Reviews

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Only show reviews with written explanations

zeroalethea's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

5.0

zachnachazel's review against another edition

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3.0

Well I guess I finally read it.

stargazerave's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

So it goes.

An incredible recounting of the firebombing of Dresden and an emotional retelling of how people change after intense trauma that left me giggling at parts and soberly understanding exactly what Billy Pilgrim was experiencing at others. Vonnegut pulls no punches when describing the atrocities of war and spares no detail in depicting exactly how it has fractured the mind of his protagonist, and the effects that fracturing has.

Content Warnings

vikreads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

This was my test for Vonnegut, on if I’d try another book or not. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater was phenomenal, and then I somehow strongly disliked and couldn’t even finish Breakfast of Champions. So Slaughterhouse Five was going to make or break this show off. And I’m happy to report it made it. Despite some underlying misogyny (we’ll blame it on the time) and

For a book with so much satire, and things so off the wall like the sci-fi alien societies he mixed in - the depth of the commentary on war and society, the crashing economy, life and death was something else.

The introduction chapter in the newer additions is written by a Kevin Powers, who served in the military in the Iraq
war and witnessed something truly horrific. It sets the scene for Vonnegut’s feelings on all wars being a Crusade on Children. Which felt too close with all the horrific things going on in Gaza right now. If only we learned from history, instead of repeating it. Over and over.
Definitely a book I’d recommend for anyone that likes a quirky narrator; fiction that takes on nonfiction truths; and outlandish subplots that somehow manage to not steal the thunder of the real message.

Lastly I’ll add - that yet again I feel failed by my education, when I learned about WW2, not once did I ever learn about the bombing of Dresden. How do we always manage to erase pockets of history that makes us look bad. It’s almost like we do it on purpose.

rioyoung's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

michinio's review against another edition

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5.0

One of the greatest books I've read. But the expectations from Vonnegut were so high after reading Sirens of Titan, that my final emotions were not like "OMG, this changed my life!".

However in couple of month after finishing the book, when the knowledge and emotions settled down, I slowly realized how great book this is and how pity that expectations exist at all. Slaughterhouse-Five is definitely no less masterpiece than Sirens of Titan!

liliferty_poopoo's review against another edition

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4.5

Yall i really liked this book like this guys actually so funny and the whole book like the way its written is so interesting and i feel like every little detail matters because it builds up and connects together if that makes sense.
I read this for school but Im glad that i did bcs this book is kinda fire 🔥.