Kurt Vonnegut

"Cat's Cradle" is Vonnegut's satirical commentary on modern man and his madness. An apocalyptic tale of this planet's ultimate fate, it features a midget as the protagonist; a complete, original theology created by a calypso singer; and a vision of the future that is at once blackly fatalistic and hilariously funny.

Cat's Cradle

'All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies.' Dr Felix Hoenikker, one of the founding fathers of the atomic bomb, has left a deadly legacy to the world. For he is the inventor of Ice-nine, a lethal chemical capable of freezing the entire planet. The search for its whereabouts leads to Hoenikker's three eccentric children, to a crazed dictator in the Caribbean, to madness. Will Felix Hoenikker's death wish come true? Will his last, fatal gift to humankind bring about the end that, for all of us, is nigh? Told with deadpan humour and bitter irony, Kurt Vonnegut's cult tale of global apocalypse preys on our deepest fears of witnessing the end and, worse still, surviving it . . . 'The time to read Vonnegut is just when you begin to suspect that the world is not what it appears to be. He is not only entertaining, he is electrocuting. You read him with enormous pleasure because he makes your hair stand on end' The New York Times

里森

Bouke van der Bijl

Matthew Royal

A young writer decides to interview the children of a scientist primarily responsible for the creation of the atomic bomb

Gillian Rose

I knew this going in, but it was good to have it confirmed: I do not like Vonnegut!

I found this absolutely ridiculous. I get that it was a criticism on religion, but there was a way of doing so without employing racism at times and misogyny! Just a bad reading experience.

Rohan Uddin

What a funny, simple and crazy book! This is my first Vonnegut, and I must admit, it is wonderful in its execution of deadpan humor and satirical situations. Loved everything, especially the framing device : "The Books of Bokonon", and the self created myth behind the atom bomb and the City of San Lorenzo. This is too good.

Prashanth Srivatsa

Absolutely hilarious. Highly recommended.

In Cat’s Cradle, Vonnegut invites us to think deeply about religion, ‘purpose’, and the social webs we weave in daily life.

Taylor Griffin

Arun Khanna

The goal of good satirical work is to make us question the way the world works in an entertaining way. With Cat's Cradle, Vonnegut succeeds in this task with flying colors. He makes us question (or at least ponder to rethink) everything from religion to science. 

Within his patently absurd religion, Bokononism, there are some fascinating nuggets that make you question the establishment of organized religion. The whole idea of Bokononism purposely forbidden by the residents of San Lorenzo being part of its appeal reminds us of the early adherents of Christianity. The fact that one of the central tenets is that the entire book is full of lies (foma) is comical but does strike a chord in the modern take of religion (especially when viewing other people's religions).

Vonnegut also makes us question what many believe to be the opposite of religion, science. Felix Hoenikker, who obviously is brilliant and insanely intelligent, seemingly invents Ice-9 on a whim after being asked a question from a Marine general. He seems completely unaware of the consequences of his action. Vonnegut seems to strongly dislike "pure research," which is research that is completely devoid of potential ripples (one could also use the modern example of AI research as a substitute for Ice-9). 

This book was an entertaining read and one that I look forward to rereading in the future.

Alex Ker

Easy read and much-needed break from non-fiction. As always, I appreciate the precision of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s dark wit and satire on religion, politics, humanity that distort, interrogate, accentuate our version of reality--sharing a Dystopian that is alarming, far-fetched, yet populated by self-aware and penetrating caricatures reminding us of people we might have known.

Tilde C

Little did I know so many wise and clever quotes attributed to Kurt Vonnegut were things he put in the mouth of his bizarre cult leader character. Almost made a bokononist out of me.

This was fun, though I still prefer Slaughterhouse-Five.

magic world of kurt. how much is it of ours to keep?

Dana M

juno

i had no idea what this book was about before i read it and i still don’t honestly. im not even sure how i would rate this so we’re going with three as a happy middle number.

Hans Gerwitz

This is an easy read and thought-provoking if you let it be. Which might pale in comparison to Vonnegut's works that leave you no such choice, but still stands out from the brain candy of most science fiction.

