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Pity the Reader

On Writing with Style

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Pity the Reader

By: Kurt Vonnegut, Suzanne McConnell
Narrated by: Karen White
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About this listen

The art and craft of writing by one of the few grandmasters of American literature, a bonanza for writers and listeners written by Kurt Vonnegut's former student.

Here is an entirely new side of Kurt Vonnegut, Vonnegut as a teacher of writing. Of course he's given us glimpses before, with aphorisms and short essays and articles and in his speeches. But never before has an entire book been devoted to Kurt Vonnegut the teacher. Here is pretty much everything Vonnegut ever said or wrote having to do with the writing art and craft, altogether a healing, a nourishing expedition. McConnell has outfitted us for the journey, and in these 37 chapters covers the waterfront of how one American writer brought himself to the pinnacle of the writing art, and we can all benefit as a result.

Kurt Vonnegut was one of the few grandmasters of American literature, whose novels continue to influence new generations about the ways in which our imaginations can help us to live. Few aspects of his contribution have not been plumbed - 14 novels, collections of his speeches, his essays, his letters, his plays - so this fresh view of him, written by a former student, is a bonanza for writers and listeners and Vonnegut fans everywhere.

©2019 Trust u/w of Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books Education Words, Language & Grammar Student Creative Writing
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Book looks like biography with tales from Kurt's life and excerpts from his works. If you are a fan of his writtings this book is for you. Title is a bit misleading, as I thought that big emphasis would be on the rules of writting. While there are the rules how to write, they are somewhat abstract and philosophical, not the strict rules. I stopped reading when the advice was given: put all the facts about the world straight away, don't keep the readers waiting; that is contradictory to others "how to" books about book writting, when other authors say that long world description would put the readers away. If you look for advices how to write a book, this book is not for you and if you follow all advices given, in my individual opinion, you will not get your work published.

Biography

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The narration is miserable! It’s distracting at best and incredibly confusing. The ‘effort’ is there, but I think this narrator has most definitely skipped a few drama lessons. OMG—the voice! It would be cruel to talk in any depth about her discordant diction—speech patterns, lack of fluency, intolerable inflections and the like—OveRWorKed. It would be as about as cruel as Audible, revelling in its pitiful release. I will have to read the book itself. And yes, I never want to hear her voice again. I envy the reader and pity this speaker!

Envy The Reader And Pity This Speaker!

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