Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut (1969)

Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut (1969, my edition 1991 Paperback)

Billy Pilgrim is Unstuck in Time'

Part autobiographical and part time travel story what is there to say about this novel? I know some people struggle or actively dislike Vonnegut's prose and style. Other's myself included love it, much has been said on the book. I decided to re-read because Florida decided to ban it and I was due a revisit after 2 decades since my last time.

No matter what, I don't think you can argue the power of Vonnegut's writing about the fire bombing of Dresden. His personal experiences feel viceral on the page. The character framing using the Character Billy Pilgrim as he time travels will either work for you or not.

There are many more in depth reviews out there which I can't add much to so I would suggest reading it and making your own mind up. It's a short read so won't take up much physical time, hopefully though more mental time will be used as you think about it.

I'll leave the final words to Kurt Vonnegut himself which I think sums it up well.

"It is so short and jumbled and jangled, Sam, because there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre. Everybody is supposed to be dead, to never say anything or want anything ever again. Everything is supposed to be very quiet after a massacre, and it always is, except for the birds.

And what do the birds say? All there is to say about a massacre, things like “Poo-tee-weet?”