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Slaughterhouse-Five
 

Slaughterhouse-Five

by Kurt Vonnegut

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... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  science fiction,  classic,  satire,  war (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

2 of 2 members found this review helpful.
Tinky
  • Rated 5 stars

“I don't intend this as a negative criticism, but Vonnegut's novels are less individual, memorable works of art than links in a chain, an ongoing, endlessly looping conversation. The subject rarely changes, each book blends together in the memory, the details dissolve, and what one is left with is the palpable sense of the chief character throughout - Vonnegut himself, with his wonderful narrative voice, bracingly humane, skeptical, and wryly funny.

"Slaughterhouse-Five" is the...”

Tinky’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 4.170984 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.642857 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Caroline K

    caroline k said:

    “I can't help but love everything that he writes, his irony and ability to tell stories that correlate directly with any space in time make his writing the kind that you want to go back and reread time and time again. His leaving our world this last year takes one more soul away whom I felt a true alliance toward. He understood humanity and our weaknesses unlike many other authors I have read. RIP KV”

    posted Thursday, May 15 2008 ( | view 3 replies )
  • Derek H

    derek h said:

    “Well, I don't know anything about your son, so I can't tell him how the book relates to his life...

    But it's a poignant story considering current situation with America and Iraq. Slaughterhouse Five is one of the great anti-war books of all time, ask him how he thinks the story relates to the current war that America is engaged in. What does the book show him about young people in war, what does he think we can learn about the "war on terror?"

    That is, assuming you are American.

    Try not to write his report for him. English is important, take it as many times as you must in order to come out an intelligent, critical adult.”

    posted Monday, May 12 2008
  • amanda d

    amanda d said:

    “hey i'm trying to help my 15 yr old come up with a response and how it relates toward his life individually compared from this book. he is writing his report but still reading and now he finds out today it is due tuesday the 13th so is there anyone who could give an idea or speak of the 2 questions for him. he is trying not to fail this english class and had to write 3 book reports and i know he already did cat's cradle and timequake. please any one help. his mom”

    posted Sunday, May 11 2008
  • Derek H

    derek h said:

    “I have to agree with Zero: Slaughterhouse-5 is great, but I don't think it's his in-general best book. Cat's Cradle was good, but in my opinion, The Sirens of Titan and Breakfast of Champions were his masterpieces.”

    posted Wednesday, May 7 2008
  • ramya.k83

    ramya.k83 said:

    “It definitely took me a year to read this! I read at least 40 other books inbetween trying to get through it. It moved a little slowly, and I appreciate the seriousness of the background and the reason why billy is the way he is, but still...not my type of storytelling.”

    posted Tuesday, May 6 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
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