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Garima's Reviews > Slaughterhouse-Five
Slaughterhouse-Five
by
I finally read Vonnegut. I finally read a war novel. And after a long time I finally read something with so many GR ratings and a decent number of reviews which is precisely the reason I have nothing much to add to the already expressed views here. So I urge you to indulge me to state a personal anecdote. Thank You.
My Grandfather was a POW during Indo-China war and remained in confinement for some six months. By the time I got to know about it I had already watched too many movies and crammed endless number of answers about when and where such n such war was fought. But I was naïve and let’s assume innocent and someone who was yet to learn to ask the right questions. So the fact that someone so close in the family had witness something I only read in schoolbooks was utterly fascinating for me. Thus began my streak of stupid questions.
Me: Did you kill someone? Did they torture you? Did you dig some sort of tunnel to escape? And so on.
My Grandpa gave this hearty laugh he is famous for and said that I’m missing one important question: Why the war happened at first place? I thought for a while and answered: Because it always happens.
I can’t recall properly what he replied to that but it was something on the lines of this: I wish the answer changes when you’ll grow up because as of now that’s exactly how it is. War always happens.
With books like Slaughterhouse-Five (Schlachthöf-fünf), it’s not the writing which matters but simply the ideas and thoughts it carries which transgresses the literary boundaries and create a place in the heart of the readers as a humble reminder that Love happens, Hate happens, Life happens, Death happens, Peace happens, War happens and sometimes Shit happens.
by
Garima's review
bookshelves: its-not-you-its-meta-or-gfhrytyt, funny-funsome-sarcasome, my-2-cents
May 23, 2012
bookshelves: its-not-you-its-meta-or-gfhrytyt, funny-funsome-sarcasome, my-2-cents
I finally read Vonnegut. I finally read a war novel. And after a long time I finally read something with so many GR ratings and a decent number of reviews which is precisely the reason I have nothing much to add to the already expressed views here. So I urge you to indulge me to state a personal anecdote. Thank You.
My Grandfather was a POW during Indo-China war and remained in confinement for some six months. By the time I got to know about it I had already watched too many movies and crammed endless number of answers about when and where such n such war was fought. But I was naïve and let’s assume innocent and someone who was yet to learn to ask the right questions. So the fact that someone so close in the family had witness something I only read in schoolbooks was utterly fascinating for me. Thus began my streak of stupid questions.
Me: Did you kill someone? Did they torture you? Did you dig some sort of tunnel to escape? And so on.
My Grandpa gave this hearty laugh he is famous for and said that I’m missing one important question: Why the war happened at first place? I thought for a while and answered: Because it always happens.
I can’t recall properly what he replied to that but it was something on the lines of this: I wish the answer changes when you’ll grow up because as of now that’s exactly how it is. War always happens.
With books like Slaughterhouse-Five (Schlachthöf-fünf), it’s not the writing which matters but simply the ideas and thoughts it carries which transgresses the literary boundaries and create a place in the heart of the readers as a humble reminder that Love happens, Hate happens, Life happens, Death happens, Peace happens, War happens and sometimes Shit happens.
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Reading Progress
May 23, 2012
– Shelved
May 15, 2013
–
Started Reading
May 16, 2013
–
Finished Reading
May 17, 2013
– Shelved as:
its-not-you-its-meta-or-gfhrytyt
October 8, 2013
– Shelved as:
funny-funsome-sarcasome
October 11, 2013
– Shelved as:
my-2-cents
Comments Showing 1-50 of 61 (61 new)
message 1:
by
Geoff
(new)
May 17, 2013 08:02AM
Ooh that last paragraph! Perfect.
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Wonderful, thoughtful, personal approach. The perfect way to review a much reviewed book.
Thanks a lot everyone!
That's wonderful, Garima.
Tony wrote: "That's wonderful, Garima."Thanks Tony. :)
Yes! Like Jeffrey said, and so it goes... Poignant review, Garima.
Traveller wrote: "Yes! Like Jeffrey said, and so it goes... Poignant review, Garima."
So it goes indeed. I'm glad that this phrase showed in the comment thread. Thanks Trav.
Just loved it,Garima! It reminded me of my late Grandmom and made me kind of nostalgic. So, really thank you for that...:)
Rakhi wrote: "Just loved it,Garima! It reminded me of my late Grandmom and made me kind of nostalgic. So, really thank you for that...:)"Aw Rakhi, thank you so much. I just hope you didn't cry and in that case accept my apologies. and thanks once again.
Garima wrote: "Rakhi wrote: "Just loved it,Garima! It reminded me of my late Grandmom and made me kind of nostalgic. So, really thank you for that...:)"Aw Rakhi, thank you so much. I just hope you didn't cry an..."
Oh, don't Garima! I am glad and reliving the memories :)
Yet again, personal, heartfelt and poignant... lovely :)
@Rakhi- Well, Good to know that. @Tej- Thanks for your encouraging words, Tej.
