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A review by vikreads
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
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.
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.