Kevorkian, from kurt vonnegut, that great and resilient writer who more than any other has labored to pierce the rusty armor of story, coming up with book after book of wit, depth, hilarity, profundity, grace, and sorrow. This is kurt vonnegut, reporting from the afterlife letters of note. Kevorkian, who claimed to have assisted in at least suicides, was released from prison in. A collection of short works 1968 bagombo snuff box. In a career spanning over 50 years, vonnegut published fourteen novels, three short. Amusing enough, but very slight and not exactly essential to anyone but vonnegut completists. Provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises dr kevorkian esham i aint cha homey. Kevorkian, a fantastic anthology playing on the title of vonneguts 1965 novel, god bless you, mr. It is a collection of what was supposed to be 90second interludes recorded for wnyc public radio, but as the jacket of the work notes, it evolved into a provocative collection of questions about who and what we live for.
This is kurt vonnegut, reporting from the afterlife. In fact the idea came to fruition and numerous 90second segments one of which can be heard here were subsequently broadcast, with interviewees ranging from the nonfamous through to names such as isaac asimov and william shakespeare. A just about fine first printing of the first edition in close to fine dustjacket, a few minor dents, signed and inscribed by author dr. Jack kevorkian to give him neardeath experiences, allowing vonnegut. Kevorkian best quotations and sayings on such as everything was beautiful and nothing hurt. Kevorkian offers a slight, but interesting and funny, account of experiences with death.
She was a retired but activetotheend developmental psychologist. Vonnegut explains in the introduction to this collection that a botched surgery provided his first near death experience. From slapsticks turkey farm to slaughterhousefives eternity in a tralfamadorean zoo cage with montana wildhack, the. These interviews were also compiled in the book, god bless you, dr. Ulin an odd little volume that gathers 21 koanlike pieces he composed while serving, briefly, as a reporter on the afterlife for wnyc.
I had listened to several people on tv talk shows who. Jack kevorkian and his effect on the debate over physicianassisted suicide, give us a call. Kevorkian includes all of kurt vonneguts intrepid investigative reporting from the afterlife, from when he was sent there in 1998 by local npr affiliate wnyc to interview, among others, sir isaac newton, clarence darrow, james earl ray, eugene debs, john brown, adolf hitler, william shakespeare, and kilgore trout. The difference this time was that instead of the patient pushing a button, kevorkian administered. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. If you have read any kurt vonnegut, i suggest you try out his collection of short stories the monkey house. Kevorkian, kurt vonnegut skips back and forth between life and the afterlife as if the difference between them were rather slight. Kevorkian, michele kisly fine portraiture, hargraves pharmacy, house, embrace your sisters, steve chirello advertising, libera web design, rick wilson, investigate russia, thank you obama, elizabeth fuller, realtor, occupy democrats, creations of hope gifts. Kevorkian published on jul 17, 2012 in what began as a series of quirkily characteristic ninetysecond interludes for new yorks public radio station, kurt vonnegut asks, on. Kevorkian is an absolute gem, firmly planted on this years edition of the annual brain pickings summer reading list. Kevorkian 1999 3 12 stars a collection of very brief vignettes, originally broadcast as radio pieces on npr. Kevorkian canary in a cathouse 1961 welcome to the monkey house.
Ainsworths extravagantly favorable obituary in the newyork times said she had done more research than anyone on the longterm effects of bonding between a. In thirty odd interviews, vonnegut trips down the blue tunnel to. In fact the idea came to fruition and numerous 90second segments one of which can be heard here were subsequently broadcast, with interviewees ranging from the nonfamous through to names such as isaac asimov and william. Kevorkian, vonnegut goes to heaven after he is euthanized by dr.
Kurt vonneguts fictional interviews with luminaries. Kevorkian, vonnegut skips back and forth between life and the afterlife as if the difference between them were rather slight. The title parodies that of vonneguts 1965 novel god bless you, mr. Kevorkian dr jack abebooks abebooks shop for books. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 80 pages and is available in paperback format. Kevorkian, 1999 vonnegut was an atheist and a humanist, serving as the honorary president of the american humanist association.
Once in heaven, he interviews 21 deceased celebrities, including isaac asimov, william shakespeare, and kilgore troutthe last a fictional character from several of his novels. Kevorkian, suicide doctor, outlines his startling views on planned death and its potential impact on. The main characters of this fiction, humor story are kilgore trout, isaac asimov. Uncollected short fiction 1999 player piano 1952 the sirens of titan 1959 mother night 1961 cats cradle 1963 god bless. Kurt vonnegut interviewed on npr inside second life. Certainly i paid what seemed to be a fortune for the book. From slapsticks turkey farm to slaughterhousefives eternity in a tralfamadorean zoo cage with montana wildhack, the question of the afterlife never left kurt. That event, coupled with the testimonials on tv of persons going down the tunnel to and beyond the pearly gates, and then returning, were the inspirations for the imagined interviews. Kevorkian, kurt vonnegut skips back and forth between life and afterlife as if the difference between them were rather slight this fictional adventure, that began as a series of 90second interludes for wnyc, new york citys public radio station, has evolved over the past year as a strange and lasting work of the imagination. Vonneguts books from seven stories press include the national hardcover and. Ainsworth, who died last march 21, age eightyfive, in charlottesville, virginia. After finishing this book, i wasnt sure whether to be happy or mad. Kevorkian, by kurt vonnegut, is a collection of short interviews written by vonnegut and first broadcast on npr. In what began as a series of quirkily characteristic ninetysecond interludes for new yorks public radio station, kurt vonnegut asks, on behalf of us all, the big questions.
Vonnegut goes to heaven and interviews such people as hitler, shakespeare, and of course kilgore trout. His armageddon in retrospect is an absolute necessity and his wildly entertaining series of fictional interviews with luminaries, god bless you, dr. Kevorkian 2010 and weep like alexander 2011 also appeared as. Jack kevorkian to kill him, allowing access to heaven and those in it for a limited time, before the good dr. The first edition of the novel was published in 1999, and was written by kurt vonnegut. The premise of the collection is that vonnegut employs dr. Kurt vonnegut is one of my big literary heroes, a keen observer and wry critic of culture and society.
I recently picked up a short book titled god bless you, dr. Why the experts keep getting it wrong by matthew stewart. May 26, 1928 june 3, 2011 was an american pathologist and. Kurt vonneguts fictional interviews with luminaries brain pickings.
Kevorkian, by kurt vonnegut, is a collection of short fictional interviews written by vonnegut and first broadcast on wnyc. In 2011, npr wrote, kurt vonneguts blend of antiwar sentiment and satire made. His use of black humour has been studied quite extensively by scholars, in fact, and many folks have been drawn to the sardonic nature of his writing. Kevorkian, by kurt vonnegut, is a collection of short fictional interviews written by vonnegut. In a 1997 letter to manhattanbased radio station wnyc, author kurt vonnegut pitches his idea for a series of fictional interviews with the deceased. Theres a lot of dark humour and introspective whimsy on the go from the start. My first neardeath experience was an accident, a botched anesthesia during a triple bypass. Such thoughts are roused by a tiny new little book, a mere slip of a thing, god bless you, dr. The text of these interviews makes up the content of god bless you the plot of the book, if there is one, is that vonnegut employs dr. Rosewater, some of the best cultural satire of the past century.
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