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A review by christinecc
The Writer's Crusade: Kurt Vonnegut and the Many Lives of Slaughterhouse-Five by Tom Roston
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Both an excellent analysis of and introduction to Kurt Vonnegut's renowned novel, "Slaughterhouse Five."
Now is probably as good a time as any to admit: no, I haven't read 'Slaughterhouse Five." Imagine my surprise when Tom Roston, with one of the punchiest beginnings to a nonfiction piece I've seen in years, lays out one of the key pieces of the novel: an account, based on Vonnegut's memory, of how he survived the Dresden bombing and its aftermath as a WWII POW. Powerful stuff. Which is why, fellow Vonnegut newbies, I recommend that you try picking this book up before reading the novel. Or at the very least, you shouldn't hesitate to do so.
Tom Roston does an incredible job discussing the life of the author and how his career and personal development led him to draft, rework, and eventually publish "Slaughterhouse." He places it in the context of other veteran accounts at the time (and even those long before Vonnegut was born) and how Vonnegut's style found its place among other authors (which is basically how Vonnegut made the leap from the oft-neglected science-fiction drawer to the esteemed literary bookshelf). Along the way, Roston recaps the treatment of PTSD, what exactly that diagnosis has signified over the years, the slow rise of WWII veteran accounts as America began to grapple with war and its trauma with every additional conflict. It's a history of Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse, and the anti-war veteran narrative all wrapped in one volume.
I particularly appreciated how Roston mostly shied away from easy answers to questions like "Did Vonnegut have PTSD?" and "Was Vonnegut anti-violence or even against guns?" There are a lot more issues covered, too, thanks to Roston's interviews with veterans from other military conflicts of various types.
Overall, this was a tough but interesting read. I don't think I realized what a punch it packed until I was dwelling on some of the stories of grief and death included, though they never seemed gratuitous. Maybe that's why they had such an impact.
Recommended for anyone interested in Vonnegut, how a famous author's publishing career developed in the late 20th century, and the history of how men have coped with and expressed (through writing) their experience during and after war.
Thank you to Abrams Press and Netgalley for sending me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now is probably as good a time as any to admit: no, I haven't read 'Slaughterhouse Five." Imagine my surprise when Tom Roston, with one of the punchiest beginnings to a nonfiction piece I've seen in years, lays out one of the key pieces of the novel: an account, based on Vonnegut's memory, of how he survived the Dresden bombing and its aftermath as a WWII POW. Powerful stuff. Which is why, fellow Vonnegut newbies, I recommend that you try picking this book up before reading the novel. Or at the very least, you shouldn't hesitate to do so.
Tom Roston does an incredible job discussing the life of the author and how his career and personal development led him to draft, rework, and eventually publish "Slaughterhouse." He places it in the context of other veteran accounts at the time (and even those long before Vonnegut was born) and how Vonnegut's style found its place among other authors (which is basically how Vonnegut made the leap from the oft-neglected science-fiction drawer to the esteemed literary bookshelf). Along the way, Roston recaps the treatment of PTSD, what exactly that diagnosis has signified over the years, the slow rise of WWII veteran accounts as America began to grapple with war and its trauma with every additional conflict. It's a history of Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse, and the anti-war veteran narrative all wrapped in one volume.
I particularly appreciated how Roston mostly shied away from easy answers to questions like "Did Vonnegut have PTSD?" and "Was Vonnegut anti-violence or even against guns?" There are a lot more issues covered, too, thanks to Roston's interviews with veterans from other military conflicts of various types.
Overall, this was a tough but interesting read. I don't think I realized what a punch it packed until I was dwelling on some of the stories of grief and death included, though they never seemed gratuitous. Maybe that's why they had such an impact.
Recommended for anyone interested in Vonnegut, how a famous author's publishing career developed in the late 20th century, and the history of how men have coped with and expressed (through writing) their experience during and after war.
Thank you to Abrams Press and Netgalley for sending me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and War