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Ok. I’m reading Vonnegut. (Coming up he seemed so exclusively masculine, I avoided him. School reading was already mostly that already.) loved this podcast!
Omg Ty so much, Emily, for yr super kind words abt podcast! Really means the world. Esp cuz it was me trying something different, just talking to the reader. I hope you enjoy Vonnegut. Ironically, I did learn abt Vonnegut from my teacher, but she never tried to teach me anything formal abt his stuff, so I was able to just have pure reading experience.
Omg ty so much for yr super kind words, M.E., I always love to meet a fellow KV head: I'd love to have on Kurt Vonnegut Radio as a guest, if you might be game? We could talking about your astonishing & gorgeous Cosmographia & specific posts & KV & what his work means to you & how it's influenced you & whatever else organically bubbles up. If your game, is there an email I can reach you at? (or you can follow me on Twitter & I'll follow you back & we can DM). Thanks so much for taking the time to consider, & for yr uplifting words abt KVR name!
I've read Slaughterhouse Five, it might be time to give it another read. I love the fact that you change your name to your substack so easily, considering I've thought about a name change for my own 'stack but haven't done it.
Thanks so much for reading, Joaquin, & def recommend giving Slaughterhouse Five another read, it's almost shocking how much it speaks to our present cultural moment. Ty for kind words abt ease with which I changed name of my Substack. Confession: doing that caused me some stress, & I'd been waffling some in private, but then while writing the piece it suddenly dawned on me that I was writing the piece to give myself permission to change name & from there I never looked back. Cheers
Lovely tribute to my favorite author. I was hooked when I first read Slapstick...who knows how many years ago. One piece of advice from Mother Night that stuck with me, "...we must be careful who we pretend to be."
Omg Ty so much for reading, Elaine, & for yr super kind words which mean a lot. Totally know what you mean abt falling in love with his writing. And love that line abt what you pretend to be & think abt it all the time✨
Love this episode, Gabe. And hooray for changing the title, haha. Even if it is temporary, it's an obvious upgrade.
Breakfast Of Champions was also my first encounter with Vonnegut and I was instantly blown away. It upended my entire concept of what a story could be. You're telling me I'm going to read this book, most of which is going to be just waiting for these two characters to meet, and I'm going to be on the edge of my seat the whole time? Yeah, sure. And yet I was. And for a book to be so, so funny? I couldn't believe it. He's such a huge influence for me.
You mentioned the fact that he often sounds like he's speaking from beyond the grave, as in the opening "truth bomb" rich pages of BoC, and I really like that. I've described it similarly to people -- he sounds like the last human talking to an advanced alien race, trying his best to explain how our petty, violent, cheap, self-defeating, self-deluding and selfish acts make any sense at all. And of course, there is no adequate explanation. But the act of explaining ourselves, of writing it down, makes for hilarious satire that stands in stark relief against the real truth of what it means, or what it could mean, to be alive.
I reconnected with a high school friend recently -- told me they looked up Vonnegut in the phone book back in college and had a nice long chat with him. That was about six months ago when I heard that and I'm still very jealous.
Omg Ty so much Lars for yr super kind words which mean the world, esp coming from you. I'm actually thinking I might just keep the podcast name Kurt Vonnegut Radio, in large part bcuz of amazing feedback like yours on that episode & it is somehow true to me in a way that is appealing.
Thrilled to know another BOC die hard, & your words here are absolutely perfect:
"He sounds like the last human talking to an advanced alien race, trying his best to explain how our petty, violent, cheap, self-defeating, self-deluding and selfish acts make any sense at all. And of course, there is no adequate explanation. But the act of explaining ourselves, of writing it down, makes for hilarious satire that stands in stark relief against the real truth of what it means, or what it could mean, to be alive." Hear hear!
Got to get you on pod at some point sooner rather later so we can talk abt our love for KV as well as your art/cartoons & your TV writing.
