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[BKARTS] Kurt Vonnegut on the book
- To: BOOK_ARTS-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Subject: [BKARTS] Kurt Vonnegut on the book
- From: Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord <skgaylord@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 17:42:13 -0400
- Approved-by: verheyen@PHILOBIBLON.COM
- Message-id: <11372F3F-6116-4212-8624-534426E9FE02@makingbooks.com>
- Reply-to: Book_Arts-L <BOOK_ARTS-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Dear Friends
The recent discussion of the cartoon Peter posted and Twitter and the
fate of the book reminded me of this passage from Kurt Vonnegut's
Timequake:
...My grandchildren are already doing much of their reading from words
projected on the face of a video screen.
Please, please, please wait just a minute!
At the time of their invention, books were devices as crassly
practical for storing and transmitting language, albeit fabricated
from scarcely modified substances found in forest and field and
animals, as the latest Silicon Valley miracles. But by accident, not
by cunning calculation, books, because of their weight and texture,
and because of their sweetly token resistance to manipulation, involve
our hands and eyes, and then our minds and souls, in a spiritual
adventure I would be very sorry for my grandchildren not to know about.
How I came to read Timequake is directly related to my explorations
online. In searching for quotes about art, I found this one by Vonnegut:
I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make
people appreciate being alive at least a little bit.
When I continued my search to find out what book it came from I was
led to the book which I read twice and loved.
in good spirit
Susan
Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord
skgaylord@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.makingbooks.com
http://www.makingbookswithchildren.blogspot.com
http://www.ingoodspirit.blogspot.com
http://www.thecreativeyear.blogspot.com
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NOW ONLINE, Volume 5, No. 2, Spring 2009 of The Bonefolder
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