Reviews

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

wpennypacker's review against another edition

5.0

Wasn't expecting so much from a short novel published fifty+ years ago, but I loved this. The writing, the humor, the casual horror and pointlessness of war, the disassociated protagonist and non-linear structure. Haven't read anything like it.

g_na's review against another edition

3.0

The last last I read this book was about 14-15 years ago, so I didn't remember it at all this time. And that's okay--it's like reading a new book! What I didn't realize the first time 'round is the book is somewhat autobiographical. Vonnegut actually was a WWII POW in Dresden, and did witness (and survive, obviously) the firebombing. The parts about time travel, well, maybe that's not so true :)

jimflows's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book. Having downed my first two Kurt Vonnegut books this year, I can say I am a fan. I bought a third earlier in the week.

Two questions I had while reading Slaughterhouse-Five: why was this not required reading in high school and why did I not read it as a teenager?

I enjoyed everything about this book: the way Vonnegut so effortlessly commands the English language, without pomposity. The time-travel, the commentary on the nature of war, life, existence. The humor and the darkness inherent in life so beautifully captured in a novel. That last sentence is super-corny but that's how I feel!!

Vonnegut is a genius, this book is brilliant, and I wish I had read him/it sooner. The only reason I didn't devour this book in like 3 days is because I am in a new relationship and texting too much during my reading time.

Also, just skimming the other reviews..I really liked that this was a war novel without being a war novel. And I like that Vonnegut's prose is so poetic.

markh892's review against another edition

2.0

Another disappointment to follow on the heels of [b:The Martian Chronicles|76778|The Martian Chronicles|Ray Bradbury|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374049948s/76778.jpg|4636013]. I know that I'm missing a lot of the historical significance and other references, but I just thought it was boring. I thought it was neither a good time travel book nor a good book about war. I might give it another try in the future, but I was not impressed.

billnienaber's review against another edition

5.0

Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time. So begins one of the most brilliant, hilarious, heartbreaking, and compelling novels I've ever read. Kurt Vonnegut has very rarely failed to absolutely satisfy me, and this book is probably his masterpiece. All his works reflect his rather wry and sarcastic view of life, but this one, drawn directly from his experience watching the firebombing of Dresden, is one of the most harrowing, yet beautiful works of fiction I've ever experienced. Highly recommended for everyone.

noahsterba's review against another edition

5.0

Its gotta be so frusurating to be a high school english teacher. you teach books like this to little goblins like myself when i was in 10th grade and me and no one else retains a thing. later tonight i am going back time to slap my 16 year old self in the erection and tell him to stop waiting for porn to download on napster and pay some damned attention to this book. Its chalk full of dark humor, strange wisdom, alien abductions, time travel, and brutal war atrocities. but what shines through it all is a deeply humanitarian heart. The main hunk of the book is Billy Pilgrim as a POW in WW2 leading up to his survival of the Dresden bombing. knowing that these were Vonnegut's actual experiences makes the story all the more heart wrenching. to cram so much human pain and struggle and weirdness and glory and goofiness into 200 pages blows my mind. if not in this one, its gotta be one of the best books out there in some universe.

keoken's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sandracohen's review against another edition

4.0

“Ignore the awful times and concertante on the good ones” never so challenging for such a long time as during a pandemic. Loved the ease that Billy Pilgrim slips into time travel as a way to protect himself and process the terrible things he has seen in wartime. Written light enough but with enough intensity that by the end it doesn’t matter if he is traveling or remaining, I thought billy was a most compassionate character.

mrwilliams's review against another edition

5.0

What a brilliant balancing act: horror and humor. Humanity is a nightmare with occasional beauty.

jmem8's review against another edition

2.0

Reeeeallllyyyy wierd. This book is definitely not so great and I wasn't a fan. Before reading, I thought "Slaughterhouse-Five" was going to be an amazing book that I would recommend to everyone. After reading it? I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Towards the end, the style of the narrative changed completely - it seemed like Vonnegut was just putting swears in the writing just for the sake of having swears, which is so different from the rest of the book where swearing practically doesn't occur. Not a fan of the time-traveling back and forth. Maybe that was the reason why I couldn't connect with any of the characters, I don't know. This book = don't waste your time.