Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse 5 (MOST RED)

by Kurt Vonnegut

Read Kurt Vonnegut's powerful masterpiece, which is as timely now as when it was first published.

'An extraordinary success. A book to read and reread. He is a true artist' New York Times Book Review

Billy Pilgrim - hapless barber's assistant, successful optometrist, alien abductee, senile widower and soldier - has become unstuck in time. Hiding in the basement of a slaughterhouse in Dresden, with the city and its inhabitants burning above him, he finds himself a survivor of one of the most deadly and destructive battles of the Second World War. But when, exactly? How did he get here? And how does he get out?

Travel through time and space on the shoulders of Vonnegut himself. This is a book about war. Listen to what he has to say: it is of the utmost urgency.

'The great, urgent, passionate American writer of our century, who offers us a model of the kind of compassionate thinking that might yet save us from ourselves.' George Saunders

Reviewed by Michael @ Knowledge Lost on

5 of 5 stars

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The whole story just has so many layers to try to explain, but it makes for an interesting read. Since Billy keeps randomly traveling to the Past, Future and Tralfamadore there just seems to be a lot going on and can get a little confusing. The book really highlights the effects of war on the survivors and what could be considered schizophrenia.

Full review on my blog;
http://literary-exploration.com/2009/05/30/slaughterhouse-five-or-the-childrens-crusade-a-duty-dance-with-death/

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 5 March, 2009: Finished reading
  • 5 March, 2009: Reviewed