Remembering Kurt Vonnegut: 'Slaughterhouse-Five'

[Scheherazade]

http://www.osu.edu/features/2006/vonnegut/images/vonnegut.jpg


American author Kurt Vonnegut passed away on April 12, 2007.

To remember him and also to give a chance to those of us who have not read his works, we will be reading one of his novels, Slaughterhouse-Five.

Please post your comments and questions on the book in this thread.


Book Club Procedures (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?p=57103#post57103)

[B-Mental]

I'll get a copy when I get off of the slope...in about a week or so. Until then, enjoy.

[Scheherazade]

Just found out that my local library branch does not have a copy either so had to order it. Should get it sometime next week, hopefully!

[Nick Rubashov]

I'll check my bookshelf to see if I have a copy of it sitting around the house. If not I'll pick it up at the library tomorrow.

[dramasnot6]

Ill take a trip to the second hand bookshop come monday

[avidreader7]

Hey, it's great you guys will be reading Slaughterhouse Five. Nice to meet you. I'm going to re-read it sometime soon & look forward to discussing books here. Have a good night

[Stieg]

I am willing to give the novel another try. Just didn't do much for me, found it rather dull going, and maybe because I had just finished Catch-22 and A Clockwork Orange might have been the cause of my indifference upon exposure to the work.

[SleepyWitch]

how many pages is it?

[Scheherazade]

Amazon says 224 pages:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slaughter-House-Five-Kurt-Vonnegut/dp/0440180295/ref=pd_bbs_1/026-0105795-7357262?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176471487&sr=8-1

[B-Mental]

Yes, its a day read.

[SleepyWitch]

Yes, its a day read.

depends on whether your day has 27 hours or only 25 :D
well it's manageable

[Riesa]

great! I'll have to pick up a new copy too, thanks, Scher. :)

[Scheherazade]

Glad you will be joining us, Riesa! :)

A new copy?

[papayahed]

Oh carp! I can't find my copy, I guess I'll hit the library.

[Virgil]

I would like to, but no time I'm afraid. I can't keep deviating from my reading list. I already committed to Irving in next nmonths read. And that was also a deviation.

[kilted exile]

What kind of library is closed on a friday? I'll try and stop in tomorrow to get a copy

[Riesa]

I would like to, but no time I'm afraid. I can't keep deviating from my reading list. I already committed to Irving in next nmonths read. And that was also a deviation.


It's not a very long book, virg, come on! you can do it. :p just spend a little less time drooling over young Italians and get busy reading. :lol: :lol: :lol:

sorry. :blush:

[Riesa]

Glad you will be joining us, Riesa! :)

A new copy?

looking forward to it...

a new copy? ummm. :confused: as opposed to an old copy? I am never lucky enough to actually find the book I'm looking for in a used book store, or the library for that matter. Barnes and Nobles it is, I'm afraid. :)

[avidreader7]

I think you can order used books via Amazon quite inexpensively. A friend keeps sending me links re: Kurt's Take On Things. I'm getting overwhelmed by URLS. Maybe a few of you will enjoy his artwork below:

http://www.stanford.edu/~ablaser/art.html

I had another which accessed an interview re: his paintings & other Arty Things but can't locate it right now. He had an interesting take on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony...which is always neat to explore. Maybe someone else will stumble across it online.

Slaughterhouse is wonderful...but it's super intense in parts, too, needless to say. The Tralfalmadorians help goofy things up alot, though. (Aliens).

I need to read Cat's Cradle again at some point.

It's great to see Billy Pilgrim lives on. He sure had a rough go of it. It'll be cool to participate in discussions next weekend. Thanks for the opportunity to explore this book further.

