I thought I'd kick off the comments for Slaughterhouse Five because I'm the one who suggested we read it. I also voted for it. I read Slaughterhouse Five last Christmas and it's now on my list of all-time favourite books. I can't believe I made it through five years of my creative writing degree without ever having hooked onto Vonnegut. What are they teaching kids these days!
I don't usually read war novels or science fiction and I am adamantly against time travel devices. I couldn't read The Time Traveller's Wife for that reason. The cause and effect just fucks with my brain. So I think it is testament to Vonnegut's golden writing that I loved a book that contained all these elements.
Speaking of Vonnegut's writing style, it's evocative and beautiful without being overwritten. His use of irony and humour means that he can deliver profound ideas about life and death without sounding like a cheesy, self-righteous wanker. Perhaps the best example of this is how he writes 'So it goes' after every mention of death, whether it be 170,000 people in Dresden or the bubbles in a bottle of champagne.
I also love the way Vonnegut manages his time travel device. Usually characters go back in time to change something to prevent the future from happening, which just does my head in. Vonnegut, on the other hand, presents time as unchangeable. Things that happen will always happen, so when Billy Pilgrim goes back or forwards in time, he is re-experiencing his past and future over and over again, unable to change it. Without the cause and effect issue to worry about, I could readily accept Slaughterhouse Five's time travel device - and could therefore appreciate Vonnegut's comments on free will vs powerlessness (and acceptance of that powerlessness). That's another aspect I really enjoyed about SH5 - like all Vonnegut's works, it was compelling on a conceptual level too.
To wrap up, I think Slaughterhouse Five is well deserving of its modern classic status. I hope you all enjoyed it too and am looking forward to reading your thoughts on this blog.
I've failed the challenge. I have yet to read the book. I have only just ordered it online - since it was such a struggle to find. However, I must admitt, I was completely useless in my search, only going to some high-street book stores.
I have ordered it because of your recommendation and I look forward to being educated and edified.
I thought I'd kick off the comments for Slaughterhouse Five because I'm the one who suggested we read it. I also voted for it. I read Slaughterhouse Five last Christmas and it's now on my list of all-time favourite books. I can't believe I made it through five years of my creative writing degree without ever having hooked onto Vonnegut. What are they teaching kids these days!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually read war novels or science fiction and I am adamantly against time travel devices. I couldn't read The Time Traveller's Wife for that reason. The cause and effect just fucks with my brain. So I think it is testament to Vonnegut's golden writing that I loved a book that contained all these elements.
Speaking of Vonnegut's writing style, it's evocative and beautiful without being overwritten. His use of irony and humour means that he can deliver profound ideas about life and death without sounding like a cheesy, self-righteous wanker. Perhaps the best example of this is how he writes 'So it goes' after every mention of death, whether it be 170,000 people in Dresden or the bubbles in a bottle of champagne.
I also love the way Vonnegut manages his time travel device. Usually characters go back in time to change something to prevent the future from happening, which just does my head in. Vonnegut, on the other hand, presents time as unchangeable. Things that happen will always happen, so when Billy Pilgrim goes back or forwards in time, he is re-experiencing his past and future over and over again, unable to change it. Without the cause and effect issue to worry about, I could readily accept Slaughterhouse Five's time travel device - and could therefore appreciate Vonnegut's comments on free will vs powerlessness (and acceptance of that powerlessness). That's another aspect I really enjoyed about SH5 - like all Vonnegut's works, it was compelling on a conceptual level too.
To wrap up, I think Slaughterhouse Five is well deserving of its modern classic status. I hope you all enjoyed it too and am looking forward to reading your thoughts on this blog.
I've failed the challenge. I have yet to read the book. I have only just ordered it online - since it was such a struggle to find. However, I must admitt, I was completely useless in my search, only going to some high-street book stores.
ReplyDeleteI have ordered it because of your recommendation and I look forward to being educated and edified.
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