Any Kurt Vonnegut fans?

[GuyaGuy]

Originally posted by TIKIROCKER

i still haven't seen Cronenberg's CRASH, but i'm anxious to see what he did with the novel. generally, i think he pulls of adaptations quite well. in any case it's a rather fitting match.

of course when i was reading it a couple of people asked me if it was the book that the Don Cheadle/Sandra Bullock movie was based on.

[squareking]

Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five are high on my list of great books. Breakfast of Champions is good so far.

[TIKILOCKEDOUT]

Originally posted by GuyaGuy i still haven't seen Cronenberg's CRASH, but i'm anxious to see what he did with the novel. generally, i think he pulls of adaptations quite well. in any case it's a rather fitting match. of course when i was reading it a couple of people asked me if it was the book that the Don Cheadle/Sandra Bullock movie was based on.

I have the Cronenberg film ... it's AWESOME! I also bought the soundtrack to the film YEARS ago after seeing the film ... the score is incredible and by Howard Shore who always teams up with Cronenberg. I love all of Cronenbergs films and James Spader is riveting as Ballard ... the coup de grace is Vaughn, played by none other than Elias Koteas!!!!

The book, film and soundtrack form a triumvurite of art that for me is sublime. Go get the film IMMEDIATELY ... superb adaption though I would have loved to see a film version set in London where the book sets it, instead of Canada - however, this film is perfection!

Might I add ... I see an awful lot of Palahniuk borrowing thematically from Ballard though he has managed to develop his own voice quite well ... many writers owe Ballard a debt.

[Kap'n]

Kurt lived for a while in the town I grew up in, a stone's throw from General Forge and Foundry in Illium. His brother Bernie was a professor at my college.

While I was there, Kurt did a lecture. It was awesome.

[GuyaGuy]

Originally posted by TIKIROCKER I have the Cronenberg film ... it's AWESOME! I also bought the soundtrack to the film YEARS ago after seeing the film ... the score is incredible and by Howard Shore who always teams up with Cronenberg. I love all of Cronenbergs films and James Spader is riveting as Ballard ... the coup de grace is Vaughn, played by none other than Elias Koteas!!!! The book, film and soundtrack form a triumvurite of art that for me is sublime. Go get the film IMMEDIATELY ... superb adaption though I would have loved to see a film version set in London where the book sets it, instead of Canada - however, this film is perfection! Might I add ... I see an awful lot of Palahniuk borrowing thematically from Ballard though he has managed to develop his own voice quite well ... many writers owe Ballard a debt.

 

 

cool. i'll check it out ASAP.

IMO the setting of CRASH isn't all that important.

change a couple of mentions of place names and it could be LA or Sydney or Vancouver.

 

 

but yeah, i read Palahniuk first, but he came to mind often while reading CRASH. both are narrated by a "disciple" who survives the "master." both involve an illicit subculture building up to an explosive climax; both subcultures are intrinsically doomed. both involve an atypical homo-erotic relationship between narrator and "master." both are a study on violence.

etc. etc. etc.

[Woodstock1969]

Hocus Pocus

The Bugumbo (spelling) Snuffbox

Cat's Cradle

Great {censored}

[The Friendly Ranger]

I haven't read any of his stuff in quite a while. I seem to remember enjoying it, though. These days I'm all about the Thomas The Tank Engine and Disney Princess books. Big difference!

[zeke27]

I read Vonnegut a while ago. My favorites were Sirens of Titan and Slaughterhouse Five. Both books had a great treatment of space/time.

[Elliott Damage]

Originally posted by The Friendly Ranger I haven't read any of his stuff in quite a while. I seem to remember enjoying it, though. These days I'm all about the Thomas The Tank Engine and Disney Princess books. Big difference!

you gotta do what you gotta do.

[mumford]

Slapstick is the only one I didn't like. My favorite was probably Bluebeard.

Right now I'm reading A Civil Action for my next semester's writing course. Really interesting, it's about the first toxic tort case. I hear the movie is awful.

[V]

Yeah Vonnegut is definitely one of my favorites.

[thenakedarab]

I've read both Slaughterhouse Five, and Hocus Pocus, and was engrossed from the first chapter on. I'ld be willing to call him one of the greatest story-tellers in my life-time.

Burroughs, and Tom Robbins are right there too.

[mattburnside]

Originally posted by jimihalen Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five are high on my list of great books. Breakfast of Champions is good so far.

I loved Breakfast of Champions. Any book where the author gets to insert a drawing of a butthole has got SOMETHING going for it.

[Soulgolem]

Only read "Welcome to the monkey house" and loved it !

[Josh S]

I've read every Vonnegut book (yes, I have a very large science fiction collection - I read lots ).

IMO - Bluebeard is the best of his novels. That book is so good it hurts me.

Read it, if you haven't.

[TIKILOCKEDOUT]

Originally posted by mumford Slapstick is the only one I didn't like. My favorite was probably Bluebeard. Right now I'm reading A Civil Action for my next semester's writing course. Really interesting, it's about the first toxic tort case. I hear the movie is awful.

 

 

I recommend you check out Kramer vs Kramer for your law studies.

[godard]

I've read Slaughterhouse 5 and Breakfast of Champions, and have God Bless You Mr. Rosewater somewhere.

[Heckles]

Originally posted by Josh S I've read every Vonnegut book (yes, I have a very large science fiction collection - I read lots ). IMO - Bluebeard is the best of his novels. That book is so good it hurts me. Read it, if you haven't.

Agreed...I've read all of them, and while Bluebeard isn't as funny as some (Breakfast first and foremost) it's one of the best stories I've ever read. Absolutely heartbreaking, joyful, and inspiring, all at once...sorta how I feel about the flaming lips...

[Olsvik]

I've only read Ballard's Concrete Island, what would you recommend I check out next?

Edit: I see your recommendations list now, Crash it is!

[Phil O'Keefe]

Slaughterhouse Five is a classic, as is much of Vonnegut's work.

On the subject of books, I grabbed a copy of Joseph Heller's "Catch 22" at Border's the other day... I have not read that in ages, and it is one of my personal favorites. Check it out if you guys haven't read it yet.

[mike.sartori]

"The Sirens of Titan" was my favorite, "Breakfast of Champions" was also good. During my years of being "homeschooled" for highschool I would alternate between playing guitar and reading books, so for a while I had a real Vonnegut stage.