Slaughterhouse-Five
By Kurt Vonnegut
- Release Date: 1970-02-15
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
A special fiftieth anniversary edition of Kurt Vonnegut’s masterpiece, “a desperate, painfully honest attempt to confront the monstrous crimes of the twentieth century” (Time), featuring a new introduction by Kevin Powers, author of the National Book Award finalist The Yellow Birds
Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time
Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world’s great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous World War II firebombing of Dresden, the novel is the result of what Kurt Vonnegut described as a twenty-three-year struggle to write a book about what he had witnessed as an American prisoner of war. It combines historical fiction, science fiction, autobiography, and satire in an account of the life of Billy Pilgrim, a barber’s son turned draftee turned optometrist turned alien abductee. As Vonnegut had, Billy experiences the destruction of Dresden as a POW. Unlike Vonnegut, he experiences time travel, or coming “unstuck in time.”
An instant bestseller, Slaughterhouse-Five made Kurt Vonnegut a cult hero in American literature, a reputation that only strengthened over time, despite his being banned and censored by some libraries and schools for content and language. But it was precisely those elements of Vonnegut’s writing—the political edginess, the genre-bending inventiveness, the frank violence, the transgressive wit—that have inspired generations of readers not just to look differently at the world around them but to find the confidence to say something about it. Authors as wide-ranging as Norman Mailer, John Irving, Michael Crichton, Tim O’Brien, Margaret Atwood, Elizabeth Strout, David Sedaris, Jennifer Egan, and J. K. Rowling have all found inspiration in Vonnegut’s words. Jonathan Safran Foer has described Vonnegut as “the kind of writer who made people—young people especially—want to write.” George Saunders has declared Vonnegut to be “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.”
More than fifty years after its initial publication at the height of the Vietnam War, Vonnegut’s portrayal of political disillusionment, PTSD, and postwar anxiety feels as relevant, darkly humorous, and profoundly affecting as ever, an enduring beacon through our own era’s uncertainties.
Reviews
Amazing and DARK.
5By besseycakesNot a story that follows any traditional linear outline of storytelling you might be used to. Vonnegut presents an intensive interpretation of one point of view from one of World War Two’s most destructive moments.Slaughterhouse Five.
5By Exiled TexanBrilliant!Different
3By Pashtun528But insaneInteresting but hard to follow
3By Lamborghini fanaticA book with a great concept that gets lost in the author’s attempt to be witty. It’s a good read but can be very confusing in places.Extraordinary
5By FangsoutOne of the best books i’ve read. Highly recommend.Excellent
5By TwinklemoonOriginal and inventiveLove this book!
5By dominy7I must have read this book 10 or more times when I was in school, even though the school’s “they” removed it from the library. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is one of my favorite authors, and I am quite pleased that Apple has enabled me to own a copy of this book! ❤️Should be Required Reading
5By Josey86This book is wonderfully philosophical. It gets you thinking. The writing style, with all the different moments of the story jumbled together is really playful and imaginative. It’s a heavy topic - war, death, life - but Vonnegut manages to do it in a playful way. I highly recommend this book to both Vonnegut fans and soon-to-be Vonnegut fans.Amazing book
5By 5c0ttIf you lived through war, I think this best describes what you feel when you come back. It sounds confusing unless you think about how to deal with injustice. So it goesClassic
5By Epona@11111One of the best!!!KV, Jr. The Extraordinary
2By JJMcPetThank you. XO, jpSecond Time Reading
5By Jerry!!(67&Work of art. I am no literary critic nor expert. Whether you are looking for comedy, post-war sentiment or a great story, you will find something you love. Written artistically the format blends with the content, prose, and story narrative. But you don't have to have a B.A. in English to appreciate this novel. All you need is an open mind and 3 hours.Vonnegut's Best
5By DwardengAn insane blend of Science Fiction, War and comedy. You won't want to put it down."...and so it goes."
5By Josiah GlockThe title is Mr. Vonnegut's famous phrase that came after a specific type of event within the book. I suggest that the savvy ninth grade reader, or adult read this book. It will help you understand hardship. It is interesting to see posttraumatic stress disorder described so relevantly before the term was coined or used in the DSM (diagnostics and statistics manual). Read it twice because you will miss things that you will enjoy finding again.Unique and a classic. Hilarious and will give you goosebumps
5By Jed WiantA stunner, that's for sure.Cheese Curds
5By Cheesy DumplingsBook was big litty and aight but needed to be more crunchy ya knowLeaves you thinking
4By JohnWickhamThe semi-surreal plot — dislodged in time — and a character whose psyche is ravaged by war jar you from the normal ha its of novel reading. Slaughterhouse Five will certainly leave you thinking.English 3
5By Kelly....ssssI chose this book to read for my English 3 class this a beautiful and well written book. I love the story and plot actually makes you think.Outstanding!
5By HjxhtkhetbttrjhbrtgkhjWhat a great novel! This is a wondrous wartime book as well as a question raising sci-fi experience. A must read!
