Rating: Summary: AWFUL! Just AWFUL! Review: This was the WORST book I have ever read in my life! I would'nt even give it 1 stars, I would give it -11! If you are thinking about reading this book I suggest you not. This book was very confusing, and it had no plot. I think that there are to many good books in this world to be wasting your time reading this horrible book!
Rating: Summary: A great book, about war and people who live through it Review: I read this book on a recommendation from my history teacher. I was kind of hesitant at first, but the story just grabbed me. I personally think Vonnegut is trying to say three things. 1) Humanity in whole doesn't change, so war is inevitable 2) You have to do the best you can to prevent war 3) Even during war, morals still exist One of the premises of the book, is that history, past and future is fixed. We are like little bugs trapped in amber, we can't escape. But I don't think Vonnegut is really saying we have no free will, I think he is talking about society and what society does and it drags us along, however unwilling, and we just have to do the best we can. For those of you who haven't read it, the story goes as follows. Billy Pilgrim, an ill-prepared chaplains assistant, becomes a POW for the germans and witnesses the bombing of Dresden. Several years later, he is kindapped by aliens from the Planet Tralfamadore, who live in four dimensions. It also tells about his life twenty five years later. the three strories are wovwn together, becasue supposedly, the Tralfamadorians taught Billy how to time travel and he does so. I won;t spoil the rest, for those of you who haven't read the book.
Rating: Summary: I Don't Get It Review: O.K., I read it, but I literally have no idea what this book is about. And I'm not reading it again to find out either. Apparently, people like almost anything in life, which is really a sad commentary on the human condition.
Rating: Summary: Almost as good as the hype Review: This was a book I bought after hearing about several of my english teachers and peers rave about it. They claimed it was wonderfully written, excellent satire, and funny, so that is what I expected. The problem was that as with many overly hyped things they can not live up to your expectation. There was good news with this book, however, it was very intriguing and unique. The style of writing, the story itself, and the characters are all quirky and engaging. It is a very quick read and a book that once you get started you will not want to put down. The problems I had with it, however, were that it was very disjointed (which as you read it you will understand the importance of it, though you may not like reading it)and after I was done I didn't really care about any of the characters or the story--it is behind me down and I will not be going to all of my friends telling them that this is a must read. All in all, I think this book is one you should get from the library, read in an afternoon and return. It is not one that you will need to have around your house because you will never have to reference it again and while it is enjoyable it would be one that would have made me happier to have borrowed that purchased.
Rating: Summary: Vonnegut's most famous, but not his best Review: Vonnegut's command of his narrative in this novel is commendable. The story seemlessly moves through time and setting almost too logically for the absurdist universe Vonnegut has created. Not one of Vonnegut's funniest books, but he does justice to the war he never thought he could put in writing. The philosophy of the Tralfamadorian aliens is very powerful and desirable to a tragic hero like Billy Pilgrim, as well as the reader and Vonnegut himself. However, I think even Vonnegut rejects the notion that free will does not exist, or he rather wishes to believe in a world where we are free to escape our misery by our own actions.
Rating: Summary: well deserving Review: Vonnegut is a true master. Slaughterhouse Five is Vonnegutshowing us just how excellent he can be. If you pick up this book,don't plan on being able to do anything else until you finish it. It really is that good. It will pull you in, hold you there, and make you laugh outloud, all while delivering a strong anti-war message. Only Vonnegut could pull this off so well.
Rating: Summary: And so it Goes.... Review: Consider yourself lucky if you have been assigned to read this book for school. And if you have picked up this book on your own, you made a great choice.This is a classic work that is actually a great book to read. Vonnegut is such an original writer. I can think of no author who comes close to what he do. This book is so unique and is such a memorable reading experience. Everyone should read a Vonnegut book and this is a great one. And so it goes.....
Rating: Summary: Crazy WWII, sci-fi, space alien book! Review: I plan to read more books by Vonnegut, this was a fantastic book! The main character travels through time, has a new outlook on life, and lives all of his life out of sequence. We are taken on these journeys and adventures with him, we travel to Germany in World War II and to a space ship where he is kept in an alien zoo!
Rating: Summary: Astonishingly creative...... Review: I never read Kurt Vonneguht before and, thus, had no idea what to expect from his book. Through the first few chapters I was a little confused to where he was taking this book; especially since it was said to be loosely based on his own experiences during World War 2. Kurt forced the reader to deal with the fantastic reality, that one could only view as absolute humor, and forced us also to deal with the harshness of life and death and the fine line between them. He intertwined the two and created a character whom was eternally trapped re-living his War days and the time when he was abducted to the planet Tramalfagador ( I probably spelled that wrong ). One cannot completely overlook the meaning of the "imaginary" world....because who is to say what is reality and what is not....I certainly dare not impose my opinion; figure it out for yourself.
Rating: Summary: So it goes Review: John Clute called Vonnegut the funniest SF author ever. I don't know. This book made me snicker at times, but I didn't really laugh. I think it is in Vonnegut's delivery, the scenes are not visual enough. This, ironicaly, works well with the tragic elements though. The only other problem is there is no sense of closer because of the fragmented style, but this same style works very well when you are in the middle of the book. If you like this, I'd think you'd also like Canticle for Leibowits by Walter Miller. It is somewhat more optimistic, but just as poignant.
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