Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Josie | Allentown High School, Grade 11

Rating: *****

Slaughterhouse Five follows the time-warping and traveling experiences of Billy Pilgrim. The nonlinear and non-chronological story follows various events of Billy’s life from marrying his wife to plane crashes to war to alien abduction. At the Battle of Bulge, Billy experiences his first shift in time and, due to his lack of spatial awareness, is captured by Germans. He spends his time as a POW getting to know the Englishman who were also captured. In 1967 and simultaneously experienced by Billy, he is captured by the green aliens of Tramalfadore. The time sensitive aliens educate Billy on his experiences and the idea that life goes on replaying itself even after death.

Due to the overlapping timelines of this book, it can be a bit confusing to read. But with a bit more attention and maybe a few post-it notes, the themes become clear. This is a book meant to subtly deter people from the glorification of war. Billy experiences its horrors with a nonchalant attitude and lives a comfortable post-war life, but his mental deterioration speaks volumes on the effects of war. And as a time traveling veteran, the theme of becoming comfortable with death is heavily prevalent. The endearing advice of the themes are delivered through morbid jokes and stories just as a good dark comedy should. Slaughterhouse Five is an extremely interesting book that perfectly serves Vonnegut’s purpose without the reader even noticing.