Book 37: Finished.

In my last post, I talked about Vonnegut's style and his way of writing a distinct anti-war book.

However, his book is often classified as slightly science-fiction, since there is a lot of conversation about time and place.

Now, stick with me, but in numerous portions of the book, Billy Pilgrim (the main character) travels to another world where he is on display as a representative from Earth. This serves a great purpose for helping to explain Vonnegut's point.

The novel does not flow in a linear fashion like readers are used to. We are used to things going in order, as they happen, with perhaps a minor flashback or two. That is not the case in Slaughterhouse-Five. At times it can be really difficult to see when and where Billy is, since he flows in and out of his own life and memories.

It is really this concept of time that makes the novel more powerful. Time and its movement is also the driving force behind the TV show LOST. I read this novel when I did in part to coincide with the LOST Books Challenge, so I have to explain both because they are very similar. In LOST, the characters have flashbacks and flashforwards, and sometimes even flashsideways. For many people who have tried to watch the show, this has become confusing. Moving in and out of time with characters is disorienting since you don't see them live their life in order. It is only after seeing a flashback that we understand who and what they are. Then the story falls into place.

Vonnegut's book is the same way. Billy changes age and location throughout the novel. And while the book is written about the Dresden bombings, the bombing doesn't take place until nearly the end. And there is a reason for that. By manipulating time and the linear structure of the book, Vonnegut helps explain who Billy was before the bombings, and the man he became after. Essentially, all events in a person's life shape them into who they are.

Vonnegut hints at this using the aliens I mentioned before. They try to explain to Billy their own concept of time. Here are some of their thoughts:

"Earthlings are the great explainers, explaining why this event is structured as it is, telling how other events may be achieved or avoided. I am a Tralfamadorian, seeing all time as you might see a stretch of the Rocky Mountains. All time is time. It does not change. It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is. Take it moment by moment, and you will find that we are all, as I've said before, bugs in amber," (85-86).

"If what Billy Pilgrim learned from the Tralfamadorians is true, that we will all live forever, no matter how dead we may sometimes seem to be, I am not overjoyed. Still-if I am going to spend eternity visiting this moment and that, I'm grateful that so many of those moments are nice," (211).

To them, time is nothing. They can see each memory and moment at once and that influences their life. There is no separation between who they once were and who they are now because they are always all of that in one. That is an interesting concept of time, and one that LOST uses fairly well.

The TV show's characters move in and out of time just like Billy Pilgrim and while the view thinks, "Wow, that is different from how I saw them" it is not different than how the character saw him or herself. They have always been that way and always will be. Their memories and pasts have turned them into who they are, just as their futures will continue them down that path.

You can think of it in your own life. We all have moments that have made us who we are, but the moments never really leave us. They have transformed us and we can recall it in an instant by simply remembering it.

It is heavy to think about-time. But Vonnegut does it well and it serves his story. When Billy finally gets to Dresden and lives through the bombing, it all makes sense. The bombing is a part of him that he will never forget. It changed him and made him into who he is. It forever altered his life and will always remain with him.

Book 37: So it Goes.

One of the things I love most about Kurt Vonnegut is that he always writes his books in a way where the reader is left wondering if he has a point. Saying it that makes it seem like a horrible way of writing so I have to explain what I mean.

In Slaughterhouse-Five Vonnegut begins by writing the tale in first person, from his own point of view. His reasons for writing the book are discussed in the beginning. During WWII, Vonnegut was in Dresden during the fire bombings. It was a horrible massacre and killed thousands of people, but was hushed up for years after. Vonnegut is haunted by what he saw there and his own experiences, so his goal is to write a book about his experiences.

Then the narrative switches to a man named Billy Pilgrim. The book follows Billy as he flows in and out of memories and time-to the moments before he arrived in Dresden, to his present, and to the time when he was happiest.

It is an odd way of telling a story. At first you wonder if Vonnegut is ever going to get to describing the fire bombings in Dresden. He spends pages and pages recounting Billy Pilgrim's life before and after the war, seemingly with no point.

It is only when Billy heads towards Dresden does Vonnegut's point sink in.

It was too difficult for Vonnegut to write about himself and his own experiences, so he created a man that he could throw his troubles on. After seeing he slaughter, Billy goes a little crazy. His life is forever altered by what he saw. That is Vonnegut's point-war changes people and impacts people in a way that those who stayed home can never understand. Billy's family thinks he is crazy because they weren't there. They didn't experience what Billy saw and his daydreams away from his life are his own way of escaping what he experienced.

