In 1969, Kurt Vonnegut published Slaughterhouse Five, which is undoubtedly a classic. This novel is special in the sense that it is a mixture of fact and fiction. Slaughterhouse Five follows the story of Billy Pilgrim, who is based off a real person Vonnegut met in the war. In the novel, Pilgrim is able to travel to different points throughout his life, and illustrates themes of loneliness and free will, or lack thereof. The way Vonnegut formatted the book, not in chronological order, keeps readers interested and on their toes. Never once was I bored with this book.    

Truthfully speaking, Slaughterhouse Five is one of the best books I have ever read. Unlike most books, I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that the beginning was not terrible. I was hooked from the start without it being overly cliche. The characters had extra flare because most were inspired by real people. They had depth. His masterpiece is a book for those who hate to read. Although it is a book often recommended by English teachers, it certainly is not one of those books that is all about symbolism.

With war and aliens, the book tackles both realistic and fictional topics alike, which is another reason it is able to captivate readers. While readers are able to relate to war and its determinants, most people have yet to encounter aliens; because of this, readers are able to open up their minds to whatever picture Vonnegut paints.

Although I adore this novel, I can understand how others think it is hard to follow. Since the book is not in chronological order, it is somewhat hard to grasp what is happening, especially in the beginning. However, over time readers become familiar with the writing style, and are fully able to enjoy the novel for what it is.