you at thirty miles per hour snapping its teeth you can always drive it defensively through the covers"

04-12-2007, 10:33 PM	#7
carvinC980t_kid Eskimo Regular Join Date: May 2006 Location: noblesville indiana, aka people with too much money producing ignorant children Posts: 2,662	this was a bummer to hear. the aurthor of some of my favorite writings... and he was an indiana native! __________________ "And live for the moment, Lord knows I'm gon' die And when I get to hell, Lord knows I'm gon' fry" young jeezy - i luv it

04-12-2007, 04:32 PM	#5
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	You clever thing, you. I wondered how many liked him around these parts.

04-13-2007, 02:07 AM	#8
SisterMidnight Jellyfishsting Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Is this heaven? Posts: 5,500	i was devastated to hear this, i actually broke down and cried at work. a young girl looked at me bewildered and said "well he was old" and i said "yeah, well i'm still sad" tears flowing down my face.. there is a nice article/tribute here: And so it goes i adored vonnegut he was my favorite author of all time, and i was lucky enough to hear him speak at our local university some years back. i was more thrilled by that than any concert or gig i've ever been to.. if you haven't read anything of his you should. he was brilliant and so funny! his style was completely unique and he could write scathing social commentary wrapped up in whimsy and black humor that helped you laugh at anything, no matter how tragic. he will be missed... Last edited by SisterMidnight; 04-13-2007 at 02:12 AM.

04-13-2007, 02:09 AM	#9
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	Sister, that's a beautiful way to describe him. Do you have a favorite? __________________ www.stevenhyattphotography.com

04-13-2007, 02:14 AM	#10
SisterMidnight Jellyfishsting Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Is this heaven? Posts: 5,500	slaughterhouse five. definitely. his masterpiece and my favorite novel of all time. what's your favorite, steven?

04-13-2007, 02:24 AM	#11
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	That was the one that got me hooked. I remember being quite reluctant to read it, though I think that mostly had to do with it being put upon me. After I actually did read it I was hooked and went on a Vonnegut spree. It's a very difficult favorite for me, but I love God Bless You Mr. Rosewater and Sirens of Titan. Then again, there's just too many great ones!!! __________________ www.stevenhyattphotography.com

04-13-2007, 02:32 AM	#12
SisterMidnight Jellyfishsting Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Is this heaven? Posts: 5,500	cat's cradle and mother night were favorites, too.. yeah once you're hooked you don't want to stop until you've read them all

04-13-2007, 02:39 AM	#13
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	Oh yes, Cat's Cradle, I love that one too. I've tried over the years to get my friends and loved ones into him, though with mediocre luck at best. __________________ www.stevenhyattphotography.com

04-13-2007, 02:57 AM	#14
SisterMidnight Jellyfishsting Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Is this heaven? Posts: 5,500	you have to be open to non-linear storytelling and a very different approach to literature to appreciate vonnegut, i think. he was an innovator and didn't follow standardized rules of writing (but that only made him all the more interesting to read for me!) i mean in the beginning they labeled him a pulp science fiction writer and said his writing was too simplistic (what?!) no one knew quite what to make of him at first, and those are the kind of artists i always love the most.. groundbreakers it's nice to talk to someone else about him who understands, i don't feel quite so sad now

04-13-2007, 03:04 AM	#15
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	Yes, I feel likewise. __________________ www.stevenhyattphotography.com

04-13-2007, 09:26 AM	#16
Bumpman ... Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,801	Apparently they're making Cat's Cradle into a film this year. Leonardo Di Caprio's production company bought the rights to it. Which is weird. __________________ Mic Christopher Is Great

04-13-2007, 08:55 PM	#18
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	That could be interesting. __________________ www.stevenhyattphotography.com

04-15-2007, 01:43 AM	#19
SisterMidnight Jellyfishsting Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Is this heaven? Posts: 5,500	i really don't like it when they make his books into movies, they never do the original work justice.. slapstick was terrible, slaughterhouse-five wasn't great (or i didn't like it anyway) and even mother night, which was pretty well done, didn't capture the novel for me i'm still in mourning i think.. he was an agnostic and known for being skeptical of religion, but i read here (because i haven't read his last series of essays) that he wanted his epitaph to be "The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music." i thought that was really beautiful, and comforting somehow.. rest in peace, kurt

04-15-2007, 03:22 AM	#20
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	I think it may be nearly impossible to make a movie of his books and get across even the basic tone of what's going on. In fact, it may very well cheapen it. I suppose that's a different topic though. He was definately skeptical of religion, but it always seemed to be in its social application. I really do like that epitaph though, it helps to capture a part of agnostics that aren't generally understood, I think. There are many people who are skeptical about religion, though are not necessarily skeptical about God. That line really internalizes it all, and I think that fits in nicely with Vonnegut in general. And I agree, it is both beautiful and comforting. __________________ www.stevenhyattphotography.com Last edited by shyatt3; 04-15-2007 at 03:24 AM.

04-15-2007, 09:58 AM	#21
flyaway Eskimo Geek Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 530	I read he was stealing Billy Pilgrims epitaph! Which is also going to be mine I think. Also he wasn't agnostic, he was a Humanist. __________________ "I would love to hold you up, but my fingers just aren't strong enough"

04-15-2007, 01:21 PM	#22
shyatt3 Eskimo Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 471	Humanism doesn't exlude agnosticism, in fact they quite often include one another (though they of course don't have to). Same goes with atheism, they are not exclusive, but often inclusive of one another (this was my major in school). In fact, it's often you'll find that humanism is more practiced as a philosophy, and not always a strictly religious matter. __________________ www.stevenhyattphotography.com

04-15-2007, 05:24 PM	#23
tj Phono Vox Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ireland Posts: 828	Oh!! I've just found out... I only got into him two years ago when a friend of mine recommended Slaughter House Five... Rest In Peace Kurt... __________________ a goldfish only has a three second memory..that means if it takes a goldfish three seconds to swim around a bowl, everything is new...each time two goldfish meet it's like it's the first time..

04-15-2007, 05:26 PM	#24
tj Phono Vox Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ireland Posts: 828	This is also kind of strange... now that I think of it... On the day he died I was in the local book store and I was amazed at how many of Kurt's books they now had in stock. __________________ a goldfish only has a three second memory..that means if it takes a goldfish three seconds to swim around a bowl, everything is new...each time two goldfish meet it's like it's the first time..