April 12, 2007
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., 1922-2007
He's gone now; Lord knows I don't like to read non-fiction (whoops!) all that much, but ol' Kurt was one of the guys who made it enjoyable. I don't know whether I naturally responded to his disjointed prose, littered with bits of Americana, or whether it gradually won me over during my 15-year stretch of reading and re-reading his little gems. I always enjoyed the semi-autobiographical introductions the best. This one's from Breakfast of Champions:
I think I am trying to make my head as empty as it was when I was born onto this damaged planet fifty years ago. I suspect that this is something that most white Americans, and nonwhite Americans who imitate white Americans, should do. The things other people have put into my head, at any rate, do not fit together nicely, are out of proportion with one another, are our of proportion with life as it really is outside my head.
I feel ya, Kurt.
UPDATE I almost forgot about his cameo in Back to School, the funniest part of which can only be seen in the unedited version:
Diane: Whoever *did* write this doesn't know the first thing about Kurt Vonnegut! [cut to Thornton's dorm suite]
Thornton Melon: [on the phone] ... and *another* thing, Vonnegut! I'm gonna stop payment on the cheque! [Kurt tells him off] Fuck me? Hey, Kurt, can you read lips, fuck you! Next time I'll call Robert Ludlum!
I loved that funny bastard.
Great choice of quote, Norb. I feel the same way.
Posted by: Montag at April 12, 2007 06:55 AMThis is just too fucking depressing.
Posted by: Clio Bluestocking at April 12, 2007 09:59 AMAll through high school and college I thought I would be clever and read multicultural (read: minorities') books so that I could have a well rounded experience. As an adult, I now realize no one gives a shit about minorities and I have not read any of the books anyone else has read.
And it's not like I never had the chance to read Vonnegut. Those little V books are everywhere. Ah well, better late than never. It's not like I was going to call him up and chat about Slaughterhouse 5 or whatever.
Posted by: ChrisV82 at April 12, 2007 10:29 AMThis is very sad. I read everything of his I could get my hands on when I was a kid.
Hilarious quote, though.
Posted by: Tom Hilton at April 12, 2007 10:30 AMDon't you mean fiction?
Posted by: Hysterical Woman at April 12, 2007 05:46 PMI had the great opportunity to spend two days w/ Vonnegut years ago, culminating in a very drunken, hilarious and wonderful dinner w/ Mr. V, myself and two others. The next day I picked him up at the hotel. We both were painfully hungover as I drove him to the airport (about 25 mins) and he smoked 7 Pall Malls. I left the butts in my ashtray until I gave the car to my little sister years later. A photo he gave me, taken by Jill K. hangs over my desk. He was one of the greats. I cried this morning when I heard the news.
Posted by: BCurtis at April 12, 2007 08:02 PM