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Vonnegut's place in your personal heirarchy

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

Page 4 of 20
  1. Chi City 81

    Chi City 81 Guest

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    I'm surprised at the complete omission of Ray Bradbury in this conversation.
     
    Chi City 81, Apr 13, 2007
    #37
  2. HejiraHenry

    HejiraHenry Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Twain, it seems to me, hits leadoff.
    Steinbeck, second.
    Poe hits third.
    Hemingway bats cleanup.
    Faulkner, fifth (omitted intitially ... I knew I was forgetting somebody)
    Vonnegut's probably that scrappy No. 7 hitter.
    John Irving hits No. 8 – but in a platoon, maybe, with Harper Lee.
    King is a tough out at No. 9. Gonna need a pinch-runner, though.

    And I've got Harry Crews on the bench, just for the hell of it.

    Grisham has to buy a ticket to get in.

    You gotta throw Bradbury into the discussion, too, though he was playing a different style game from some of the others. Maybe he's Dock Ellis, throwing no-hitters on acid.
     
    HejiraHenry, Apr 13, 2007
    #38
  3. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    I think The Great Gatsby may be the most perfect American novel ever written. It's probably my favorite book. But Fitzgerald didn't do enough else to merit a place as high on the list as a lot of you have him. Fascinating guy, who flamed out in part because he climbed Everest on his first try and couldn't repeat the feat. He just didn't have a very distinguished career other than Gatsby.
     
    The Big Ragu, Apr 13, 2007
    #39
  4. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    He's gonna have to beat out Ken Kesey for that spot.
     
    Ace, Apr 13, 2007
    #40
  5. John

    John Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    I think Vonnegut is good, but I don't put him anywhere near the elite class that includes Faulkner, Hemingway (who I wish I liked more than I do), Twain, Steinbeck, Poe and, though I'm sure some might disagree with me, Cormac McCarthy.

    I love Slaughterhouse Five -- I read it once a year -- but most of Vonnegut's other stuff hasn't done much for me. I did like his appearance in Back to School.

    Also, I'd like to add how refreshing it is to see this discussion here. With all the troll-ridden, fuck me, fuck you crap taking place here at SportsJournalists.com over the past month or so, it's a nice reminder that there are intelligent people around. [/climbingdownfromhighhorse]
     
    John, Apr 13, 2007
    #41
  6. Chi City 81

    Chi City 81 Guest

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Shit, good call on McCarthy, John. His stuff is amazing. And HST doesn't merit in this conversation, because he dealt almost entirely in literary nonfiction.
     
    Chi City 81, Apr 13, 2007
    #42
  7. HejiraHenry

    HejiraHenry Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    F--- you. There, I feel better.
     
    HejiraHenry, Apr 13, 2007
    #43
  8. Vonnegut`s Corpse

    Vonnegut`s Corpse Guest

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    You good folks really have to stop this. You're making Nathanael West cry and cry.
     
    Vonnegut`s Corpse, Apr 13, 2007
    #44
  9. Dedo

    Dedo Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Just throwing this out there, but does anyone think Larry McMurtry will ever belong in this discussion?
     
    Dedo, Apr 13, 2007
    #45
  10. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    John, I love Vonnegut's work, but I agree with you. He is not on par with those names. By the way, you'd have include Melville on that list for sure, and possibly Nathaniel Hawthorne (a definite yes, if I am voting). I can't imagine what it would take to get me to read any Melville now, but still.
     
    The Big Ragu, Apr 13, 2007
    #46
  11. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Irish, How perfect is it that I can't stand Steinbeck's novels? It isn't an academic thing. I just find them unreadable. I also understand why others disagree and would include him on the list. I always feel like I read a 40-page account of an ant climbing over a sidewalk crack.
     
    The Big Ragu, Apr 13, 2007
    #47
  12. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Re: Vonnegut's standing

    Good question. I love him. Like Vonnegut, when I read his books, I wish he was happier about life. Not sure he is in the Hall of Fame, though.

    He's more of a Dale Murphy type. Love him but don't vote for him.
     
    Ace, Apr 13, 2007
    #48
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