War does something to the people who were there, and for those who experienced horrible events, like the bombing of Dresden, well, they never forget that. That experience, along with countless others from their lives, stays with them for the rest of their life. It becomes them and changes them in a way we cannot begin to understand.

So when I say you have to wonder if Vonnegut has a point, he always does. He may take a roundabout way of getting there, but he does.

Book 37: Slaughterhouse-Five.

Kurt Vonnegut is one of those writers who create books I am always unsure of. Usually when I finish something by Vonnegut, I have to sit back and marvel at his genius. He is also one of those writers I am scared of. Part of me thinks that while I enjoy his writing, I don't get it the way I am supposed to, and that perhaps I am not smart enough to fully "get" his genius.

However, I love him and his writing. I have not read as many Vonnegut titles as I would like, but whenever I do, I am always telling myself, "you need to read MORE of him." And I am sure that when I finish this, I will say that again.

I just love him and his writing style.

I was a senior in college when he passed away. But I seem to remember a few months earlier an appearance he made on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He was a funny old man, and somewhat cynical. He has very strong liberal views, but I really liked him. I liked what he had to say and how he said it. He said whatever popped into his head and didn't regret it.

Because he was speaking truth and that truth came from a very deep and private part of himself. I admire that.

I am also thinking about my first experience with his work-when I read the short story "Harrison Bergeron" in ninth grade. That story has haunted me for years. I even created a unit on it during my student teaching (I never taught that unit, however), and I would love the opportunity to share the power of that story with teenagers one day.

I also remember reading Cat's Cradle in eleventh grade and thinking that this man must be slightly crazy, but I was awed at the rubbing of feet in his religion: Bokonism.

I also remember staying up late one night reading A Man Without a Country, the only piece of semi-autobiographical work he ever published, and also, one of his last pieces. Up until that point, I never really marked favorite passages in my books. But I spent all night laughing at lines and marking pages with Post-its because I was in awe of his raw honesty. I think I truly fell in love with Vonnegut that night.

From the people I have talked to, Vonnegut is one of those writers you either love or you hate. There is no middle ground. He writes things that are meant to push your boundaries and make you feel uncomfortable. And since many of his great works, like Slaughterhouse-Five were written so long ago, the fact that they still make readers feel uncomfortable is a testament to their power and Vonnegut's voice.

And I love Slaughterhouse-Five and all of its kooky and weird situations. I love the flashes of time and the weaving narrative. I love that it is an anti-war novel that doesn't preach, but shows. And I love that every time I read it I get surprised by the few pictures included....and the deep insight of a man who knew that what he was writing was powerful.

So while I may not consider myself smart enough to catch every piece of sly humor Vonnegut throws my way, I am smart enough to understand the power of this novel. I hope I can capture that this time as well.

Book 37: Book Stats.

Title: Slaughterhouse-Five
Author: Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007)
First Published: 1969
Also Called: The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death

My Edition: Laurel Paperback (as seen on right)
Pages: 215

Other Works Include: Cat's Cradle (1963), God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (1965), Breakfast of Champions (1973), Galapagos (1985), Hocus Pocus (1990), A Man Without a Country (2005)

He also has written numerous short stories. One that is really well known is "Harrison Bergeron," and you can find it here if you would like to read it.

For my challenge, this will be the sole Vonnegut book I will be reading. It is a common book that makes modern classic lists, and is well deserving.

I have read Slaughterhouse-Five once before, and I vaguely remember it being an odd little book, full of weird characters and twists. I have also read Cat's Cradle (in high school for our mystery/sci-fi class), as well as A Man without a Country. The latter is one of my all-time favorite books. It truly inspired me and find Vonnegut's humor and attitude towards life...well, very true.

I am also counting the completion of this novel towards the LOST Books Challenge and it will be my 4th book finished out of 5 needed!

Illness, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Sparty,

I have been feeling very under the weather since Sunday. When I am ill, I tend to get a little forgetful and scatterbrained. Matt might say I am like that all the time, but it gets pretty bad when I don't feel good.

I also get whiny and demanding, which Matt bore the brunt of last night when I made him go out and buy grape popsicles because my throat hurt at 11 at night.

But that is another story.

