A strange book that was strangely very good.
It had its ups and downs, ups and downs.
Another book scratched off my tbr list.
So it goes.

n  “All this happened, more or less.”n

As suspected, a re-read of this post-modern classic anti-war novel brings the big picture into sharper focus. The out-of-order narrative and the science-fiction trappings of the "unstuck in time" Tralfamadorian aliens—whose fatalistic view of existence, seeing all moments as predetermined and inevitable, could be interpreted as a parody of Christianity’s concepts of divine plan and eternal life—are underscored by dark, ironic humor. Vonnegut explores the violence of war and its terrible aftermath, based largely on his own experiences after witnessing the firebombing of Dresden in WWII. What emerges is an enduring commentary on human reaction to death and tragedy, highlighting the absurdity of seeking meaning in senseless suffering.

n  “...there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre. Everybody is supposed to be dead, to never say anything or want anything ever again. Everything is supposed to be very quiet after a massacre, and it always is, except for the birds. And what do the birds say? All there is to say about a massacre, things like "Poo-tee-weet?”n



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ORIGINAL REVIEW 2017

I was tempted to write a review using a bunch of various short ideas, in non-linear order, with some cameo appearances by characters from my other reviews, tied all together by one massively tragic event like the firebombing of Dresden along with an alien abduction by the Tralfamadorians, and insert the phrase "so it goes" 100 times or so. My first Vonnegut. Not gonna be my last.