Reading Blog: Slaughterhouse - Five pgs. 72 - 96

Chapter 4: 

In this chapter Billy keeps constantly traveling in time. In one moment Billy is in World War II, and he has just gotten off a boxcar and arrived at a German base. Suddenly, Billy is on planet Trafalmadore asking a Trafalmadorian what has happened. One of my favorite parts in this chapter is when Billy has just gotten on the flying saucer and he asks one of the Trafalmadorians why they chose him, the answer to this question is: "Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why." (page 77) This specific quote reminds me of the movie "Peaceful Warrior" because the master teaches Dan Millman (the main character) to stay focused on the instance he is living. To "take all the trash out of his mind" and only live in the present, not the past or future. Vonnegut's description of the flying saucer when Billy first sees it, also reminds me of the movie Independence Day, and some other sci - fi movies.

Sometimes during this chapter I found it kind of difficult to keep up with what was happening because of the constant changes of situations and time. However, after a while, it wasn't too hard to get back on track. Throughout this chapter, and the whole book in general, the narrator is constantly hearing dog barks, and talking about dogs. With this in mind, I can't help but wonder if later on in the novel there will be an important part for a special dog in Billy's life.

The Beginning of Chapter 5:

 The 10 pages I read to begin the fifth chapter of Slaughterhouse - Five talk about the moment in which the Americans are introduced to English prisoners being kept in the base where Billy had just arrived. They have not been officially introduced yet, but I am very intrigued about their importance in the novel. Will these friendly English people be of big importance in the novel? How will they treat Billy Pilgrim? I wonder if they will manage an escape along with Billy and the fellow Americans? I guess all these questions will be answered further on in the novel. As always, I am anxious to continue this book.