Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

knightss · Post by **knightss** » 01 Jan 2007, 18:18

Finished this book a few nights ago. i thought it was good... it's a book about Dresden in WWII but don't be expecting to read straight up history. Aliens, birds and a psych ward are all in this book. Some parts are actually laugh out loud funny but underneath all the comedy and satire there is a deeper subject that is touched upon. It follows the life of a soldier named Billy Pilgrim as he travels through "time warps" of his life eventually leading up to the bombing of Dresden. This is the first Vonnegut book that i've read.. i'm pretty sure i'll read more of him in the future.

LoveHatesYou · Post by **LoveHatesYou** » 02 Jan 2007, 12:27

Vonnegut is one of my all time favorite authors. He is still alive and kicking, still fiesty as hell. I love his digression. I wish I could spend a day with him and Kearouk (whjy can't I spell that now?) and Burroughs, talkiing jive, discussing goviernment policy and smoking a fat J. Man Without A COuntry is Vonnegut's most recent book, and it bites on today's society, and it is sharp I tells ya. If Vonnegut ran for pressident, I'd vote him in. Even as old as he is. He's seen enough. i love the man. I hope to meet him one day, so I can plant him a fat wet kiss on his wrinkled forehead. He has been my inspiration since I read S-5 at age 12. So I'm glad you have discovered his wonder. You catch more as you read more. I'm done advertising for the man now.

knightss · Post by **knightss** » 02 Jan 2007, 12:35

LoveHatesYou wrote: I wish I could spend a day with him and Kearouk (whjy can't I spell that now?) and Burroughs, talkiing jive, discussing goviernment policy and smoking a fat J.

hahaha

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 14 Jan 2007, 05:47

Vonnegut is a genius, a fascinating man and a talented writer. A much older friend recommended Slaughterhouse 5 to me when I was a mere girl of 17, and I read it and loved it.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » 18 Mar 2007, 20:06

i can't decide whether to read this book first or Breakfast of Champions...help.

knightss · Post by **knightss** » 18 Mar 2007, 20:52

I really really enjoyed breakfast of champions. Personally i think you'd like BOC better Linda. For example he draws a picture of an asshole that looks something like this *. BOC gets really good when you are a little more than halfway through, it's a very unique write.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » 18 Mar 2007, 21:06

ha sounds good. i'll have to move that higher on my list of books to read.

ClickForth · Post by **ClickForth** » 18 Mar 2007, 21:46

I've read the majority of Vonnegut's stuff and I'd probably say to start with Cat's Cradle. Bluebeard is really, really good as well. And then where ever you want from there. I just think Cat's Cradle is a really good intro to his stuff.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » 18 Mar 2007, 21:48

thank you for the help clickforth i truly appreciate it

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 19 Mar 2007, 06:27

You know, I've never looked at an asterisk the same since reading Breakfast of Champions.

ClickForth · Post by **ClickForth** » 19 Mar 2007, 20:52

sleepydumpling wrote:You know, I've never looked at an asterisk the same since reading Breakfast of Champions.

The drawing at the end is still stuck in my head now. After reading the novel (even though it was depressing in a different way than most novels) it was the most crushing image to look at.

hisworldwaspossibility · Post by **hisworldwaspossibility** » 22 Apr 2007, 07:07

I know everyone loves Vonnegut (or like to say they do to look cool), but S-5 was a very mediocre book. It took him 20 years to write it, and he tried too hard. There's no question he's (or was; RIP) talented, but this is definitely not his best effort. This was the first Vonnegut book I read, and it took a lot of convincing from my wife to try another one. Fortunately, I liked the 2nd, Mother Night, much, much better.

-Waits for Indignant Hate Mail

LoveHatesYou · Post by **LoveHatesYou** » 23 Jul 2007, 12:51

hisworldwaspossibility wrote:I know everyone loves Vonnegut (or like to say they do to look cool), but S-5 was a very mediocre book. It took him 20 years to write it, and he tried too hard. There's no question he's (or was; RIP) talented, but this is definitely not his best effort. This was the first Vonnegut book I read, and it took a lot of convincing from my wife to try another one. Fortunately, I liked the 2nd, Mother Night, much, much better.

-Waits for Indignant Hate Mail

I got your idignant hate mail right here you *!

Just kidding. I don't think it's his best work either, but I still think its a hell of a lot better than 98% of all contemp. lit. availiable to a reader out there. I"ll hold to that too. Now I'm waiting for the hate mail ...

Vonnegut went to war, so itwas probably a sensitive topic for him, and yes, I do think that strain showed in his work, but I do think that's part of it's charm. You feel the strain, and SH-5 should have some tension considering the subject matter...

Go ahead and debate me people.

I loved Man Without a Country best actually.

Sidenot- Red Hot Chilli Peppers also use the *- Anthony Kedis, when asked about it, called it an angel's a**hole. Vonnegut, I feel, would approve.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » 23 Jul 2007, 15:43

knightss wrote:Finished this book a few nights ago. i thought it was good... it's a book about Dresden in WWII but don't be expecting to read straight up history. Aliens, birds and a psych ward are all in this book. Some parts are actually laugh out loud funny but underneath all the comedy and satire there is a deeper subject that is touched upon. It follows the life of a soldier named Billy Pilgrim as he travels through "time warps" of his life eventually leading up to the bombing of Dresden. This is the first Vonnegut book that i've read.. i'm pretty sure i'll read more of him in the future.

this has nothing to do with the book but there's a band called "Sorry About Dresden" and their name is based on the bombing of Dresden in WWII. they're good so i suggest giving them a listen

i kno derek already knows who they are, but especially if your into indie rock type stuff you should download a song from them.