One Year in the Life of a Dad Who's Learned a Lot -- and Who Still Has a Lot to Learn.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
In Memory of Kurt Vonnegut
I haven't read any Vonnegut since my required reading of Slaughterhouse Five in high school, so following the announcement of his passing today I headed off to the library and stocked up on several books. The sketch on the dust jacket above is one of my favorites -- probably one of the most elaborate autographs you'll ever see.
I have to admit I've only read one Vonnegut novel, and it was so long now, I can't even remember which one it was. But he was a character that transcended things like that. Even if you didn't read him, you knew who Kurt was.
My first Vonnegut novel was Cat's Cradle in 8th grade--recommended by my Science teacher of all people. Needless to say it wasn't the last of him I'd read. For imagining Bokononism alone, he should be remembered.
Hi NoVA Dad...Thank you for reading my post about briefly meeting Vonnegut and leaving your thoughts.
It's strange, isn't it, when you start thinking about your children reading things that edged you out of your own childhood. Luckily, Vonnegut is an author that transcends generations...so it will be funny when one of your girls comes home with one of his novels under her arm and is then surprised that *you* know anything about this author!
Frederick Buechner once wrote, “The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you.” I'm a 40-something husband and father who is trying to figure out my place at the party and learning all I can along the way about religion, education, politics, and anything else that comes up on the journey.
3 comments:
I have to admit I've only read one Vonnegut novel, and it was so long now, I can't even remember which one it was. But he was a character that transcended things like that. Even if you didn't read him, you knew who Kurt was.
My first Vonnegut novel was Cat's Cradle in 8th grade--recommended by my Science teacher of all people. Needless to say it wasn't the last of him I'd read. For imagining Bokononism alone, he should be remembered.
Hi NoVA Dad...Thank you for reading my post about briefly meeting Vonnegut and leaving your thoughts.
It's strange, isn't it, when you start thinking about your children reading things that edged you out of your own childhood. Luckily, Vonnegut is an author that transcends generations...so it will be funny when one of your girls comes home with one of his novels under her arm and is then surprised that *you* know anything about this author!
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