[Scheherazade]

What kind of library is closed on a friday? I'll try and stop in tomorrow to get a copyThe one that is open over the weekends, surely! Here usually they close midweek, too, to be able to be open at the weekend.
looking forward to it...

a new copy? ummm. :confused: as opposed to an old copy? Oh, sorry! Thought you meant a new copy, meaning you already had one but were going to get another one for this reading! If that makes sense... :p

[Riesa]

Oh, sorry! Thought you meant a new copy, meaning you already had one but were going to get another one for this reading! If that makes sense... :p

ah, makes perfect sense. actually I do own a copy, but it is at my parents home probably in the attic somewhere along with my high school yearbooks and embarrassing gymnastic and air-band videos. :p that's why I said 'new' copy. I just couldn't follow you. sorry. :)

[kilted exile]

The one that is open over the weekends, surely!

Is it not far more likely that they are just doing this to annoy me? Probably were all sitting in there laughing at me.:bawling: :flare: :bawling:

[Nightshade]

Is it not far more likely that they are just doing this to annoy me? Probably were all sitting in there laughing at me.:bawling: :flare: :bawling:

Ahhh I wish we were closed on a friday somtimes especially today...what a friday :yawnb: oh well got the other book might as well try and get this Im sure we dont have it.

Haha online resevation....humm only 7 copies and 6 have been reserved already...how many people on the litnet live in Cheshire :S

[Scheherazade]

my high school yearbooks and embarrassing gymnastic and air-band videos. :p Maybe we should have a look at those as well! :D
Is it not far more likely that they are just doing this to annoy me? Probably were all sitting in there laughing at me.:bawling: :flare: :bawling:OK, didn't want to hurt your feelings but you are probably right... I can imagine the library staff putting the CLOSED sign on as soon as they see you approaching... ducking under their desks, trying to stifle their gleeful laughters all the while...
how many people on the litnet live in Cheshire :S*whistles*

[Bii]

I just finished Slaughterhouse 5 last week and was so impressed I ordered Cats Cradle and Timequake so I'll be reading them in honour of Kurt Vonnegut. Slaughterhouse 5 is a great book, profound and messed up, just like war. I was so gutted to hear that Kurt Vonnegut died when I only just discovered his fabulous writing.

According to the Trafalmadorians (who you will become familiar with) death means nothing because in all of time everyone is alive at some point.

[cuppajoe_9]

Snagged a copy from the library, and am now reading it for the second time. It's one of the greatest novels written since the Second World War, in my opinion.

[Il Penseroso]

I may have to wait on this one, but I'll definately have to pick up the book for the second time once I find time after the school semester. I went on a Vonnegut binge in highschool; very fine stuff.

[Riesa]

I found a copy at Half-Priced Books today! snagged it! felt like I had won a prize..will start soon. a Vonnegut binge, sounds delicious, better than a pickles or vodka binge. :)

scher, I'll share my high school paraphernalia with you all if you will clean my house for a month. :) I don't know what the greater torture would be, watching me dressed up as Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats or keeping up with the messes my family makes. :p

[cuppajoe_9]

Hey, the yacht owned by the young married couple in the novel is the Sheherazade. Coincidence? Yes.

[Virgil]

I found a copy at Half-Priced Books today! snagged it! felt like I had won a prize..will start soon. a Vonnegut binge, sounds delicious, better than a pickles or vodka binge. :)

scher, I'll share my high school paraphernalia with you all if you will clean my house for a month. :) I don't know what the greater torture would be, watching me dressed up as Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats or keeping up with the messes my family makes. :p

Hey, I would clean your house for a month to see that. :D :p

[Schokokeks]

Hey, the yacht owned by the young married couple in the novel is the Sheherazade. Coincidence? Yes.
I always associate Scher with 1001 Nights ;).

I would love to read Slaughterhouse-Five along with you, but my library doesn't have it, and says it would take "about 5 weeks" to order a copy... :rolleyes: I ordered it nevertheless, maybe they'll make it quicker for a change...

[papayahed]

Alllllll Riiiiiight. I found it at my library.

[avidreader7]

I just finished Slaughterhouse 5 last week and was so impressed I ordered Cats Cradle and Timequake so I'll be reading them in honour of Kurt Vonnegut. Slaughterhouse 5 is a great book, profound and messed up, just like war. I was so gutted to hear that Kurt Vonnegut died when I only just discovered his fabulous writing.

