Slaughterhouse Five

Rating:
Summary: Slaughthouse Five is Wonderful
Review: This was the first book I ever read by Kurt Vonnegut and afterwards I promptly read more. I've read it five times and each time I notice more details and witticisms. Billy Pilgrim is the story's unlucky protaganist who is kidnapped by aliens and becomes "unstuck" in time. But Billy's aliens resemble those described in Kilgore Trout's fanastic novels, and his fellow kidnappee is a pornstar whose dangling necklace is the AA slogan. In short, his reliablity as a narrator is dubious. This novel isn't focused on Billy, he is simply the vehicle by which the big picture is portrayed, and the big picture is World War Two and the bombing of Dresden. At it's heart, this is an anti-war novel, which Vonnegut's amusing and informative introduction (ch.1) makes clear. And don't be intimidated by it's heavy theme, Vonnegut satiric wit keeps the book going while adding to it's thematic impact.

Rating:
Summary: What the hell?
Review: All I can say is that this is one wacked out book. The best line came when Billy Pilgrim was in the zoo and asked for the secret to the universe. When the Tralmafadorians replied that it is destroyed testing fuel, Billy asks if there is anyway to stop it. It was great, but it was twisted. Read with caution. This is a very difficult time period to read from and is very often confusing.

Rating:
Summary: The time was ripe
Review: I caught myself laughing out loud, and two minutes later, almost coming to tears while reading this book. Kurt Vonnugut is brilliant! The ride he takes us on with Billy Pilgrim is amazing, and extremely entertaining. From Dresden to Illium to Tralfamadore, we cognitively follow Billy's every step. Good luck stopping at some point, I sure couldn't.

Rating:
Summary: What can I say?
Review: The title of this review seems to run with the content. After I read Vonnegut's most famous novel, I found myself wondering if I liked it or not. As I read further Vonnegut works, I saw that the same style was emulated in each book and I kept questioning whether it was good or not. Vonnegut is truly nothing like any other writer you may have read; when reading the novel, the story seems whole, yet when you reflect upon it, it changes into merely a shell of a story. You also forget what you have read, both during and after you've read the book. It's quite an experience!

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: This is the first book I've read of Vonnegut's. A friend recommended it, and he is a smart guy. I honestly loved how unique the book was. Truly a classic!

Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK
Review: Put simply, the best book I have ever read. I love war books, and this one is certainly not one of your average war books. It's different. Read it.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Novel
Review: Billy Pilgrim has to be the weakest hero of any novel ever written and yet he might be the most beautiful. Through his ignorance and innocence we see how stupid war is. To bad Vonnegut did not write this novel earlier, who knows maybe some of our esteemed leaders of the early 60s would have got a hold of it and read it and maybe they would not have instituted a draft and fought a war in Southeast Asia. That is how powerful a novel this is.

Rating:
Summary: Sublime
Review: This book made it onto the Library Boards top 100 English language novels of the 20th century. Guess what? It deserves to be there. Truly an awesome read with a powerful anti - war message without being extremely pendantic.

Rating:
Summary: A very nice book for the sci-fi buff
Review: I really liked this book. It makes you wonder how wonderful or pointless life would be. It took a while to get the flow of the book but, when you do, it is very hard to put the book down. It is a very quick read but it is very deep. It is about Billy Pilgrim and how he gets "unstuck in time." I don't think I would like to witness my death like Billy did, so it goes.

Rating:
Summary: An American Classic
Review: One of the best novels of the century. Simply amazing