Slaughterhouse-Five

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Product Details

Author : Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Binding : Mass Market Paperback
EAN : 9780440180296
Edition : 1
Number of Pages : 224
Product Group : Book
Publication Date : 1991-11-03
Publisher : Dell
Release Date : 1991-11-03

ASIN : 0440180295

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Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.com

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 experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden.

Don't let the ease of reading fool you--Vonnegut's isn't a conventional, or simple, novel. He writes, "There are almost no characters in this story, and almost no dramatic confrontations, because most of the people in it are so sick, and so much the listless playthings of enormous forces. One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters..." Slaughterhouse-Five (taken from the name of the building where the POWs were held) is not only Vonnegut's most powerful book, it is as important as any written since 1945. Like Catch- 22, it fashions the author's experiences in the Second World War into an eloquent and deeply funny plea against butchery in the service of authority. Slaughterhouse-Five boasts the same imagination, humanity, and gleeful appreciation of the absurd found in Vonnegut's other works, but the book's basis in rock-hard, tragic fact gives it a unique poignancy--and humor.

Customer Reviews

Heartfelt and Funny (2007-12-14)

Hilarious book, even with the subject matter being so grim. The explanation of time by the Tralfamadorians (spelling could be off on my part) is interesting and clever. I prefered both "Cat's Cradle" and "Breakfast of Champions" but "Slaughterhouse-five" is still absolutely great!And so it goes...

Greatest all-time Mr. V book (2007-03-19)

I loved this book, having read it long ago. I recently purchased it again and was surprised at how well it "went over." The only other author, besides Vonnegut, that could recommend this highly might be Jackson MCcrae with his quirky Katzenjammer book, or possibly some of Tom Robbins's works like Even Cowgirls, but other than that, Mr. V is tops. Billy Pilgrim will remain one of the most beloved characters ever put on paper an his endless antics will keep you laughing and crying at the same time.

Love it, or Hate it.. (2007-03-19)

Slaughterhouse Five has been on my 'must read' list for some time now; and I wasn't disappointed. However, after reading it, I needed a day to let it all sink in. This much acclaimed book is difficult to describe. The odd combination of fact and fiction forces a question upon the reader: how did the youth who lived through the Dresden bombing grow up to be the man who wrote this book? One reads "Slaughterhouse-Five" with that question crouched on the brink of one's awareness. I'm not sure if there's an answer, but the question certainly heightens the book's effects. The story is full of black humor as Vonnegut details the minutiae of Billy's seemingly normal post-war life as an optometrist and the horrors of his war experience. The juxtaposition of these two extremes as he jumps back and forth in time makes Vonnegut's anti-war message all the more effective. While I was reading this, I kept wondering how much of Vonnegut's own experiences were being told. I found this to be a pretty pessimistic book. In particular, the view that one has little control over life and that life "just is" and "so it goes". I read another reviewer's opinion that this isn't supposed to be pessimistic, but rather, optimistic - ie. in the vein of "life goes on" regardless of the horrible things that happen to individuals. I suppose that's another way of looking at it, but not the first that comes to my mind. Though not what I would consider an enjoyable read, it is powerful and thought-provoking. Vonnegut has a very unique style and there is little ambivalence in his views. It is very tough and very funny; it is sad and delightful; and it works. But is also very Vonnegut, which means you'll either love it, or push it back in the science-fiction corner. Love it or hate it, I doubt many readers will be ambivalent either.

"There is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre" (2007-01-10)

"Slaughterhouse-Five or The children's crusade" is the first book written by Vonnegut that I have read, and the experience has been quite good. After reading it, I realized that I had felt all kind of things at different times (or pages) of this book. I feel surprised by the lack of logic in some parts, enchanted by the wisdom of some phrases, and somewhat puzzled by some of the antics of the characters. But I didn't feel bored, not even once, and that is good news in my book...The story is told from the point of view of the writer, at least at the beginning. Shortly afterwards, the main narrator changes: now it is Billy Pilgrim, who like the writer is a former soldier in World War II. The writer and Billy survived the bombardment of Dresden, the city were both were held as prisioners of war (yes, Vonnegut was a POW in the 2nd WW). They stayed in a place called "Slaughterhouse 5", due to the mere fact that that placed used to be...a slaughterhouse.Billy has some peculiarities that no one else seems to share: he can become "unstuck" in time, going seamlessly from the present to the past or the future, and from there to the present again. He is also quite familiar with aliens, having spent a season with them in their planet (as a specimen in the Tralfamadorian zoo), and isn't shy to tell so. Of course, that brings him a few problems with his family, who wants him to upheld his image of respectable optometrist, but that cannot be helped.This work has an anti-war tone that pervades the whole book. That is evident in the musings of the characters on the absurdity of war, and on how illogical many actions were (a good example would be the bombardment of Dresden, a city that lacked war industries). Billy, one of the protagonists of the book, accepts things as they come, and after every death he simply says "So it goes". He probably is the best illustration of the fact that "There are almost no characters in this story, and almost no dramatic confrontations, because most of the people in it are so sick, and so much the listless playthings of enormous forces. One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters..." Also, and even though Vonnegut writes that "there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre", I think that thanks to this book he gives at least a good statement on the massacre of war.All in all, "Slaughterhouse-Five" is a book beyond strange, so if you prefer linear stories, you are highly likely to dislike this one. If there is something that stands out in it, is its lack of chronological continuity. Despite that, I recommend it even to them, because who knows, they may like it. After all, this book has been considered a classic for many years now, so it certainly has some value. On the other hand, if you are one of those who prefer the unexpected in a book, you just must read it, because I'm certain you will love "Slaughterhouse-Five".Belen Alcat

Slaughter as it is (2006-12-17)

I read Slaughterhouse-Five three times and enjoyed every part of it those moments that I occupied myself with the book. Vonnegut is an amazing writer, so creative, brilliant, clever and witty that some of his words are difficult to forget. This was the first book I read by Kurt Vonnegut, and it was recommended to me by a friend. While I was reading it the first time, I tried to understand why it had become so much of a talked about read. At the end of it, I understood. As someone who witnessed the Dresden bombing, the author portrayed his insight of war through the character of Billy Pilgrim, who was serving the US army during World War II a private. It is a fantastic anti-war book, or more a book with a sobering effect on war mongers. The overwhelming destruction of picturesque and artistic Dresden, by Allied bombers is at the centre of the book. The alien part of it was marvelous. This book is easy to understand, the setting is great and the pace is fast, confirmed by the fact that I lost my attention for a minute while reading the book until the last words. This is a book to recommend to any reader who accepts the realities of life.Also read Union Moujik, All Quiet on the Western Front, Disciples of Fortune. They all like SlaughterHouse portray war as it really is. Human but horrible.

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