This is really fantastic - and if KV were able to read it I am certain that he would echo all of our high opinions. Thank you for making the review personal. Those are my favorites to read of GR chums!
So the fact that someone so close in the family had witness something I only read in schoolbooks was utterly fascinating for me.I don't know what your history classes were like but mine were pretty much endless regurgitations of cold facts and dates. The human aspect of history -- that people lived through it and its horrors firsthand -- gets glossed over far too often, making it so easy for future generations to lose sight of the tipping points and increasing our risk of repeating so many terrible mistakes. It's wonderful that your grandfather offered you his own history as a flesh-and-blood example.
Your anecdote stands as a heartfelt review. Your last paragraph alone is a powerhouse of insight and a spot-on, neatly wrapped package that embodies so many truths.
I'm so glad that your first sampling of Vonnegut was a success, Garima. This book is what made me a fan of his.
Goosebumpy review Garima ...you've got that magic touch with words, they reach out and embrace you. I just loved your it. Thanks for sharing.
Brian wrote: "This is really fantastic - and if KV were able to read it I am certain that he would echo all of our high opinions. Thank you for making the review personal. Those are my favorites to read of GR ..."
Thank you, Brian. Making it a bit personal was the only way I could have expressed what it was like to read this book. I really appreciate your kind words.
Madeleine wrote: "So the fact that someone so close in the family had witness something I only read in schoolbooks was utterly fascinating for me.I don't know what your history classes were like but mine were pret..."
The human aspect of history was mainly limited to India's independence struggle but when it came to world wars then yes, it was all about facts, figures, which city was bombed first, etc. We didn't receive Reality check and that's one reason it's important to read books out of the run-of-the-mill school curriculum.
And a big THANK YOU! I was high on emotions while writing that last para and glad that it resonated with you. Also it was an auspicious first step into the world of Vonnegut writing. He definitely deserve all the praise he gets.
Dolors wrote: "Goosebumpy review Garima ...you've got that magic touch with words, they reach out and embrace you. I just loved your it. Thanks for sharing."Thanks a lot my dear Dolors. You also carry a magic touch in your words which always brings a smile to my face.
Awesome review G!
Stephen M wrote: "Awesome review G!"Thanks Stephen! Happy to receive your appreciation.
Stephen M wrote: "Awesome review G!"Glad to see you after so long,Stephen!
Thanks Rakhi! It's good to be back!
What a charming little passage about your grandfather! Thanks for sharing, Garima. :)
Thanks a lot for reading and liking it Kyle.
You, your grandfather and Vonnegut shared great wisdom. And as you said, it's unfortunate that this inevitability is a part of our human existence. I'm another fan of your personal touch here, Garima. Your grandfather must have been a remarkable man to have regained laughter after his POW experiences.
Steve wrote: "You, your grandfather and Vonnegut shared great wisdom. And as you said, it's unfortunate that this inevitability is a part of our human existence. I'm another fan of your personal touch here, G..."
Thank you so much, Steve. My grandpa was pretty young when he was taken as prisoner and it was definitely an unfortunate experience but like you said he was and still is a remarkable man *touch wood*. I just thought that the little conversation I had with him was fitting to talk something about this book and I'm glad you liked it.
Sorry to have applied the wrong verb tense, Garima. Yes, your grandfather is remarkable, and I'm sure he is proud of his granddaughter.
Steve wrote: "Sorry to have applied the wrong verb tense, Garima. Yes, your grandfather is remarkable, and I'm sure he is proud of his granddaughter."Oh no problem, Steve! I hope he is proud of me because if nothing else, I think I'm an ok human being, haha!
Okay, this review is incredible. That last paragraph is a battlecry of awesomeness. Glad you enjoyed this. I remember reading it in high school (we had Cat's Cradle required) and thinking it was mind blowing incredible. Good to see that is confirmed, i've sort of feared revisiting him. I like how you say its the ideas here, because how cool are they!? I love how well he manages to reflect all time happening in a single instant through the structure. You know what happens before the events happen, and then he mostly skips the 'happening' because by then they are irrelevant ha. Fantastic review, sounds like you have a wise Grandfather. Great work Garima. Or should I say GARMIA (Great Amazing Reviewer Makes Incredible Accomplishment) okay. yeah, thats a stretch (not what was said, because that is true, just the acronym in general). and terrible. I was looking for justification of all my bad past-mispellings. Great review!
