Summary from GoodReads:

Kurt Vonnegut’s absurdist classic Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes unstuck in time after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all phases of his life, concentrating on his (and Vonnegut’s) shattering experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden.
Don’t let the ease of reading fool you–Vonnegut’s isn’t a conventional, or simple, novel. He writes, “There are almost no characters in this story, and almost no dramatic confrontations, because most of the people in it are so sick, and so much the listless playthings of enormous forces. One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters…” Slaughterhouse-Five (taken from the name of the building where the POWs were held) is not only Vonnegut’s most powerful book, it is as important as any written since 1945. Like Catch- 22, it fashions the author’s experiences in the Second World War into an eloquent and deeply funny plea against butchery in the service of authority. Slaughterhouse-Five boasts the same imagination, humanity, and gleeful appreciation of the absurd found in Vonnegut’s other works, but the book’s basis in rock-hard, tragic fact gives it a unique poignancy–and humor.

My Review:

I have struggled with this book for the last three days.  I was tempted more than once to put it down and just not finish it.  At the 50 page mark, 100 page mark, 150 pages mark.. each milestone I struggled with that temptation and each time I made myself read a little bit more.

Contrary to what the GoodReads summary says about Slaughterhouse-Five, this was not  book that contained an “ease of reading” for me.  It took a bit for me to grow accustomed to the jumping about through time and space to follow the story, but once I settled into a groove that aspect of the book became a bit clearer.

What I struggled with was the supernatural aspect of the book – reading about another planet, the zoo, being put on display, was just.. awkward and strange for me.  I understand (I think!) why Kurt Vonnegut put those sections in the book, but it didn’t make the book more enjoyable to me.

I understand that this is a great anti-war book and Slaughterhouse-Five does paint a very clear picture of how much a single, devastating moment in a war can define a man’s life.  I was horrified while reading the descriptions of the atrocities Billy Pilgrim suffered through and felt deeply impacted every time I read of another tragedy occurring.   But, as Vonnegut repeatedly states, these things happened.. and so it goes.

Check out these review(s):

A Literary Odyssey