Best of Book Riot: Kurt Vonnegut in His Own Words
To celebrate the end of the year, we’re running some of our favorite posts from the last six months. We’ll be back with all-new stuff on January 7th.
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This post was part of our Kurt Vonnegut Reading Day: a celebration of one of our favorite authors on the occasion of the publication of his letters. Check out the full line-up here.
Today is Kurt Vonnegut Day, and I would not be surprised if some of you out there are wondering why we would set aside a day to honor him. I am all in favor of the celebration, but I find that I am having trouble putting together the words to explain why I admire his writing so much. I just do. Instead, I have searched the internet for examples of the man in action. Check him out, crazy curly hair and all. You’ll see what all the fuss is about.
Vonnegut on Writing
The Shapes of Stories
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP3c1h8v2ZQ[/youtube]How to Write a Good Short Story
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyQ1wEBx1V0[/youtube]Vonnegut on A Little Bit of Everything
Via Wired For Books – A 1981 interview with Don Swaim
Vonnegut Reads Vonnegut
Here’s the man himself reading excerpts from two of his most notable novels. Click the images to listen.
There a few of his short stories available through Librivox, read by volunteers. Check out Open Culture for links to “2BR02B,” “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Big Trip Up Yonder.”
Vonnegut Interviews the Dead
Via Letters of Note – Kurt Vonnegut interviews recently deceased balloonist Peter Pellegrino. This is one of the interviews that would eventually be included in God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian.
