I often have no idea what I’m walking into before I begin reading a book. I’ve read Kurt Vonnegut books in the past and knew that there were many classics I should consume of his. Upon finding Slaughterhouse Five available for audible download from the local library, I began that strange journey of Billy Pilgrim and his getting unstuck in time.
The story unfolded with Billy’s unstuck life drifting forward and backward in time while the story was projected against the backdrop of the WWII bombing of Dresden. As I listened, it was not unlike stories I was told as a counselor when I worked with Vietnam Vets who had severe PTSD and hallucinatory breaks with reality. Themes and visual descriptions were even similar so I had a hard time seeing the story as science fiction (which it is) and saw it more as a psychotic break from reality. This perspective of mine probably prevented me from seeing the humor in the story.
One concept I liked about Billy being unstuck in time is that because he saw the future. So when he was somewhere in time and knew what was going to happen, he didn’t try to change anything. He knew he was going to be in a plane accident, but he didn’t try avoid the plane ride. He knew how he was going to die. What would you do if you knew the future?
Anytime death was mentioned, the phrase “So it goes” were the following words. I had a friend in the mid-80’s who used this phrase often and because I didn’t know the reference to the book, I wonder if he used it in the same manner as in the book. I know that I’ve used this phrase because of him but not following the topics of death. I wonder if I’ve used the phrase in real life with people who know the reference and thought I was an idiot for the way I was using it?
Well, So it goes.
