Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, now almost ten years old, moved into new premises in Indianapolis (Vonnegut's birthplace) this November. In one of those ostensible coincidences which Vonnegut appreciated, I was reading an article in The Economist which celebrated this event. It referred to the founder and CEO of the KVML, Julia Whitehead. While it is very unlikely that she is a relative of mine, it is almost impossible to prove that she is not, and I am proud to be connected no matter how tenuously. So I am particularly pleased to congratulate cousin Julia.




Vonnegut mural, Indianapolis, by Pamela Bliss.

What explains Vonnegut's enduring appeal? The Economist suggests: 
"An unassuming candour that is native to the American Midwest, argues Ms Whitehead, a quality that disarms readers and forces them to confront eternal questions. His books are not simply criticisms of war; they are meditations on human nature and the meaning of life, wrapped up in zany plots and deadpan wit."

I started reading Vonnegut's books in the 1960s - before Slaughterhouse-Five made him very famous, I think. Vonnegut sometimes reminds me of another midwestern writer and humorist, James Thurber (1894-1961) identified with Columbus, Ohio, who I discovered even earlier. 

News of the opening of the new KVML led to two thoughts - first that I must re-read some of his books, and second that one day it would be nice to visit Indianapolis - especially now that I'm a member of the Vonnegut Library. The Vonnegut Mural, illustrated above, is at 345 Massachusetts Avenue, and is 38 feet (almost 12m) tall. The mural features on the visitindy.com wesbite, with other attractions. I clicked on "get directions" and found that the best choice in terms of price flies out of Avalon Airport and takes 25 hours. The price (A$1979) includes a trip back home. The best option takes about the same time, and has a single stop, in Los Angeles.  

I've just finished re-reading Vonnegut's novel about how to handle life if you have more money than you can imagine (God bless you, Mr Rosewater). It includes a memorable statement about human nature and the meaning of life - "There's only one rule that I know of, babies 'God damn it, you've got to be kind.'" Perhaps echoing Henry James, and many many others.

Inspired by the opening of the new home for the KVML I've taken a census of my Kurt Vonnegut collection (which turns out to include most of his books) and started to re-read them selectively. I started with Cat's cradle (1963) a few months ago, then Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) and last week, God bless you, Mr Rosewater (1965). There are a few which I don't have, and they are all available from the online shop of the KVML. I'm buying Player piano (1952).

I think that next, I'll browse Palm Sunday (1981) subtitled an autobiographical collage.