Ty again for yr encouraging words & support, my friend, I am thrilled/honored/grateful.
Well, it would be my absolute pleasure to guest on the show - any time you like is good. Funnily enough, I'm steeped in Vonnegut this summer. First time reading the short story collections (just finished Monkey House, starting Bagombo Snuff Box) and revisiting everything else. So I'll be fresh. And my Hollywood stories are always front of mind... even when I wish they weren't haha. Keep kicking butt!
Gabe-- Wish we could chat again. Not sure why I'm commenting here, as I know I won't receive a text, an email, a call, or a response this time. Your work mattered greatly, as did you personally. I'll miss you. So much.
Yeah it's Feb 2024 and I've just found your Vonnegut page. I'm a Vonnegut preacher myself. From the first time I finished the first book I read that he wrote, I've been suggesting rather forcefully that everyone read him.
Many have. However:
I've been trying to get my youngest, now 29, to read KV since he was much younger. He hasn't read a complete chapter yet. I don't know what's wrong with the boy; his books are right up his brain alley as they are mine. I've devoured all his books many times over.
He'll get there.
I subbed to your podcast, too. I automatically like people who love Vonnegut. And Irving. (Bears, wrestling, Vermont, Vienna, every book!) Plain writing. Funny writing with not-so-funny meaning, both.
It’s embarrassing for someone who’s not aware of Kurt Vonnegut! I think it’s a great name for a radio show. This is my third listen since coming across this Stack. One thing I winder is you’re still with Instagram but you’re not on Twitter? How come when insta has got dubious ownership and what they do with users’ data… twitter well at this point in time it’s changed name and goes downhill. Regardless, this was another great piece with informative author trivia of someone I’ve not cone across.
Ok. I’m reading Vonnegut. (Coming up he seemed so exclusively masculine, I avoided him. School reading was already mostly that already.) loved this podcast!
Omg Ty so much, Emily, for yr super kind words abt podcast! Really means the world. Esp cuz it was me trying something different, just talking to the reader. I hope you enjoy Vonnegut. Ironically, I did learn abt Vonnegut from my teacher, but she never tried to teach me anything formal abt his stuff, so I was able to just have pure reading experience.
Vonnegut is one of my literary heroes too, and such a good name for a podcast!
Omg ty so much for yr super kind words, M.E., I always love to meet a fellow KV head: I'd love to have on Kurt Vonnegut Radio as a guest, if you might be game? We could talking about your astonishing & gorgeous Cosmographia & specific posts & KV & what his work means to you & how it's influenced you & whatever else organically bubbles up. If your game, is there an email I can reach you at? (or you can follow me on Twitter & I'll follow you back & we can DM). Thanks so much for taking the time to consider, & for yr uplifting words abt KVR name!
*to have you on Kurt Vonnegut Radio as guest
Ah would love to! You can catch me on booksthatmadeus@gmail.com
Yay fantastic, ty, so thrilled! I'm rn finishing up new Dave Eggers episode of KVR which will post today (he met KV couple times & loves his stuff)
But will email you tonight w Riverside link for our interview & some time slots for you to choose from, cheers!
I've read Slaughterhouse Five, it might be time to give it another read. I love the fact that you change your name to your substack so easily, considering I've thought about a name change for my own 'stack but haven't done it.
Thanks so much for reading, Joaquin, & def recommend giving Slaughterhouse Five another read, it's almost shocking how much it speaks to our present cultural moment. Ty for kind words abt ease with which I changed name of my Substack. Confession: doing that caused me some stress, & I'd been waffling some in private, but then while writing the piece it suddenly dawned on me that I was writing the piece to give myself permission to change name & from there I never looked back. Cheers
Lovely tribute to my favorite author. I was hooked when I first read Slapstick...who knows how many years ago. One piece of advice from Mother Night that stuck with me, "...we must be careful who we pretend to be."
