UNSOLICITED EXPLANATION

Rather than field off-topic questions in the comments thread to another post, I figure I'll deal with it right here: I've neither forgotten to post on Kurt Vonnegut, nor is my non-posting any reflection of my opinion of Vonnegut as a writer or a public figure. What I know about him is good.

In fact, the non-posting is a reflection of the fact that I've never read a word of Vonnegut's writing.

{Short pause for gasps of surprise, tut-tutting, me ducking garbage & rotten fruit flung in my direction, and mildly condescending "questions" along the lines of, "You've never read Vonnegut?"}

No folks, I have not. Not a word. I "missed" Vonnegut in college somehow, and by the time I realized the scope of my loss I figured maybe I was too old, too formed in my opinions, to read a guy best known for influencing the malleable minds of philosophically-inclined univerity students. I wish I'd given him a shot when I was 20.

Or maybe I just didn't feel like it. Who knows? Anyhow, lots of people I respect swear by Vonnegut, and that's fine for me. The loss of an artist who meant something is always a sad day. And for that, I can relate: R.I.P. Kurt.