Reviews

a book at its core about suffering. vonnegut writes a compelling book about ptsd, dissociation, and the spoils of war. so it goes. the scene towards the end where an air force marshall makes sure that billy knows the bombing he was a victim of was absolutely necessary is one of the most telling; begging the victims of these attacks to acknowledge the necessity of it to lessen the damage and culpability of him in the attacks no
matter how limited his involvement is. so it goes.

estifanos's review against another edition

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2.0

I went into this novel with high expectations, given its reputation as a literary classic, but I found the non-linear storytelling and fantastical elements to be more confusing than compelling.

Vonnegut's protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, randomly time travels throughout different periods of his life, including his experiences as a prisoner of war during the bombing of Dresden. While I can appreciate the author's attempt to capture the disorientation of trauma, the fragmented narrative structure made it difficult for me to connect with the characters or follow the plot in a meaningful way.

Additionally, the science fiction elements, such as Billy's abduction by aliens, felt like an unnecessary distraction that detracted from the more grounded, autobiographical aspects of the story. At times, I found myself rolling my eyes at the absurdity of certain scenes rather than being drawn into the emotional journey.

That said, I can recognize the novel's cultural significance and Vonnegut's skilled use of dark humor to explore the horrors of war. However, the experimental style and blend of genres simply didn't resonate with me on a personal level. I finished the book feeling frustrated and unsatisfied, wishing Vonnegut had taken a more straightforward approach.

Ultimately, "

cellardoor10's review against another edition

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What a weird book. I liked it better than Fahrenheit 451, but I'm still thoroughly uncertain what happened in this one

hopdot's review against another edition

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dark funny sad fast-paced

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

4.5

lovemyshelf's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny informative inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

adbeyneler's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

jazzhensley's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Vonnegut writes beautifully. I thoroughly enjoyed the way he tells the story and I was inspired by his mastery of prose. I hope to learn from elements of his writing style and apply them to my own work in different settings.

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