Omg Ty so much for reading, Elaine, & for yr super kind words which mean a lot. Totally know what you mean abt falling in love with his writing. And love that line abt what you pretend to be & think abt it all the time✨
Love this episode, Gabe. And hooray for changing the title, haha. Even if it is temporary, it's an obvious upgrade.
Breakfast Of Champions was also my first encounter with Vonnegut and I was instantly blown away. It upended my entire concept of what a story could be. You're telling me I'm going to read this book, most of which is going to be just waiting for these two characters to meet, and I'm going to be on the edge of my seat the whole time? Yeah, sure. And yet I was. And for a book to be so, so funny? I couldn't believe it. He's such a huge influence for me.
You mentioned the fact that he often sounds like he's speaking from beyond the grave, as in the opening "truth bomb" rich pages of BoC, and I really like that. I've described it similarly to people -- he sounds like the last human talking to an advanced alien race, trying his best to explain how our petty, violent, cheap, self-defeating, self-deluding and selfish acts make any sense at all. And of course, there is no adequate explanation. But the act of explaining ourselves, of writing it down, makes for hilarious satire that stands in stark relief against the real truth of what it means, or what it could mean, to be alive.
I reconnected with a high school friend recently -- told me they looked up Vonnegut in the phone book back in college and had a nice long chat with him. That was about six months ago when I heard that and I'm still very jealous.
Omg Ty so much Lars for yr super kind words which mean the world, esp coming from you. I'm actually thinking I might just keep the podcast name Kurt Vonnegut Radio, in large part bcuz of amazing feedback like yours on that episode & it is somehow true to me in a way that is appealing.
Thrilled to know another BOC die hard, & your words here are absolutely perfect:
"He sounds like the last human talking to an advanced alien race, trying his best to explain how our petty, violent, cheap, self-defeating, self-deluding and selfish acts make any sense at all. And of course, there is no adequate explanation. But the act of explaining ourselves, of writing it down, makes for hilarious satire that stands in stark relief against the real truth of what it means, or what it could mean, to be alive." Hear hear!
Got to get you on pod at some point sooner rather later so we can talk abt our love for KV as well as your art/cartoons & your TV writing.
Ty again for yr encouraging words & support, my friend, I am thrilled/honored/grateful.
Well, it would be my absolute pleasure to guest on the show - any time you like is good. Funnily enough, I'm steeped in Vonnegut this summer. First time reading the short story collections (just finished Monkey House, starting Bagombo Snuff Box) and revisiting everything else. So I'll be fresh. And my Hollywood stories are always front of mind... even when I wish they weren't haha. Keep kicking butt!
Loved it so much, I recorded it to my phone. Thank you, Prof Hudson.
Gabe-- Wish we could chat again. Not sure why I'm commenting here, as I know I won't receive a text, an email, a call, or a response this time. Your work mattered greatly, as did you personally. I'll miss you. So much.
Yeah it's Feb 2024 and I've just found your Vonnegut page. I'm a Vonnegut preacher myself. From the first time I finished the first book I read that he wrote, I've been suggesting rather forcefully that everyone read him.
Many have. However:
I've been trying to get my youngest, now 29, to read KV since he was much younger. He hasn't read a complete chapter yet. I don't know what's wrong with the boy; his books are right up his brain alley as they are mine. I've devoured all his books many times over.
He'll get there.
I subbed to your podcast, too. I automatically like people who love Vonnegut. And Irving. (Bears, wrestling, Vermont, Vienna, every book!) Plain writing. Funny writing with not-so-funny meaning, both.
I won't say "so it goes," although I want to. ✨️
It’s embarrassing for someone who’s not aware of Kurt Vonnegut! I think it’s a great name for a radio show. This is my third listen since coming across this Stack. One thing I winder is you’re still with Instagram but you’re not on Twitter? How come when insta has got dubious ownership and what they do with users’ data… twitter well at this point in time it’s changed name and goes downhill. Regardless, this was another great piece with informative author trivia of someone I’ve not cone across.