According to the Trafalmadorians (who you will become familiar with) death means nothing because in all of time everyone is alive at some point.

Unfortunately American news is very death ridden today...as I'm sure you already know. Bad U.S. News can be hard. This past month has had some seriously intense "vibes".

Since The Trafalmadorians looked like upside-down toilet plungers it's not surprising they have their own unique view of life, is it.

Yes, S5 is a great book - profound and messed up - just like war. I'm not thinking about Iraq much anymore. Been there done that. There doesn't seem to be an "out" from that abysmal situation....so it's a major downer to contemplate for long.

WW2 is far more interesting, anyway.

I was gutted to hear about KV dying too. He's surely Out And About, though. He was too powerful (and witty) to simply cease.

Nice poem, btw. Quite an impressive first attempt. You'd be foolish not to continue doing the poetry thang.

It's really cool you guys have a sonnet section here. I'm looking forward to checking it out soon. Have a good night. Stay safe

[Virgil]

It's not a very long book, virg, come on! you can do it. :p just spend a little less time drooling over young Italians and get busy reading. :lol: :lol: :lol:

sorry. :blush:

:lol: :lol: Oh Reisa. That made me really laugh. If i get a chance to go to the book store and they have it, I'll pick it up an join. :)

[SleepyWitch]

how long have we got to read it?
I'm reading Wuthering Heights these days and would like to read the Irving book in May....

[malwethien]

I've read it already...a long time ago...I can't remember the details now...

[avidreader7]

I became confused re: threads. I only signed on to clarify my post...that's it. I meant he'll be poking fun of humanity in general between snoozing. Nothing flippant. Ah, just realized I could change it.

Consider buying a small pet if you are feeling a bit glum. Take good care of your loved ones & appreciate nature. Goodnight

[Riesa]

Not much action on this thread.
I was surprised how long it took me to read it this time, I found myself re-reading sentences. That could just be my scattered focus, and not the book's fault. The book as a whole is such an easy read, but the points at times are so subtly made that I had to peer to see them. I liked the chunkiness, and the Trafalmadorian way of writing novels:


"There isn't any particular relationship between all the messages, except that the author has chosen them carefully, so that, when seen all at once, they produce an image of life that is beautiful and surprising and deep. There is no beginning, no middle, no end, no suspense, no moral, no causes, no effects."

I guess Vonnegut is offering a suggestion on how to read this book? though there is a moral in Slaughterhouse-Five, War-Bad.


Consider buying a small pet if you are feeling a bit glum. Take good care of your loved ones & appreciate nature.

good advice.

[Virgil]

I did pick it up Riesa, and i'm a quarter of the way through. I'm a slow reader. Very interesting style. I think it's quite innovative.

The only thing is he pretty much tells you all his themes so I'm not sure what to discuss. I bet someone can initiate something.

[kilted exile]

Ok, the book has finally arrived at the library. I probably have some catching up to do but hopefully I can get it finished by Sunday

[Scheherazade]

I have read 1/4 of it and it is very different from what I was expecting. Wondering how it all come together... The 'author', Billy... Got to read some more...

So I go...

[Il Penseroso]

I'll grab a copy after next Wednesday, perhaps too late, but that's when I have my last final.

I can't remember, is it Slaughterhouse Five where he goes into the various sci-fi tales of Kilgore Trout? I think it might be "God Bless You Mr. Rosewater" but I'm not sure, they've blurred a bit since highschool.

[Riesa]

right, IP. Billy creates scenarios of time-travel based on Kilgore Trout's sci-fi, or else he really does time-travel, if you want to disregard his head injury and war-trauma.

[Il Penseroso]

I meant where Vonnegut gives summaries of Trout's works, not Billy personally. I seem to remember his stories seemed so interesting, and I wondered if they might really have been early pieces Vonnegut wrote.


