Many of you may know that one of my literary heroes is Kurt Vonnegut. He has and always will influence my stories at some level. His Slaughter House Five marked him as a literary icon but it also labeled him as a science fiction author.
However, the story is based on his experience in the Dresden fire bombing of 1945, a highly controversial act because "the city did not possess as much heavy industry as other potential targets, which was why Dresden had only been attacked two times previously in the war in October 1944 and January 1945, both times by USAAF bombers primarily aiming for an oil refinery" (The World History Encyclopedia). He survived the bombing. This is what he said, "The bombing killed 250,000 people in 24 hours and destroyed all of Dresden—possibly the world's most beautiful city. But not me.” Vonnegut and the other POWs escaped the firestorm by taking cover in an underground meat locker.
Much of Slaughter House Five is written from the perspective in that meat locker (the past) but he also takes whimsy and writes what a "present" life might look like (after an experience such as he lived), but also what a "future" might be on a distant planet. These whimsies into the past, present, and future, in my opinion, evolve from a sense of escapism from the horror into other times. His dalliances with time travel--as I mention before--marked him as a science fiction author and an absurdist. And not only some of his novels but some of his short stories too. Although he wrote mainly literary fiction and not always in the genre of SciFi.
Okay, so here's an explanation of absurdism: Absurdist fiction is a genre...that focuses on the experiences of characters in situations where they cannot find any inherent purpose in life, most often represented by ultimately meaningless actions and events that call into question the certainty of existential concepts such as truth or value.[1] In some cases, it may overlap with literary nonsense. The absurdist genre of literature arose in the 1950s and 1960s, first predominantly in France and Germany, prompted by post-war disillusionment. (Wikipedia)
That's the long way to get to my latest story, Heartbreak. And although I find purpose in everything--good and bad--I still enjoy absurdism. It's a crazy fun device to use in fiction and nonfiction as is time travel.
So, now (and yippee), on Amazon, Heartbreak has reached the rarefied spot of #1 New Release in Absurdist Fiction. Therefore... Squawk!
As well, it's getting great reviews so I couldn't be more thrilled especially given the content. The story is memoir but their are no nonfiction genres that fall under the absurdist category. It's also doing well in the other categories it has been slotted under.
Can I get another Squawk! in here? Again, couldn't be happier since the story is based on Bob and my traversing the wily hurdles of caregiving and dementia. I do hope you will pick up a copy. It's a sort of peek into our lives right now.
And I'm squawking not only for this but because I feel so blessed by whatever God throws at me. Lately, Bob and I have been living through a greuling ordeal with our business but also his health seems to be declining quicker than before. But that's life, right? Whether I feel good or bad because...
“All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” ~Romans 8:28.
Can I get an Amen?! Amen and amen!
May God bless you all.
~Susan.
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