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Vonnegut's place in your personal heirarchy

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by Buck, Apr 13, 2007.

Page 1 of 20
  1. Buck

    Buck Well-Known Member

    Where does Vonnegut stand among American writers of fiction?
    Where does he rank?
    I rank him very high, behind Salinger but ahead of Hemingway and Steinbeck.






    JD editor's note: Subject line adjusted to fit Buck's clarification later on this page. I throw in this service for free.
     
    Buck, Apr 13, 2007
    #1
  2. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing


    He's in the Top 10 (Salinger isn't).
     
    Ace, Apr 13, 2007
    #2
  3. OnTheRiver

    OnTheRiver Active Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Here's how subjective the question is: I'd flip-flop your take, and put him behind Hemingway and Steinbeck but ahead of Salinger.
     
    OnTheRiver, Apr 13, 2007
    #3
  4. Chi City 81

    Chi City 81 Guest

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    What about Twain? And Poe?
     
    Chi City 81, Apr 13, 2007
    #4
  5. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Twain, Faulkner and Fitzgerald would probably be my top 3
     
    Ace, Apr 13, 2007
    #5
  6. Fenian_Bastard

    Fenian_Bastard Guest

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    I can say for certain, having done it myself, often, that downplaying Hemingway's going to get you flamed.
    I'd put Vonnegut behind Twain, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Steinbeck, Willa Cather and Eudora Welty, but not far behind any of them.
     
    Fenian_Bastard, Apr 13, 2007
    #6
  7. cranberry

    cranberry Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    My Top 5 based solely on personal preference:

    Steinbeck
    Twain
    Hemingway
    Faulkner
    Fitzgerald
     
    cranberry, Apr 13, 2007
    #7
  8. Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)

    Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L) Active Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    I'd have him the exact opposite. Ahead of Salinger but behind Hemingway and Steinbeck.

    I'd also put him ahead of contemporaries Joseph Heller, and Ken Kesey

    Historically he's behind Twain (obviously), Melville and Poe

    Its a toss up between him and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Huxley, Faulkner, Henry James, William Golding, Jack London and Hawthorne. I say toss up because these lists all come down to personal preference
     
    Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L), Apr 13, 2007
    #8
  9. writing irish

    writing irish Active Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Steinbeck and Hemingway, to me, rank above both Salinger and Vonnegut. Although I'm not a big Hemingway fan, personally.

    Still, I'd say Vonnegut's a solid top-tier writer...put him up there with Baldwin, Updike, Algren, Mailer, Miller, McCullers, O'Connor....I'm just thinking 20th century...

    Shit, you people post quickly!
     
    writing irish, Apr 13, 2007
    #9
  10. Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L)

    Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L) Active Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Let me also say that Hunter S Thompson was a bug in the afterbirth in comparision to Vonnegut.
     
    Evil Bastard (aka Chris_L), Apr 13, 2007
    #10
  11. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Vonnegut's standing? I thought he just died.
     
    Football_Bat, Apr 13, 2007
    #11
  12. Buck

    Buck Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    I've got Fitzgerald ahead of him, too.
    But I'm putting him ahead of Twain, Faulkner and Mellville.
    I love Kesey, but I think I've got to go with Vonnegut.
    He's behind Hawthorne.
     
    Buck, Apr 13, 2007
    #12
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