Journal entries in 'Ruminations' for April, 2006

Last week, after hearing so much about Kurt Vonnegut, I finally went out and bought a few of his books. The first one I read was the one I'd heard mentioned most often in connection with his name: Slaughterhouse-Five. I liked it a lot — he has very clever and appealing ways of saying interesting, unexpected things.

With Slaughterhouse quickly consumed, I eagerly started the other book I'd bought, Timequake. This book is much more recent, and the difference is astounding. Whereas Slaughterhouse, published in 1972, read like a really creative novel, Timequake (1996) feels like going to a friend's house and getting stuck listening to their grandfather ramble on and on about whatever comes to mind while you smile and nod politely.

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