Slaughterhouse-Five

Rating:
Summary: A funny, yet thought provoking novel
Review: I found this novel to be a very unique, intereseting novel. The time traveling adventures of Billy Pilgrim and the way the author incorporates himself in the book is outstanding. There are many funny parts to the novel as the author takes a light, peculiar view of life and it's characters. So it goes...

Rating:
Summary: pretty damn good book
Review: but, while reading the previous reviews I came across a recurring statement that is entirely false. The Tralfamadorians did not teach Billy how to time travel. It specifically says in the book that the two had nothing to do with eachother. That is how he knew they were coming! Besides the fact, this in an excellent book about the insanity of life. Vonnugut makes humans pawns in their own lives; not really free to do anything truly purposeful, even if they wanted to, even if they tried. Because nothing really matters anyway.

Rating:
Summary: It's no CATCH-22 but read it anyway.
Review: I find the style of this book to be close to that of CATCH 22 , but not as good. However having said that, it is an excellent book. Its time jumping is its strongest feature, but if you like that aspect, CATCH-22 does it better.

Rating:
Summary: A hilariously sad novel in which we are not allowed to laugh
Review: If anything, Vonnegut shows us how war cannot be galant and glorious and how "everything was beautiful and nothing was hurt" is an oxmoron in war.

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Summary: Life is great and man keeps messing it up
Review: Gives you a new perspective of thinking about the term "war". As a German who has visited Dresden before, I will walk along its sreets more thoughtfully the next time. Look for and remember facts on war atrocities. It's no fate. Truly wonderful to read, the "funny parts" remind you of the sillyness and limited horizon of people having power in their hands.

Rating:
Summary: I'd be embarassed
Review: to begin a harsh criticism by making a comment like 'I just didn't see the point'. There is a point, there is a message and there are many people who 'get it'. Hint: It's not about war. Alright?! Suggested reading: Sirens of Titan and Catch-22

Rating:
Summary: what is so great about this book?
Review: I read this book in an afternoon for a book club. Thank goodness I did not have to waste any more time on it! Other reviewers have mentioned the humor and supposedly wonderful insights offered by this book. I found neither. Yes, Mr. Vonnegut, war is bad. Not a revelation.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Great American Novels
Review: This is the author's masterpiece, a moving, funny, and sad novel that touched me deeply with its rich beauty and simple truth. The personal experiences of the author's war service are made vivid and real through the use of fantasy and become a reflection of the life journey of all of us. I envy those who discover this treasure for the first time and only wish each the same joyous reading experience that I had long ago.

Rating:
Summary: truly a classic piece of literature
Review: although one of the overriding themes of vonnegut's masterpiece, the negative consequences of war, has been trivialized by some, this book is clearly an excellent literary work that includes many themes about humanity's general helplessness in the proverbial scheme of things. vonnegut makes points about life, love, and destiny in creative and extrmely enjoyable ways. anyone who reads this novel should determine its themes on their own, but there is no doubt that they will be impressed upon and enlightened for the experience.

Rating:
Summary: Unstuck with Vonnegut
Review: This novel is an amazing story depicting the horrors of war and the pointlessness of it all. As they say early on in the novel, "war is like a glacier", meaning that it is an unstoppable force. However the novel contradicts itself by displaying that war is inevitable. Thus in this way Vonnegut shows how mixed up of a world we live in. The novel may be confusing for some but as long as you keep an open mind, you'll enjoy Slaughterhouse-Five.