I'd have to re-read it again closer to make a decision on whether he does time-travel or not. First time through, not really having read much from a post-war experience persepective I just assumed he did really travel through time (or that the author presents it this way as an absurd contrast to real life in war). If that makes sense. In this case I tend to agree with Virgil's assessment of psychoanalytic takes on all behavior. Sometimes absurdity for absurdity's sake is great too.

[Riesa]

He does give summaries of the Trout stories but most seem to reflect Billy's experiences.. Doesn't Trout show up in more than one Vonnegut novel? It's been so long since I've read them. I wonder too if they were early Vonnegut stories.

and I agree, absurdity for absurdity's sake. :)

[Il Penseroso]

Yeah, he shows up in "God Bless You Mr. Rosewater", "Breakfast of Champions", "Jailbird" (I think), and "Cat's Cradle" (which I haven't read). I dig 'im.

[jon1jt]

Hey, I would clean your house for a month to see that. :D :p

to see that one, i'll help by doing the windows, virge! :lol:

[cuppajoe_9]

Trout is the central character in Timequake.

[kilted exile]

Ok, I'm about 1/2way through and this is one of the best things I've read in a while. I really should've picked this up before.

[Scheherazade]

Agree with Kilted that it is one of the best things I have read... Especially after the third chapter, it is proving hard to put down for me.

It is interesting that even though Vonnegut does not make use of any gory descriptions or explicit violence, some of the passages are chilling to read, letting the reader feel exactly how horrendous wars can be. Eg the description of soldiers' transportation to the camps (the very end of Chapter 3 and beginning of Chapter 4, I think?). Everytime Vonnegut says 'humanbeings', one knows that these people are not treated as humanbeings or reduced to something less by the other 'humanbeings' and by the war. They are transported like cattles, they don't have the privacy (and luxury) to use a toilet...

I think it was Riesa who mentioned above that it is a slow read and I agree. Even though I enjoy it very much, I find myself re-reading some passages.

[Schokokeks]

Hmpf, I still don't have my copy ...

[kilted exile]

I finished it this morning, as I said earlier I enjoyed it immensely. He dealt with such serious subjects but at no point was I sad reading it (in fact the majority of the time I was trying to stifle myself from laughing)

[kilted exile]

So I was catching up on a recent copy of sports illustrated & I found this (written shortly after his death):


In 1954, Vonnegut - a talented young writer who confessed to knowing nothing about sports - was hired to write for SI, which had yet to begin publishing. One of his first assignments was to write a caption about a race horse who had jumped the rail at Aqueduct and galloped across the infield. Vonnegut pondered the task, typed one sentence and then walked out of the office, never to return. His caption: The horse jumped over the bleeping fence. SI's loss was literatures gain

From April 23rd, 2007 edition of Sports Illustrated, page 20

[bazarov]

Looks I'll pick it up in my library.

[Weeping Willow]

well what is there to say about this book..
I read it a long time ago.. i think around 5-6 years.. i loved it alot..
although it was not the first i read by him.. its actually a wierd story..
The first book by Mr Vonnegut i recived from a friend during my army service.. and it was in my bag.
I was hypnotized by it and was half way thorought when someone stole my bag and the book with it..
Needless to say i was really sad but the worst part was that it turned up to be that it was not possible to buy this book again since it was out of print..
i fet crap and thought i would never have my chance to read it again.
But luck would have and around 3 years later i was in another friend house
when suddnly i looked on his book shelf and there it was!
My lost book (another copy of course)
of course he gave it tome (or more likely i took it) and finelly was able to finish this amazing book..

so defintly recommended auther..
other good book - the cats cradle

[Schokokeks]

After my library finally had sent it to me, I read it in two days. It really was hard to put down. I especially liked the way it opened, with Vonnegut introducing his situation as a writer. The alien parts were also very interesting, it reminded me a bit of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, though of more philosophical depth.
However, I wouldn't say I was overwhelmed by it. The many many decided "So it goes." were somewhat disturbing to me. I believe they would have been more effective if they had been less numerous.
I wouldn't mind reading it again, though. Probably I should :).

[Stieg]

Picked up my copy the other day. Either I am going to eat major crow or never sway my critical thoughts.