louisarc's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
xxertz's review against another edition
2.0
BLUF: Pass on this classic.
Um.. What?I’m not going to lie to you: I had to Google what makes this book so great. I still have no idea why it is popular. Maybe because it was a hit when it came out (for reasons unknown). Maybe it is because of the attempts to censor this book soon after. If you know, please enlighten me.
Plot: Slaughterhouse-Five follows Billy Pilgrim’s life in a haphazard manner. We are led in and out of his life, through good times and bad. We visit an alien planet where Pilgrim is set on display as an exhibit in the zoo. We learn about his time within the army. We even go through his post-army career as an optometrist. It’s a mildly entertaining take on a fictive autobiography.
My Take: I didn’t have a problem with the choppy writing or with its clarity. I didn’t have a problem with the science fiction or the way the novel skipped around. I did have a problem finding interest in this story, understanding its point, and, like most, staying sane through the excessive use of the phrase “So it goes”.
Disclaimer: The only disclaimer I can give is that I don’t do too well with older books.
Um.. What?I’m not going to lie to you: I had to Google what makes this book so great. I still have no idea why it is popular. Maybe because it was a hit when it came out (for reasons unknown). Maybe it is because of the attempts to censor this book soon after. If you know, please enlighten me.
Plot: Slaughterhouse-Five follows Billy Pilgrim’s life in a haphazard manner. We are led in and out of his life, through good times and bad. We visit an alien planet where Pilgrim is set on display as an exhibit in the zoo. We learn about his time within the army. We even go through his post-army career as an optometrist. It’s a mildly entertaining take on a fictive autobiography.
My Take: I didn’t have a problem with the choppy writing or with its clarity. I didn’t have a problem with the science fiction or the way the novel skipped around. I did have a problem finding interest in this story, understanding its point, and, like most, staying sane through the excessive use of the phrase “So it goes”.
Disclaimer: The only disclaimer I can give is that I don’t do too well with older books.
thegr8estangell's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I don’t get it.
tleifj's review against another edition
4.0
I agree with Life: "...a funny book at which you are not permitted to laugh, a sad book without tears."
This novel has plenty of absurdities with thoughtful ideas about the meaning of life.
This novel has plenty of absurdities with thoughtful ideas about the meaning of life.
anniesaur's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hizerain's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mimi_13's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely the weirdest book I have ever read. But it's also very beautiful, and incredibly deep. There is so much that could be said about this book, not sure where to even start
We are following the story of Billy Pilgrim, who becomes "unstuck in time", and time travels through different events in order to cope with his post-war-trauma.
As Billy's life progresses he develops certain mental illnesses, which make him hallucinate that he travels in time. And he also hallucinates that Tralfamadorian aliens abducted him, and made him a pet in one of their zoos. This is a symptom of his ptsd where he tries to make sense, and give meaning to all the traumatic events that happened in his life. The Tralfamadorians claim that "everything happens, and everything will happen" and that there's no point in ever trying to change the course of history, because you can't. A deeply deterministic worldview, which takes the responsibility off of Billy, and eases his guilt regarding the bombing of Dresden.
The book is also deeply uncomfortable. That is one of the first things the reader will recognize - the book purposefully tries to make you feel uncomfortable. It does so, because such unspeakable events as a bombing can not be described. It is impossible to accurately paint the picture of the suffering of so many. Truly impossible. And when words fail you, you have to rely on creating an atmosphere that helps the reader understand. There are many techniques Vonnegut uses, one of these being the saying "So it goes" when somebody dies. The novel talks about death and suffering as something normal and unimportant. As something natural and therefore not worth mentioning to a lengthy extent. This all happens, so the reader will feel uncomfortable, and also guilty (in a way) for also moving over someone's death so easily. Basically, the book kinda uses opposite psychology, and tries to get you to not act as the characters in the book do.
Overall, i liked it. I liked it more than I expected to. Not sure if a will read anything else from Vonnegut, but I'm happy that I read this one.
We are following the story of Billy Pilgrim, who becomes "unstuck in time", and time travels through different events in order to cope with his post-war-trauma.
As Billy's life progresses he develops certain mental illnesses, which make him hallucinate that he travels in time. And he also hallucinates that Tralfamadorian aliens abducted him, and made him a pet in one of their zoos. This is a symptom of his ptsd where he tries to make sense, and give meaning to all the traumatic events that happened in his life. The Tralfamadorians claim that "everything happens, and everything will happen" and that there's no point in ever trying to change the course of history, because you can't. A deeply deterministic worldview, which takes the responsibility off of Billy, and eases his guilt regarding the bombing of Dresden.
The book is also deeply uncomfortable. That is one of the first things the reader will recognize - the book purposefully tries to make you feel uncomfortable. It does so, because such unspeakable events as a bombing can not be described. It is impossible to accurately paint the picture of the suffering of so many. Truly impossible. And when words fail you, you have to rely on creating an atmosphere that helps the reader understand. There are many techniques Vonnegut uses, one of these being the saying "So it goes" when somebody dies. The novel talks about death and suffering as something normal and unimportant. As something natural and therefore not worth mentioning to a lengthy extent. This all happens, so the reader will feel uncomfortable, and also guilty (in a way) for also moving over someone's death so easily. Basically, the book kinda uses opposite psychology, and tries to get you to not act as the characters in the book do.
Overall, i liked it. I liked it more than I expected to. Not sure if a will read anything else from Vonnegut, but I'm happy that I read this one.
alysonwonderland84's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0