So it goes: Slaughterhouse-Five is our next read
Our first reading discussion for chapters 1-3 will be Tuesday, March 4.
The results are in, and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five will be our next read. This 1969 novel tells the story of Billy Pilgrim, an American soldier in WWII, who survives the firebombing of Dresden as a prisoner of war. It features aliens, time travel, and satirical and post-modern elements that make it a sharp departure from The Grapes of Wrath, but it’s a meditation on American meaning and identity all the same.
Our first discussion post for Slaughterhouse-Five will be for chapters 1-3 (around 70 pages) and will be posted on Tuesday, March 4. This should give everybody the necessary time to obtain the book and get the reading started. I won’t burden you with any specific prompts but keep in mind our overarching goal of understanding the American Dream and unpacking the American experience. With that being said, all observations are welcome, whether they be about character or plot or theme or something completely different.
If you didn’t vote for Slaughterhouse-Five, please consider still reading! It’s a shorter book with a ton to unpack and it’s also just a lot of fun. I’m aiming for around 2-3 weeks for this read, after which we will vote for our next title. Our second place finishers, The Underground Railroad and A Visit from the Goon Squad, will be back on that ballot! The results for this read’s poll are below.
Thanks again for everybody who signed up over the past few weeks, whether you’re an old friend or an internet stranger. The Great American Book Club was conceived as a community and public forum first and foremost, and that is why your participation is essential.
Also, if you have anybody in your life who you think might be interested, please let them know about The Great American Book Club. It’s difficult to promote the club when we are mid-read, so these times between books are the best chances I have to grow the community.
That’s all for now. Let’s get ready for some Vonnegut. See you Tuesday!
