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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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I couldn’t get past the first chapter because of the computer generated narration. I did persevere through the introduction and about 15 minutes of the first chapter—but no. The book may be good but narration staccato in its style and therefore hard to warm to. I do love Vonnegut so may look to buy the paperback if possible so that I can actually enjoy it. Only gave a 3 for story because I hadn’t finished the book. As I say the book may be fantastic, and I think the content gives me that impression, but narration spoils it.

Terrible narration

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The work is more McConnell's work stitched together by Kurts than vise versa. Although bringing some insight to Vonnegut as a person and a writer, the voice of both the reader and writer leaves me wanting. Not to mention how far the book has to stretch to include topical US politics. If you include Trump you're timelessness and appeal (to the majority of the planet) will elude you.

About, but not by Vonnegut

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Suzanne McConnell's content comes across as little more than a desire for merit by proxy. Her waffle gets in the way of what could have been a wonderful compilation of his advice.
This was made worse by the narration. Karen White's croaky, bemused and ironic narration makes every sentence sound the same. Six hours in and six hours to go, and I've suffered through hearing the author's "italics my own" for the - no exageration - hundreth time. The first forty times she said this were like a hard poke in the arm, the second forty were like a slap on the face and the last twenty have felt like punch in the throat. I'm giving up before I get hurt.
We can't hear italics fools. Kindly modify the written text for a spoken recitation or don't bother

Pity the listener. And pity Vonnegut.

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