That’s Vonnegut. Sounds like a plea for decency, if not on the page, at least in the real world. I wonder if he felt like he needed to go “wash out [his] brain” after Dresden? You’d expect that retrieving charcoal corpses might “toughen [one's] skin” beyond the capacity to feel, much less write “one of the most beautiful pieces of literature [you've] ever read” …

For the record, my jury’s still out on the book. I just finished it for the first time on Thursday, and up until about the last 20 pages, it was soon to top my list of all-time favorites. It’s one of the most beautiful pieces of literature I’ve ever read; for me, a vast majority of the book was truly inspiring (yes, I understand that that’s a strange thing to be saying about plunger aliens and firebombed cities, but so be it). It’s tragic and humiliating and awe-inspiring, but most of all, it made me dig deeply into my preconceived notions about war and human nature and the reality of our agency. The book tangles with things we often consider to be “gospel topics” artistically and (for the most part) with a hands-off delicacy that, I believe, truly forces a reader to examine and reevaluate his own beliefs. I see it as an invaluable primer to Postmodern literature as a whole and to several of the issues our politicians are still tangling with today.

However–and this is a big caveat–I don’t feel comfortable recommending the book. To anyone. Setting a sprinkling of sexual scenes aside, I can’t advocate a text that includes those “last 20 pages” I already made mention of. Chris, don’t feel wrong for making an opposition to the text, because as has been said, it certainly isn’t for everyone; in all actuality, I’m not convinced it’s for anyone. If I could somehow remove the section(s?) of the book that peddle such wanton, graphic pornography without destroying the artistic integrity of the novel (and I speak here of the moral dilemma of changing an author’s intended presentation, not from of any perceived merit of the material in question), I would feel comfortable giving Slaughterhouse-Five a cautious thumbs-up. As it stands, though, Billy’s nighttime adventures in downtown New York are too fresh in my mind to leave me comfortable. Even now I feel like I need to go wash out my brain.

Of course, this is only my perspective. I’m sure that the parts of the book that bothered me so much wouldn’t be problematic for many readers. Coming adventures into Postmodern lit via some of my English classes (at BYU, no less) will probably serve to “toughen my skin,” such as it is. I’m just not sure that I want to be toughened.

http://www.slweekly.com/article.cfm/feature

Vonnegut, by the way, was extremely pleased with the film.

I also reread the For the Strenght of Youth pamphlet on media. (Incidentally, I also read other sections and was really impressed with the content and tone. It made me feel good to read it and know these were the standards we set for our youth, and for all of us.) It states, “Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable.”

Of course it is for each person to determine what is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic. For myself I felt good reading the book. As I stated in a previous comment, what might seem vulgar in another context seemed tragic and necessary. Others might respond differently. In my opinion, the book *definitely* does not present any of these situations as acceptable; any immorality, etc is performed by very depressed, hopeless, desperate people who find no happiness in their behavior.

There was an old saying (maybe even a quote) that the grass would never grow where Brigham Young spat when he thought about lawyers. I think that sentiment is a pretty good description of Chris’ apparent feelings about Vonnegut (and perhaps anyone who praises Vonnegut). I read Slaughterhouse Five. I do not recall the vulgarity to which Chris alludes, but it has been many years.

My recollection is that I found the book disturbing and thought provoking, and one that I would have recommended (and did recommend to my children, a couple of whom have read it). Given Chris’ reaction, I should probably read it again to see if his view is correct and my recollection incorrect.

I did like the humor excerpt by Vonnegut republished in the Atlantic this month. I do not think there was any vulgarity in it (but I suppose I better re-read it).

And so it goes.