I have yet to start reading Slaughterhouse-Five since finishing The Shipping News late Sunday night. I have only managed to read a page or two before my mind wanders elsewhere. I last gave it a try yesterday afternoon. I set it down somewhere and this morning I could not find it anywhere. I also could not find Sparty (our kitten).

Matt had left this morning for class while I was still asleep and usually Sparty comes and cuddles with me once Matt is gone. But I could not find him, or my book, anywhere.

Then it dawned on me that the second bedroom door was closed. We use that bedroom as our office. I opened the door to find my book and Sparty in the same place.

(I should note here that our wall is covered with car posters, and the leopard print monstrosity is a Snuggie Matt "won" at work. So this picture is a whole lot of PAZAAM! in regards to color and pattern).

It seems as though Sparty found a great place to sleep and it was on top of my book. I did attempt to remove it, but Sparty got a little possessive of his new bed, so I let it be.

Needless to say, I am giving up on Slaughterhouse-Five fow now and I am reading something different.

The kitten wins...for now.

Sunday Salon: February 21, 2010.

Wow. What a week it has been! Matt and I have been busy with a few things around the apartment. Even though we've been here for a few months, it is finally starting to look and feel like home. We have pictures up and it looks a little more relaxing.

I've also been busy learning some new recipes this week. I've been trying to keep us on a food budget so we aren't spending a ton of money on food we won't eat. It is actually pretty easy to do with just the 2 of us and we've found some things that we really like to eat.

I also went to substitute teacher training on Thursday to get readmitted to the system so I can start getting some sub jobs. Only working 2 days/week gets old pretty fast and while I have lots of time on my hands, I don't get a whole lot accomplished. Hopefully I get some steady work and can balance some subbing with the parks job (which goes back to full time hours and more pay at the end of March!).

I managed to sneak away to the bookstore the other night, which was the first time I had been in a bookstore in a long while! I have been trying to avoid going in because I inevitably want to buy something, if not everything. Since it had been a bit, I made sure to walk around and look at everything. There are a lot of new titles out (especially in sci-fi and fantasy) that I want to read RIGHT NOW, but I'll be patient and wait. The YA section was depressing.

Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE YA and I read a lot of it, but I feel like amidst all the good books with original ideas are 50 others that don't do a good job. I get it that vampires and werewolves are "in," but I would love to see something different on the shelves. Granted, I haven't read any new YA in about 6 months, so I don't really know. These are merely my impressions from looking at the shelves.

I was also disappointed to see the following on a big display with Twilight and the vampire books that are booming in popularity:




It really just made my stomach turn. It is not that I am against teens finding these books and loving them as much as Twilight....it is the clear marketing ploy. Granted, it is clever, but I feel it takes away from the value of these great works. Try as I might, I cannot hold Twilight in comparison to Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice and call them equal.

Anyway, I hunted through the used section last and found a few more titles on my TBR list that I don't own. I finally picked up one of Graham Greene's novels, The Power and the Glory, as well as the other Hemingway that I need to read, The Sun Also Rises. I also found a great collection of some of the Greek tragedies. I haven't even gone near any of the Greek stuff since The Odyssey, so I thought I should get on that. The last book I found was a really cool edition of The Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison.

I went looking for one of Richardson's two novels on my list: Clarissa and Pamela but found neither-not even in the fiction section! There were also no copies of Gone with the Wind to be found, or some of the Virginia Woolf titles on my list! And while it looks like the store is rearranging, I hope that they restock. I was sorely disappointed, especially since it is my favorite bookstore in the area.

In reading news this week, I finished not only The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, but also Animal Farm by George Orwell. Orwell's book only took an hour or so since it is so slim, but I enjoyed it anyway. I am in the middle of The Shipping News by Annie Proulx...which is an odd novel and newer than most of the books on my list (it was published in 1993). It stands as one of the "modern" classics I am reading.

I also made some new cosmetic changes to the blog. There are links at the top to an introduction to why I am doing this, the list of books I am going to read, as well as the list (in order) of what I have finished already. In the finished list, I also have the titles linked to my personal favorite post about that book. Enjoy!

I have some great things planned in the coming weeks. There is a giveaway that I am waiting to launch once I hit Book 25! Keep an eye out for it in the next week or so.

This week I am planning on finishing The Shipping News as well as Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, so it should be another good reading week.

Happy reading everyone!