Cat's Cradle: A Novel by Kurt Vonnegut Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Cat's Cradle: A Novel
Book Review: Another great read by Vonnegut
Summary: 5 Stars
Kurt Vonnegut is a well-known excellent writer. He wrote several great books that incorporate human life and emotions. One of his best works was A Cat's Cradle. This book talked about the contradiction between illusion and reality and how people valued it in their societies. It also showed the topic of science vs. religion in modern society. Vonnegut's creative style of writing made this book an interesting read. All of these reasons make A Cat's Cradle an excellent book to read and a beginning for the understanding of the world portrayed in Vonnegut's many writings. The plot of A Cat's Cradle involves humanity and the contradictions that exist in modern society. Vonnegut focuses on the theme of illusion and reality in this book which were also explored in his previous novels, Mother Night. He came to the conclusion that illusion becomes reality in people's lives. A gloomy world is depicted in this novel to show the reality of life. This book is basically about one man who wants to write a book about World War two. It leads to his investigation between the topics of science and religion. The science part of this novel discusses an atomic bomb and a fanciful "ice nine" poison. The religion part of this novel discusses the widely followed religion of Bokonism that said that God is "utterly indifferent." The topics this novel discussed were written very humorously. Every chapter had a joke at the end. It was an easy and very interesting read. The characters were exciting and easy to follow. A Cat's Cradle questioned topics of humanity and life in a very interesting and joyful way. Kurt Vonnegut's book A Cat's Cradle was an excellent read. Its theme was creative and questioned certain topics that really never discussed. Like all of Kurt Vonnegut's books the chapters are short and discuss short segments of the main character's life. After the reading the book, it makes the reader question their own life and humanity in general. The way the book is written keeps the reader consistently involved in the book. I truly enjoyed this book especially since I have read other books by Kurt Vonnegut. I hope you decide to read it and then read other selections by Kurt Vonnegut, an acclaimed and highly recommended author.Book Review: Another must read for teens!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are some books I feel every teen should read. Especially in light of recent current events. Today's children & teens sometimes have no real concept of how lucky they are to live in a free society.
This in such a book to remind them that things could be so different!
Book Review: Apotheosis and Apocalypse to a Calypso beat
Summary: 5 Stars
Dr. Asa Breed, scientist from the research laboratory of the General Forge and Foundation Company, had this statement to say about Dr. Felix Hoenicker, one of the founding fathers of the atomic bomb as well as the creator of "Ice Nine:"
"I told you all this in order to give you some insight into the extraordinary novelty of the ways which Felix was likely to approach an old problem."
The statement could easily become non-fiction if the word "Felix" was replaced with "Kurt Vonnegut." Vonnegut is a master of spinning a crazy web of seemingly random events that poignantly, clearly spell out a very clear and crystallized point.
Vonnegut is a crafty-sneaky writer. Two skills, which many writers have individually, but few have in tandem, set him apart from other writers. First, he has the ability to present his story as an unrelated series of random events. The "hero" seems to be victim of merciless random forces that confront him with strange events and experiences. However, the story remains tight and coherent and Vonnegut's points are amazingly clear.
Second, in the true science fiction tradition, Vonnegut makes bizarre, incredible and completely fictitious creations seems completely plausible. Taken together, he seems to repetitively beat the reader over the head with rather salient life observations hidden behind bizarrely incredulous premises. With the exception of "Slaughter-House Five," Cat's Cradle may be Vonnegut's best demonstration of these two most characteristic skills.
He starts the story with the narrator giving a brief explanation as to why is called Jonah (which he is never referred to as for the remainder of the story):
"...somebody or something has compelled me to be certain places at certain times, without fail. Conveyances and motives, both conventional and bizarre, have been provided. And according to plan, at each appointed second, at each appointed place this Jonah was there."
Similar to other Vonnegut Heroes (Billy Pilgrim, Rabo Karabekian are two), Jonah passively and seemingly haphazardly drifts among nonsensical events. For Jonah, the terminal destination is President of the island republic of San Lorenzo. During his journey, he meets a motley cast of characters seemingly unrelated. For sneaky Vonnegut, they are related, many of even them belong to his own karass.
Secondly, Vonnegut is the master science fiction writer. Two science fictional concepts that Vonnegut creates in Cat's Cradle are the scientific invention of "Ice Nine" and the religion of "Bokononism." Both Bokononism and Ice Nine are the centerpieces of the novel, so they had to suspend the reader's disbelief, or the story would die. With Ice Nine, Vonnegut needed to create a scientific discovery that was capable of destroying the earth. He did it, and explained in a simple and believable manner. Very clever. The religion of Bokononism includes its own philosophy, last rites and vocabulary (karass, granfalloons, pool-pah, foma, wampeter, etc). Similarly, he defines religion as "better and better lies" intended as an "instrument of hope." On San Lorenzo, everyone is a Bokononist, and Jonah becomes one over the course of the story. Most of the Bokonon philosophy is presented as short statements, often only in short, Confucius-like statements and often provided to a calypso beat. My favorite Bokonon saying is: "Maturity is the bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy something."
The story provides some insight into the extraordinary novelty of the ways which Vonnegut is likely to approach an old problem. Cat's Cradle asks the tough question of what is morality in an existential world. The ultimate answer, unfortunately, is self-destruction.
Book Review: As Good As It Gets
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first time that I've read Vonnegut and I must say that I was deeply impressed. He managed to cover some of the most important philosophical, religious, psychosocial and ethical questions of the times.
Can science and religion coexist peacefully? Can most people accept reality or do they prefer to live with their delusions? Is there any point in reading history, let alone writing it, if humanity's track record is such that we appear to be doomed to infinitely repeat our own mistakes?
Vonnegut covers these tough issues and more in an entertaining and ironically humorous fashion. Although the book was published in 1963, his preoccupation with substances that could obliterate the species is every bit as relevant today as it was then, if not more so, and his characters are quirky yet believable.
He spins a tale about a writer named Jonah (John to be exact)who becomes fascinated with the Hoenikker family: the children of a late scientist who co-discovered the first atomic bomb and an even more lethal substance called ice-nine, which could freeze all of the rivers and streams.
Fortunately for us, Vonnegut's doomsday scenario has yet to play out. Perhaps it's just a matter of time but hopefully, people and nations are smarter than Vonnegut gave them credit for.
Sigrid Macdonald
Author of D'Amour Road
Book Review: As bad as it gets
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is a total disappointment. One of the worst books I have ever read. His "humor" is on idiotic level and the book in general is schizophrenic. Only thing Vonnegut achieved is to annoy me; this is the first book in my life that I threw into the garbage.