Slaughterhouse 5

by Ross Douthat

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Genres: Science Fiction

72 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2002

About the author

Ross Gregory Douthat is a conservative American author, blogger and New York Times columnist. He was a senior editor at The Atlantic and is author of Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class (Hyperion, 2005) and, with Reihan Salam, Grand New Party (Doubleday, 2008), which David Brooks called the "best single roadmap of where the Republican Party should and is likely to head." He is a film critic for National Review and has also contributed to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, the Claremont Review of Books, GQ, Slate, and other publications. In addition, he frequently appears on the video debate site Bloggingheads.tv. In April 2009, he became an online and op-ed columnist for The New York Times, replacing Bill Kristol as a conservative voice on the Times editorial page. Douthat is the youngest regular op-ed writer in the paper's history.

Reviews

[Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned that flashbacks, flashforwards, and aliens are not as baffling as one might at first think.

[Gabe Philips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unstuck in time. Very cool concept. The Tralfamadorians accepted their fate and chose to only relish the good moments. Deep down they knew they had bad moments as well, including the destruction of the universe, but they choose to ignore it. While it is an interesting concept, it reinforces my faith that I have the power to choose my own outcomes. Rather that accepting that bad things will happen or just pushing them to the back of my conscious thoughts, I can do something about it and make life better.

The book is vulgar at parts to the point where I should have turned it off (Book on CD) but let my inner Tralfamadorian out and simply acted like it wasn't happening and fast forwarded to the good parts!

[Steve Abercrombie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun read. I really only picked it up to discover the origin of my band's song Tralmadore, but quickly fell for the time travel/ridiculousless of war storyline. Worth reading again and again! In fact you should read it and then go back in time to tell yourself to read it again.

oh by the way, i read the actual book by kurt vonnegut, not the study guide.

[Steve Gillway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talking to my son about WW2 sparked me into re-reading this book. Amazingly slight, yet so dense. He sets out the whole book in the prologue and then delivers in such a pleasingly unconventional way. The treatment of the war and warfare as horrible/ devasting and unremmitingly unfair is certainly needed now more than ever.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty fun, though not as hilarious as Vonnegut's other books. The content is interesting and he ties in a few characters from his other books which is fun. I learned a few thing about WWII but don't know if any of them are true. All in all it's a good read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep and dark, definetely displays the evils of war and the mistakes that are made. I like to read stream-of-conscience narratives and this one is so well done! Billy Pilgrim is poetic at times-for sure a classic worth reading and owning.

[Jscorse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a huge Vonnegut fan but this is my favorite of his.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

kind of trippy.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting to read, though I feel that I will best appreciate it the second time around.

[Chrissie55 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart-wringing excursion into Vonnegut's wartime experiences, compassion, & imagination.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im really liking this book so far. It's got a slight sci-fi edge that I normally wouldn't enjoy but it's so well written that I'm kinda buying in to it.

[Erica Galland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Years ago I started, but did not finish "Breakfast of Champions" by this same author. Starting, hating, and finishing this book has confirmed to me I just do not like his work.

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not at all what I was expecting. Less scifi and more historical WW2 fiction. Kind of aimless and meandering at times.