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Slaughter House Five
Slaughter House Five
Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut's absurdist classic Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes 'unstuck in time' after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all phases of his life, concentrating on his (and Vonnegut's) shattering...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780844663661
ISBN-10: 0844663662
Publication Date: 6/1989
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 6

3.9 stars, based on 6 ratings
Publisher: Peter Smith Pub Inc
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 3
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

kalynn avatar reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This book is one that comes back to me again and again. It's certainly not for everyone, and it was not what I expected when I first picked it up in high school. Instead of the war novel I thought I would read, I was thrust into something surreal and nonlinear, which jumped from an extra terrestrial zoo to the bleak German prison. The more I think about it, however, the more the reasons that this is hailed as an anti war classic become clear. In its nonlinear nature, the book captures the futility and the absurdity of war and provocatively parallels them with being an exhibit in a zoo on a distant planet. Unsurprisingly, the zoo experience is shown in a more positive light than the prison.

This is not my favorite Vonnegut (that honor belongs to the Sirens of Titan), but along with Sirens and Cat's Cradle this makes my top three. Readers who dislike SF or cannot handle nonlinear narration should stay away, but if these don't put you off and you haven't yet read this one, consider picking it up.
Founder-PBS avatar reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Another classic. Very tough read, with bits of irony, satire, and truth about the fragility of life. An anti-war book with meaningful perspectives.
maggiethecat avatar reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 23 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
"Listen, Billy Pilgrim has become unstuck in time." Vonnegut's semi-autobiographical account of the firebombing of Dresden in WWII, Slaughterhouse-Five is acutely anti-war and darkly funny. It is a cross between reality and science fiction, employing both to explore the omnipresence of time as a character, rather than as something to be thought of only when we're running late and as the one thing that ties every person to every other person. This joint attachment to others makes everyone responsible, which is where Vonnegut's indictment of the massacre at Dresden makes its appearance. Overall, my favourite Vonnegut.
reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Vonnegut's beloved anti-war book is as current now (sadly) as it was when he published it in 1969.
Leigh avatar reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 378 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This was not what I expected, but I liked it just the same. It gets a little confusing with all the time-jumping, but does an excellent job of storytelling (if you can handle a non-linear story).

What I found most disturbing about this book, though, was the main character, who seemed utterly immobilized about decision-making. It's frustrating.

I recommend it only because it's a classic.
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reviewed Slaughter House Five on
This is a very excellent novel. It is satirical, but not irreverent, and in many ways more truthful about the absurdity of war than a historical war novel. One of my favorite books that I will surely read again.
reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 3 more book reviews
I was very disappointed in this book. I had heard several good things about it and read high reviews; however, Slaughterhouse-Five failed to meet my expectations. I did not even waste my time finishing it.

I know Kurt Vonnegut has written several other books, but the way this book was written I would have guessed that he had never even written a paragraph before. Sentence flow and word choice was terrible! There are a lot of choppy sentence with annoying and unnecessary repetition. There is no clear plot; rather, the book seems to be a collection of small snippets that are difficult to piece together. And I could not come to terms with how many times the author felt the needs to say "and so on" and "so it goes".

Those qualities were so distracting that I could not find any interest in the actual content.
adamwaitt avatar reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 2 more book reviews
Blending reality and fantasy in this ping pong memory of war. Vonnegut is the master of telling you exactly what will happen but keep you guessing how. It is about the journey, not the destination. Metaphoric words of wisdom and nihilistic views of time are peppered throughout these passages. You could read this in a day or a year or never finish or all of those. So it goes.
reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 99 more book reviews
Never read Vonnegut before, but this was very interesting, and will read more.
karenbfromtennessee avatar reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 7 more book reviews
Fascinating.
And not to give away the story, but Vonnegut gets you to "see" like the alien Tralfamadorians. Excellent social commentary, too.
reviewed Slaughter House Five on + 6 more book reviews
Read this book more than once.


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