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Thursday, April 12, 2007

Two Great Men

Kurt Vonnegut: Dead at 84

Kurt Vonnegut, well-known novelist, is dead. This will sadden many of us. To me, his writing was always varied. I've been told that my fiction reads as his, but I had never read a Vonnegut novel until I read the marvellous "Hocus Pocus". Interestingly, this was very different from his novel "The Sirens of Titan", which had been recommended to me by Paul.

Vonnegut obviously strongly influenced Douglas Adams, author of the fantastic Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, and I'm sure his influence is seen among many other authors as well. Vonnegut is most famous for a novel I never read: Slaughterhouse Five. I think it's time to go out and buy it, in memory of a genius.

Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson revealed yesterday that he had been diagnosed three years ago with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of cancer). However, he has added that he's in remission.

This is good news to many who are hoping that Thompson may run for President of the United States. He is the only Republican candidate capable of winning, and he is truly an old-fashioned Reagan Republican.

Thompson still hasn't announced his intentions, but there is a tremendous grass roots campaign to get him to run, and many of us old dogs will come out of retirement to help him. It seems obvious that his recent admission is a way to test the waters subtly. Savvy journalists are watching him closely.

5 comments:

Ed said...

I have never read Kurt Vonnegut. I'm guessing that he mostly wrote fiction which I rarely read anymore. I have heard of several of his books and will have to try one out sometime.

I don't know much about Thompson but when I think of what the other republican candidates favor, I can't wait to learn about Fred. If there is a moderate republican in the mix this year, I may vote republican for the first time in a long time.

M@ said...

Though I rarely re-watch movies, I love to get stoned now and then and watch Slaughterhouse Five.

I'm getting some dank this weekend and that sounds like a plan.

Paul Nichols said...

A fellow blogger who recommended "Sirens of Titan." I think I remember...yes, it was that good looking guy from Kansas. Ol' Whatsmyname. Glad you liked it.

You wrote about three of my favorite people today. Reagan being the 3rd one.

daveawayfromhome said...

I would personally recommend his essays, which will give you an idea of just how much Vonnegut cared about humanity, despite his seeming bitterness. Read "Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons", it's one of my favorites.
In fiction, my favorite is "Bluebeard", but then I'm an art major.

Dave said...

Saur,

I've tried so many times to read a book, but I just can't do it. I do listen to mysteries on tape though.