Indianapolis, IN

Fri 29 June 2007

So, I’m thinking about Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut is among many native Hoosier writers that include James Whitcomb Riley (from Greenfield), Theodore Dreiser (from Terre Haute), and Booth Tarkington (from Indianapolis). Vonnegut grew up in a German-American family in Indianapolis and went to Short Ridge High School (near 34th and Meridian). He was very proud to be a Hoosier and felt pride for Indianapolis and Short Ridge. He later went to Cornell University and fought in the Army during the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken prisoner and only one of seven Americans who survived the bombings of Dresden, which is the main influence behind his most famous book, Slaughterhouse Five. WFYI aired a special last night on Kurt Vonnegut, including the speech he was supposed to give at Clowes Hall (Butler University). It was actually read by his son, Mark Vonnegut. The Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library has many activities for teens and adults as part of the “Year of Kurt Vonnegut.” Some of the activities include a teen print workshop, book discussion of Slaughterhouse Five, creating traditional German holiday ornaments, a film on German American-life on the Southside of Indianapolis, the folk art of papercutting, German-American genealogy. There might be more activities throughout the year. For specific times and locations, visit the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library website or visit your local branch.

: Kurt Vonnegut, Indianapolis, Short Ridge High School, Year of Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, literature, Dresden, WWII