Writing is an entertainment industry

Pity the Reader: On Writing with Style

【Editor's Recommendation】
Writing is a form of entertainment. Don't make a complete stranger feel like their time is being wasted when you take up their time. —Kurt Vonnegut A "heretical" writing tool, a philosophy of life that embraces hardship with a smile.
When talking about the beginning of a story, he said, "Throw away the first two pages!" When talking about the plot, he said, "If you never pit characters against each other, you'll put the reader to sleep." When talking about the characters, he said, "At least give the reader one character he can root for."
The writing motto and life book of the author of "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Cat's Cradle" will help you subvert your perception of writing and regain the courage to face suffering.
Revealing the true history behind Slaughterhouse-Five, which was banned 18 times, and recording the mental journey of the greatest master of black humor in the 20th century.
Exclusively includes Vonnegut's letters, paintings, manuscripts and other precious historical photos.
【Celebrity Recommendation】
Vonnegut has had a profound influence on my writing. Without Vonnegut, there might not have been my debut novel, Hear the Wind Sing.
—Haruki Murakami Vonnegut is a unique writer in that laughter and sadness coexist in his works.
—Doris Lessing Vonnegut was the most talented writer alive (at the time).
- Graham Greene Vonnegut is an idol to generations of American youth and our own Mark Twain.
—Norman Mailer It was a great honor for me to have been a student of Vonnegut, who was able to discuss the darkest issues of human nature with humor and kindness.
John Irving Vonnegut, a German-American soldier in his early twenties, was captured by the Germans during World War II and escaped the devastating Allied air raids on Dresden by hiding in an underground slaughterhouse. This same Vonnegut, in his adult years, gave up a stable job to pursue a career as a writer. Despite achieving no particular accomplishment, he was invited to teach at the prestigious University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. Disillusioned with literary creation, he achieved instant fame with Slaughterhouse-Five, his novel about his experiences as a prisoner of war. Vonnegut's legendary and eventful life, his character as a teacher and a person (including his blind spots), are vividly captured by fellow novelist Susanna McConnell. Susanna was a student at the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, a longtime friend, and a fellow writer. She possesses a profound understanding of Vonnegut's works, effortlessly adapting them into prose. Fans of Vonnegut, those interested in modern American literature, and current and future teachers and novelists should all benefit from reading this book.
——Xu Ping, Professor at City University of New York [Content Introduction]
Written by Vonnegut's student Susanna McConnell, this book includes a large number of Vonnegut's conversations and writings in the field of writing, revealing his mental journey of becoming a writer and sharing his views on writing and life: Vonnegut guides us to hate war, to sympathize with our characters, to respect others, to question rigid structures, to care deeply, to strive for decency, to laugh heartily, and to tell useful lies.

2023-08-01

译林出版社

457

9787544796095