Cracked Book Club: Deadeye Dick
Kurt Vonnegut's 1982 novel, Deadeye Dick plays out like a sort of greatest hits version of a Coen brothers movie. There's a small mid-western town, a murder, and the scales of justice are completely random. Good people die, bad people get rich, and there's no rhyme or reason-- just life. Short, bloody, random life.
And if symbolism in literature trips you up, Kurt's got you covered. He uses the preface to tell you everything you need to know about the book: it's about his mother's depression and eventual suicide and his aging and declining sexuality. There you go.
But if you want even more analysis, the revelation of a mind-blowing cameo from the book and a brief trip to the Kurt Vonneguys kitchen, join hosts Alex Schmidt and Michael Swaim for their dissection of Vonnegut's 10th novel, Deadeye Dick.
Sections:
Plot Time! (00:01:00)
The Meat! (01:04:00)
Kurt Cameo! (01:19:45)
Recurring Characters Update! (01:24:20)
Kurt Vonnafoods! (01:27:40)
Kurt Blurt! (01:35:40)
VonneWHAT?! (01:50:30)
Vonnegrades! (01:53:50)
Related Reading!(01:56:30)
Vonnegut News! (02:03:00)
Related Reading and Other Links:
Novel: Thomas Wolfe: Look Homeward, Angel
Poetry: The Best of Ogden Nash
Book: James Thurber: The Last Flower
