Barron's Book Notes

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View books by William Bly.

Just brilliant - Rated
I read Slaughterhouse-Five three times and enjoyed every part of it those moments that I occupied myself with the book. Vonnegut is an amazing writer, so creative, brilliant, clever and witty that some of his words are difficult to forget. This was the first book I read by Kurt Vonnegut, and it was recommended to me by a friend. While I was reading it the first time, I tried to understand why it had become so much of a talked about read. At the end of it, I understood. As someone who witnessed the Dresden bombing, the author portrayed his insight of war through the character of Billy Pilgrim, who was serving the US army during World War II a private. It is a fantastic anti-war book, or more a book with a sobering effect on war mongers. The overwhelming destruction of picturesque and artistic Dresden, by Allied bombers is at the centre of the book. The alien part of it was marvelous. This book is easy to understand, the setting is great and the pace is fast, confirmed by the fact that I lost my attention for a minute while reading the book until the last words. This is a book to recommend to any reader who accepts the realities of life.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

Don't read this one first - Rated
I am an avid Vonnegut lover, his books hit society below the belt. This book no matter profound is jumbled and confusing. If you want to pick up Vonnegut start somewhere else. Although this is his most acclaimed book I think it is the worst. Don't start reading Vonnegut here.

Read it twice! - Rated
Slaughter-House Five is a great book. It flows casually, and gives you a sense of turning through a book of photographs with a common theme. Threads of Vonnegut's forever groping mind wind their way throughout this book of awesome proportions. Read it, buy it, and read it again.

Vonnegut ammused me with his unpredictable satire. - Rated
Vonnegut (on whom I am writing my senior research paper) is a sarcastic and brilliant author, he combines a casual life with the extrodinary events of war, science fiction, and a human reaction to relevance, morality, religion, and society. He preaches that we are all, at some point destined to be completely unsatisfied with ourselves becuase of experiences that we have gone through, and therefore, will realise the idiocy of living life in accordance with the society that surrounds us. Funny, and concise. Made me pnder the meaning of life....well, not really.

I love Vonnegut but this was a tough read. - Rated
The time jumps are dizzying. Still I always remember Vonnegut characters vividly, I love strange characters.