I was thinking he got the numbers mixed up
Discussion Group for February 20... Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut
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Welcome To The Monkey House and Bagombo Snuff Box were short story collections published when he was alive. There were a couple published after he died that I haven't read and I'm not sure if he intended those to be published or not.
Some of the others on the list (like Wampeters...) are combinations of short stories, essays and other writings.
I would like Wampeters very much then - just a hodgepodge of things bouncing around in there!
Time for me to bow out for the night. Great pick fljoe0 . Thank you!
Do we have a volunteer , and pick for next week ?
Do we have a volunteer , and pick for next week ?
'night Spidey! I don't recall anyone stepping up. You want to?
How about you--- I've done a few already. Just pick am accessible short story and post the title.
This reminded me of Stephen writing about one of the two girls who inspired Carrie. I think it was in On Writing.
The one who always wore the same outfit day after day. I think she was the one whose parents entered all these sweepstakes and won stuff. After a break from school, she came back with new cloths, looking all cute. And no one would let her have her moment. The rest of the kids were miserable to her. As Stephen said, paraphrasing, "she made a break for the wall" and no one was having that. And as the days turned to weeks, and her outfit became drab and worn, she was once more in her place and all was right with their world.
In this story, it was the same. No creativity, no individuality. Nothing could be unique about you. You could not be any more special than the Joe standing next to you. Thus, the handicaps to cripple any sense of freedom of expression or beauty or talent. No breaks for the wall here either. Until Harrison and the girl tried and succeeded -- fleeting though it was.
And it was totally worth it for them.
The one who always wore the same outfit day after day. I think she was the one whose parents entered all these sweepstakes and won stuff. After a break from school, she came back with new cloths, looking all cute. And no one would let her have her moment. The rest of the kids were miserable to her. As Stephen said, paraphrasing, "she made a break for the wall" and no one was having that. And as the days turned to weeks, and her outfit became drab and worn, she was once more in her place and all was right with their world.
In this story, it was the same. No creativity, no individuality. Nothing could be unique about you. You could not be any more special than the Joe standing next to you. Thus, the handicaps to cripple any sense of freedom of expression or beauty or talent. No breaks for the wall here either. Until Harrison and the girl tried and succeeded -- fleeting though it was.
And it was totally worth it for them.
Well. I don't read it as a comment on communism as much as one about how we weigh ourselves and one another down with baggage. Harrison, having overcome his, shows the dancer and musicians what they can achieve without theirs. But the H-G is a jealous, petty person who refuses to find her own strengths, killing the grace others can all gain by finding thiers.
There *may* be some allegory or such in there.
There *may* be some allegory or such in there.
if HollyGolightly does not pick a story by close today, may I suggest this for February 27th.
"Premium Harmony" by SK
Premium Harmony
"Premium Harmony" by SK
Premium Harmony
Bump reminder for group tonight 8PM eastern