Subject:New To Kurt's Work
Date:2 Aug 1998 18:29:18 GMT
From:normnwendy@aol.com (NormNWendy)
Hi all!
I have just recently started reading Kurt's work. The first one that I read
was Hocus Pocus and I absolutely fell in love with it. What should I read
next??? I plan on reading all of his work. Being a new mom, I find that one of
the things that I am able to do a lot of is reading and I am trying to pick out
authors and read all their works. Also if anyone can suggest authors to read
after I finish with Vonnegut I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Wendy
Date:3 Aug 1998 04:34:52 GMT
From:weldonk@aol.com (Weldonk)
>I have just recently started reading Kurt's work. The first one that I read
>was Hocus Pocus and I absolutely fell in love with it. What should I read
>next???
I recommend going in rough chronological order -- almost. Start with Sirens of
Titan, then Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse Five, and Breakfast of Champions.
Player Piano is okay, about what one should expect of a first novel, even
Vonnegut's. I also recommend God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and Galapagos.
Having read the best stuff will give some sort of perspective in which to put
the stuff that's not quite as good (but that's just me...) Save Timequake for
last, as the man himself did.
A worthy followup after Vonnegut is Valis, by Philip K. Dick. Also, if you
like Slaughterhouse Five, check out Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. Again, just my
opinion.
Subject:Re: New To Kurt's Work
Date:2 Aug 1998 20:14:17 GMT
From:eccles9697@aol.com (Eccles9697)
>Also if anyone can suggest authors to read
>: after I finish with Vonnegut I would greatly appreciate it.
I see you've got a bunch of responses on your first question (one of the most
frequently discussed topics on this newsgroup...). About this one, the only
suggestion I can make is Douglas Adams, his humor is similar-- they're ofen
compared, which is what lead me to reading Vonnegut, actually.
Dagny
From:hazelrah55@aol.com (Hazelrah55)
I would also like to add Hunter S. Thompson
Tony Petrangelo
NOOOO! We never "finish" with Vonnegut! We just lay a book down... for a
while... and come back to read it again later! :)
But, while we are on the subject, I suggest that you check out some Elmore
Leonard. Is he remotely like Vonnegut? No. Is he as much fun to read? Yep.
He won't move ya' the way KV does, but his books are a lot of fun.
I'd also like to second Ken Jesey, Joseph Heller, Mark Twain, Hunter Thompson,
and, of course, W. Sommerset Maughm.
Darrell
I'm amazed that in 16 replies to the original message no one mentioned "Mother
Night" which jockies with S5 for what i consider THE BEST KV book ever
(depending on what day of the week it is). There's probably not a week that
goes by that I don't think of something in one of those books.
And you'll never look at Veterans Day the same way again.
Of course, if you're going to read everything anyway, I guess it really doesn't
matter. Chronologically seems to be the best way.
As far as other writers, in addition to all the others listed so far I would
like to toss in Salinger and his Glass Family stories ("Catcher" is fine but
his Glass Family stories is where he really shines). His stories are more
"realistic" (for lack of a better word) than KV's but just as insightful on
what it takes to be a human today told with humour (and much more).
....whew....that was a bit more than I had intended to write....
Enjoy and welcome.
....*liqpenguin*
