Slaughterhouse-Five … I want to say I loved it. I want to say I wasn’t disappointed. I want to say I understand the huge cult following that surrounds it. But I am not getting it at all. My first experience of this book was when I was searching Pinterest for cool ideas for my next tattoo. The quote, "Everything is beautiful and nothing hurts" (or something like that) came up. I loved those words. They really spoke to me, and then I came across, "So it goes." I discovered both quotes are from 'Slaughterhouse-Five' and wanted to read the book ever since. I had high expectations of profundity.

I understand (I think) what Vonnegut is trying to say and to do. It’s not that I don’t appreciate his individuality and creative talent. It’s just that I spent the majority of the book bored. And I really wish I didn’t have to say that. If I’m honest, the parts that were written about Billy’s war experiences were the best parts. Maybe it’s that I don’t really ‘do’ SciFi, and that is why I didn’t enjoy the rest of it so much.

The time travel aspect … Seriously? I wondered whether he really was time travelling, or if he was still suffering from the PTSD (or another mental illness) that he developed after the war. His Tralfamadorian experiences may well have been not based in reality. Or, maybe they were. Who knows?

I’m not too keen on the way the narrative leaps all over the place. I’m all up for a bit of jumping around. But I found it really hard to keep up with which place Billy is in. Especially after putting the book down for the night. Most books, I start to read the next day and I’m instantly drawn in to where I left off. Not with this book, though. I guess it is Vonnegut’s way of showing how fractured and fragmented Billy’s life is. How fractured and fragmented most of our minds are. It wouldn’t make sense to tell the story in chronological order. But this was just hard work.

The main themes of this book are war, mental illness (PTSD), love, loss, hate, time travel, aliens. A strange mix of subjects. One that I just wasn’t feeling.

Final point. “So it goes.” Used whenever death is mentioned or people die, or sometimes (I think) just for the heck of it. It is a great tool to use. But this is completely overdone. At first, I thought it was clever. Halfway through the book, it had started to irk me. By the end, I wanted to scream every time I read the words. Maybe Vonnegut’s intention? I’m not sure.

Other than that, the book was okay. That’s the best I can say.

People who like SciFi. Maybe. I don't know. A lot of people adore this book. So, I guess, it's good for a lot of people. Just not for me.

The first quote I mention above.

The lack of plot. I mean, sure, the novel travels over time and space, and in those terms it covers a lot of action. But none of it actually happens for the reader to experience. I don't get it.

Read something I will enjoy.

Disappointed. Frustrated. Confused.

I don't, I'm afraid. However, I know this book has a huge following, so maybe, you should read it and form your own opinion. It kind of reminded me of 'Catcher In The Rye' in the narrative style. So if you like that book, I'm sure you will love this one.

Nothing happens. It didn't make me feel anything. Characters weren't developed.

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Created Jan 25, 2021 at 5:20am • Submit your own review...