In Memory Of...

When I was in college, one of the things I did freshman year instead of going to class was discover Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. I'm pretty sure that I was introduced to him by the coolest guy (at least to me) in my dorm, but regardless of how the first book ended up in my hand, I was soon making regular trips to the Illini Union book store looking for more. I devoured "Slaughter House Five," "Breakfast of Champions," "Cat's Cradle," and several others. They changed the way I thought about books. More than just giving me a story, these novels gave me new ways to think and to see things. With constant themes that questioned "Why am I here?" and "Who's in charge?" I was inspired by (as well as envious of) the imagination, emotional rawness and self-awareness his words evoked.

Fast forward many years, many books, and many MANY self-aware moments. Although I haven't read anything he's published in at least a decade, I feel his death this week warrants a reflection of how he impacted my life and an acknowledgment that even still he sits comfortably on my Top 10 list of authors along with William Faulkner, Isaac Asimov, JD Salinger, Harper Lee, Agatha Christie, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Salman Rushdie, Betty MacDonald and Franz Kafka.

NY Times Obituary