Reviews

A very well done book that isn't in my style or genre.

Deeply personal, reflective, and emotional in a resigned way. Jumps quickly around a number of time periods, cycling back between them a number of times until each arc is completed. That keeps the book moving and makes it an easy read.

Conveys the nihilism and hopeless acceptance required to survive tragedy, while challenging that as an ultimately inhumane and psychotic response that should never let us minimize the magnitude of evil simply because it can be (for a lucky few) endured; placing the blame for that response on those who initiate and wage war, not the children in the trenches.

Refutes the ideal of the heroic strong manly glorious soldier. The reality of much warfare is suffered by young men who have little personal stake beyond trying to make it out alive and many are much closer to boys than men.

paigerini's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I picked this up on a whim from the library simply because of its reputation as a classic. I enjoy books that make me think; boy, this one made me think.

Billy Pilgrim travels to different points in his life when he is transported to a planet called Tralfamadore, where the inhabitants are fourth-dimensional beings and experience time differently. To them, everything has always happened, is always happening, and always will happen. Learning from them, Billy looks back at his life differently, from his upbringing to being a prisoner of war in WWII to his family. The novel explores how Billy perceives his strife and trauma in a unique light.

I've always liked historical pieces (though it wasn't super historical when it was written), so I loved hearing about the experiences of a prisoner of war near the end of WWII, especially since Billy's story was based heavily on the true stories of Vonnegut himself. While reading, I could see and feel how writing this novel could have helped Vonnegut process his emotions surrounding the events he witnessed.

This book is masterfully written, and I thoroughly enjoyed the philosophical questions it brought up about free will and war. This book may not be for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are looking to get into classics, I highly recommend it!

natalieballenger's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

More...