Interviewer Hugh Vandivier is presently “locked up” at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library in Indianapolis in observance of Banned Books Week. As of this posting, the Robert Weide–produced documentary about Vonnegut, referenced here, had yet to be completed.
His knees cracked down onto the cold, hard concrete floor. Jarhead followed him with the still-warm barrel of the gun. Touched the rear of Dote’s skull. … Jarhead was restless and a bit worried. He hadn’t beat on a bag since the robbery. He needed to expand his lungs. Feel some flesh give.
Despite the unseasonably pleasant weather, Dec. 1 saw the Eugene and Marilyn Glick History Center decked out in Christmas finery for the 10th annual Holiday Author Fair. More than 80 authors from around the state came to meet stalwart fans and first-timers to the literary event.
In 1969, L.S. Ayres invited native son Kurt Vonnegut to sign copies of his latest novel, Slaughterhouse-Five, in the downtown department store. At earlier stops on the book tour, the literary icon had drawn throngs of fans; here, he was met with indifference—and the irony didn’t escape him. “I sold thirteen books in two hours, every one of them to a relative,” Vonnegut wrote to fellow novelist and Shortridge High grad Dan Wakefield. “Word of honor.”
Honestly, I didn’t pay that much attention while reading Slaughterhouse-Five in high school English class. Even though it was short compared to other required books—I’m looking at you, Crime and Punishment—I didn’t fully understand the themes. So when assigned to check out a public media event for a new exhibit fashioned by Ball State University students for the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, I was a bit apprehensive. My Vonnegut knowledge was slim. Yes, I knew that he was from Indiana and that I should be proud of that. I also knew that he had one heck of a mustache. And that’s about it. So when I walked into the KVML yesterday, I was a clean slate personified, although my soul felt dirty for the Slaughterhouse-Five crime.
It was a busy day for Indy Reads Books; the new store had just opened this morning, and by 5 p.m., it was hosting a rare local reading by Indy author John Green. He spoke to readers and answered questions with his signature energy and wit, and afterward hundreds of readers waited patiently for a chance to speak with the author while he signed their books (and, in one case, a hat). After the marathon session, Green found time to talk with us.
