Scan barcode
slickrocknana4's review against another edition
5.0
I’m astonished by anyone who can write this well.
camdens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Not overrated
tricksyliesmith's review against another edition
3.0
I can't really say I enjoyed 'Slaughterhouse 5' as much as I thought I would, to be honest.
It has a good blend of tragedy and comic relief. Using a fractured structure of prose and a 'time-travel' element that allows Vonnegut to switch back and forth through the narrative is a novel idea, but one I often finds leaves the reader in limbo as to what is actually going on.
It's incredbily blase about death and destruction, in that the narrator uses the line 'so it goes' as a coping method after each terrible account is revealed.
With regards to prose it is quite minimalist, there's a lot of colourful characters.
The reader is constantly questioning whether Billy Pilgrim's lack of emotion is due to post-traumatic stress, dementia, brain trauma or even the possibility of time-travel. Overall it is an erratic, jumbled re-telling of his life as he remembers it in the moment.
It has a good blend of tragedy and comic relief. Using a fractured structure of prose and a 'time-travel' element that allows Vonnegut to switch back and forth through the narrative is a novel idea, but one I often finds leaves the reader in limbo as to what is actually going on.
It's incredbily blase about death and destruction, in that the narrator uses the line 'so it goes' as a coping method after each terrible account is revealed.
With regards to prose it is quite minimalist, there's a lot of colourful characters.
The reader is constantly questioning whether Billy Pilgrim's lack of emotion is due to post-traumatic stress, dementia, brain trauma or even the possibility of time-travel. Overall it is an erratic, jumbled re-telling of his life as he remembers it in the moment.
nevets4255's review against another edition
4.0
A wild ride in the life of Billy Pilgrim, from his death bed, to his birth and everything in between but in no particular order. The book takes you on a journey with the Trafaldamorians who can travel not only anywhere in the universe, but any time! The author uses his own memories to shape Billy's life, and tells about his own wartime experiences when Dresden was bombed to oblivion. Definitely a must read for anyone wanting to explore unconventional writing techniques.
willshirley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
claraeneri's review against another edition
2.0
this is a hard one to rate at this time so i’ll have to think on it. for now marking it as a 4
violabaldwin's review against another edition
4.0
4.4
I did know nothing about this book, not what it was about, why it became so famous, nor did I know anything about the author yet.
What I was reading was very unexpected, it was very depressing, contrary to sources that cite it as comical, I could find little to laugh in it.
I don't think that there is anything for me that could make descriptions of war and what people in those times had to go through, comedic.
Nevertheless, what other people might label as comedic I would describe as light, somehow digestable, but genuine, writing about the unspeakable horrors of war and their sad consequences.
+++ spoilers from here on+++
I found it ingenious how science fiction got incorporated into the story, depicting the PTSD of Billy Pilgrim, little gems and nuggets about philosophical questions of dimensions, our own limited perspective, time, determinism. Also, what a great move to weave in aliens to demonstrate how pointless and senseless and petty those wars are in the bigger picture of this huge universe.
The whole concept of time traveling is so fitting as a describing factor of how people with PTSD must experience life. 'And so it goes' transports the feeling of helplessness (and maybe resignation or acceptance?) of bad things that happen perfectly.
I completely understand why the book is so highly praised.
Looking forward to reading more by Vonnegut.
I did know nothing about this book, not what it was about, why it became so famous, nor did I know anything about the author yet.
What I was reading was very unexpected, it was very depressing, contrary to sources that cite it as comical, I could find little to laugh in it.
I don't think that there is anything for me that could make descriptions of war and what people in those times had to go through, comedic.
Nevertheless, what other people might label as comedic I would describe as light, somehow digestable, but genuine, writing about the unspeakable horrors of war and their sad consequences.
+++ spoilers from here on+++
I found it ingenious how science fiction got incorporated into the story, depicting the PTSD of Billy Pilgrim, little gems and nuggets about philosophical questions of dimensions, our own limited perspective, time, determinism. Also, what a great move to weave in aliens to demonstrate how pointless and senseless and petty those wars are in the bigger picture of this huge universe.
The whole concept of time traveling is so fitting as a describing factor of how people with PTSD must experience life. 'And so it goes' transports the feeling of helplessness (and maybe resignation or acceptance?) of bad things that happen perfectly.
I completely understand why the book is so highly praised.
Looking forward to reading more by Vonnegut.
jaaaase's review against another edition
5.0
Really really enjoyed this. Had no idea what it was about when I bought it on a whim, and was thoroughly impressed.
The unreliable narrator aspect of things was fantastic, and it made me think about the ways that trauma can affect people. Plenty of quotable quotes in it too- 'go take a flying fuck at a rolling donut' that I recognized from being quoted in the Music Theatre show Blood Brothers.
Will read again at some point!
The unreliable narrator aspect of things was fantastic, and it made me think about the ways that trauma can affect people. Plenty of quotable quotes in it too- 'go take a flying fuck at a rolling donut' that I recognized from being quoted in the Music Theatre show Blood Brothers.
Will read again at some point!
mgeoghe2's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the audiobook read by James Franco. He was pretty good. The stars are for the text though.
petrusian's review against another edition
5.0
This book is many things at once. A time capsule of 1969, and a timeless diatribe on the pointlessness of war. A science fiction novel, and a "history" novel. Comedic, and melancholic.
I never read this book when I was younger, when many of my peers did, and I wish I had read it sooner.
So it goes.
I never read this book when I was younger, when many of my peers did, and I wish I had read it sooner.
So it goes.