I read this years ago. Re-read it for this book club, but "L" said she couldn't finish it. This proves that you either love or hate this book (hate is a strong word, but if you can't finish the book then...it fits).
This anti-war book is dubbed "The Children's Crusade" in order to highlight that the people sent off to war are mere "babies" (per Mary O'Hare in the book). A massive number are 18, 19 years old. This brutal truth escapes so many who would have their country (whatever country) go to war. Vonnegut's take on it is, "So it goes." A statement that equates to resigned acceptance. It is what it is.
Vonnegut wrote this as Vietnam was exploding. The book came out in 1969 and its anti-war theme was timely.
+++++++++
"Listen. Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time."
This opening sentence tells the reader that Billy is having flashbacks. We also learn that he delves deeply into a fantasy world (of aliens, no less).
++++++++++
This book isn't for everyone. I rather loved it. I love its ability to intersperse brutal war history with a fantasy life of aliens who are don't "do" war. We can fantasize about a world without war along with Vonnegut.
It's possible that the difference between loving and hating this book is a matter of Realist vs...what word to use(?)...avoidance of the Hell of the firebombing of an entire city of helpless women and children (Dresden, Feb 1945). Just as one person cannot stomach reading about incest or lynchings of Blacks in the south or whatever, another person *needs* to read a certain number of these books in order to understand what these "babies" (soldiers) went through...go through still today (in war). At this moment, it's happening in Ukraine.
Time magazine lists this book as one of the "Top 100 English language books."
Thumbs up from me. Thumbs down from L.
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