s.penkevich wrote: "Okay, this review is incredible. That last paragraph is a battlecry of awesomeness. Glad you enjoyed this. I remember reading it in high school (we had Cat's Cradle required) and thinking it was mi..."The Great Sven comment which alone fulfill the compliments quota one require every now and then to feel good about oneself, haha! Your high school was cool to have such books as a compulsory reading and I understand your fear of revisiting. Let the old impressions remain as it is though I'm sure Vonnegut's writing has the ability to stand the test of time. The structure he applied and the temporal shifts in the narrative made the message all the more striking. And Thank You! I really won't mind any further spelling mistakes of my name from now on. You've justified yourself in style ;)
Garima, Sven speaks the truth. I suppose if we were give him to a taste of his own medicine we'd say:SVEN = Supplier of Verisimilitude and Encouraging Notes
Steve wrote: "Garima, Sven speaks the truth. I suppose if we were give him to a taste of his own medicine we'd say:SVEN = Supplier of Verisimilitude and Encouraging Notes"
And here's a reallyyy bad attempt from my side, Steve. Hope you'll appreciate the thought behind the creation :P
Supreme Talent in Expressing with Vogue and Elegance.
Haha, I appreciate both the thought and the execution, Garima! (And I know how hard V's can be.)
Garima wrote: "Steve wrote: "Garima, Sven speaks the truth. I suppose if we were give him to a taste of his own medicine we'd say:SVEN = Supplier of Verisimilitude and Encouraging Notes"
And here's a reallyyy..."
I love it Garima!
te-hee, Thanks, Lynne and Steve!
I feel a bit silly today Garima. Doesn't happen too often but then both you and Steve have had that effect on me. Is Sven really Sven, I thought he liked being called Penky?
Well Steve is smart, I'm the silly one ;)Sven is not really Sven. He's the king of endless monikers. Some call him Spenx, Spenky and there are others who call him Spenk, Steve and like you, Penky. What S really stands for is a mystery Lynne.
Garima wrote: "Well Steve is smart, I'm the silly one ;):That's funny, I had it figured the other way around. :-)
Lynne wrote: "Is Sven really Sven, I thought he liked being called Penky?"
It's not common knowledge, but Sven is actually Steve. He graciously cedes the more common name to those of us who lack the creativity to choose otherwise. BTW, now that Steve Kendall has changed his moniker, I'm feeling conspicuously boring as just plain Steve.
@Lynne, I think your silliness has been contagious.
Ha, yes, s is for Secret! But Penky was what everyone called me most of my life.Let the old impressions remain as it is though I'm sure Vonnegut's writing has the ability to stand the test of time...
Good to hear. I really should read up more of his short stories as well. I used to own Welcome to the Monkey House, and there were some real gems in there. I lent it out before I'd finished it though and never got it back. Definitely check out some of those if you get a chance.
And yes, justified, I'll take that haha. I knew Steve would be the right one for that task though!
Steve wrote: "Garima wrote: "Well Steve is smart, I'm the silly one ;):That's funny, I had it figured the other way around. :-)
Lynne wrote: "Is Sven really Sven, I thought he liked being called Penky?"
It'..."
Given the creativity of your reviews, I'm sure you can come up with really cool aliases, Steve. But plain Steve is not at all boring. Also I noticed your surname which is really umm, hot, hehe.
s.penkevich wrote: "Ha, yes, s is for Secret! But Penky was what everyone called me most of my life.Let the old impressions remain as it is though I'm sure Vonnegut's writing has the ability to stand the test of tim..."
One simply does not lend the books. You never get them back. And thanks for the recommendation. I'll try to read most of the books written by him.
Garima wrote: "Also I noticed your surname which is really umm, hot, hehe."Haha, don't be misled, Garima. Would a weed by any other name not be as scraggly?
Steve wrote: "Garima wrote: "Also I noticed your surname which is really umm, hot, hehe."Haha, don't be misled, Garima. Would a weed by any other name not be as scraggly?"
Bad metaphor in your case! but good in a Shakespearean sort of way.
Steve wrote: "Garima wrote: "Well Steve is smart, I'm the silly one ;):That's funny, I had it figured the other way around. :-)
Lynne wrote: "Is Sven really Sven, I thought he liked being called Penky?"
It'..."
Steve, better not change your avatar, bc for a few of us you are known as Rubick's cube Steve. XD
Too many Steves!
Haha, fair enough, Traveller.
The thing I love about GR is that both literature and Members' reviews transcend geography, and Wisdom, Understanding, Friendship, and Happiness happen, and for a moment it seems like the next war is a little bit further away. In this way, India is making an enormous contribution to world peace. Thanks, Garima.
Ian wrote: "The thing I love about GR is that both literature and Members' reviews transcend geography, and Wisdom, Understanding, Friendship, and Happiness happen, and for a moment it seems like the next war ..."Ian, those are some really wise words there and thanks for the same. I second with whatever you said. We all are making this world a better place to live. We should get Nobel Peace Prize, Yes! ;)
Garima,You're like Steve (the Rubik cube as you call him!) in that you're always say the right thing at the appropriate time. I wish that I could do that. I'm very good at putting my big foot in it.
