Remembering Kurt Vonnegut: 'Slaughterhouse-Five'

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Originally Posted by cuppajoe_9

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

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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...

Alllllll Riiiiiight. I found it at my library.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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

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Originally Posted by Riesa

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:

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: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. :)

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....

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

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

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:

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"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."

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

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

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good advice.

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.

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

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...

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.

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.

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.

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. :)