Asmaa Mohurji

i've been looking for the term "granfalloon" my entire life and i didn't even know it 

G.H. Plaag 

Omar AlHashmi

** spoiler alert **
           4.5/5

Pretty interesting read to be honest, I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first one. This book took me so long to read, what with the pressure that I am facing during this semester. However the beginning didn't help that much as it felt a bit confusing. But as I kept on reading it made more and more sense. 

All in all I like the writing style of Vonnegut which is what made me pick up this book after reading Slaughter House five. However I did not appreciate the disjointed plot, it was all over the place. One point the writer is interviewing people to write a book about a scientist and the next he is running around on this weird island. Don't get me wrong, I loved the part which involved San Lorenzo and Bokonism. However I still can't shake off that feeling that there was something off about the book. 

With all that said, I will certainly try and read more of his books, though not anytime soon.... my brain needs a break from Vonnegut.

Trever

Certainly not as fully-formed as  Slaughterhouse-Five, but more freewheeling if you're into that. They're two sides of the same coin, but it's a weird coin at that.

Nicholas Laurie

Ermmm difficult book to rate. Felt stupid reading it a lot of the time. Literary porn for 60’s counter culture young, to fill in the time between listens to a love supreme. I felt like a lot of shit was going over my head but it was probably just that things hit different in the 60s than they do now. A lot of this isnt all that shocking or weird anymore? Religion sucks? an idiot brings about the end of the world? A familiar tune I guess 

Erfan Abedi

«به نام خدا» 

خلاصه‌ی داستان:
داستان درباره‌ی فردی هست که می‌گه: «جونا صدای‌م کنید.»؛ جونا اسم دیگه‌ی یونس نبی هست، کسی که برخلاف قهرمان داستان «موبی دیک» که نهنگ رو شکار کرد، توسّط نهنگ خورده شد؛ و با این‌کارش، داره می‌گه که اون رؤیای آمریکایی که آمریکا کشور صلح‌ه و خیلی وضعیت خوبی داره و این‌ها مهمل‌ه؛ اوضاع دقیقاً برعکسه. راوی داستان [وقتی که داستان شروع می‌شه] فردی مسیحی و نویسنده هست که می‌خواد داستانی درباره‌ی زندگی دکتر فلیکس هوینیکر، یکی از پدران بمب اتم بنویسه؛ داستان درباره‌ی اتّفاقاتی هست که در طی مسیری که برای نوشتن کتاب براش پیش می‌آد که در انتها موضوع کتاب‌ش هم عوض می‌شه.

نقد:
کتاب طنزهای خیلی جالبی داره و خب، مترجم برای رعایت‌کردن چهارچوب‌ها معنی دقیق بعضی ‌فحش‌ها رو ننوشته که اگه کسی مقداری فیلم آمریکایی/انگلیسی دیده باشه متوجّه می‌شه. مثلاً وقتی که یکی از کاراکترها به‌هرچیزی صفت «مزخرف» می‌ده؛ یا مثلاً وقتی که اچ. لاو کراسبی حرف می‌زنه که توش خیلی واژه‌ی «پفیوز» دیده می‌شه. [:‌))]
ونه‌گات خیلی خوب بازی‌هایی که دولت‌ها سرمردم‌شون در می‌آرن تا سرشون رو از کارهای ناشایست خودشون منحرف کنن و سرشون رو به چیزدیگه‌ای سرگرم کنند رو نشون داده؛ همین‌طور تابوهایی که همه‌ی مردم دارن‌ش، امّا برای ادامه دادن اون [بخونید موش‌وگربه‌بازی] تابوها رو نمی‌شکنن. [که در این‌مورد مذهب باکونونیسم هست] مثال خوب‌ش بازی‌هایی هست که ایالات متّحده سر بن‌لادن با مردم‌‌ش در آورد.
اسفار باکونون چیز خیلی‌جالبی هست؛ توش بعضی چیزها رو گفته که خیلی‌ها جرئت ندارن بگن، اگه وجود داشت می‌تونست یه‌کتابِ فلسفی درست‌وحسابی باشه؛ مثلاً دروغ‌های بی‌ضرر رو بی‌ایراد دونسته.
ونه‌گات در جای دیگه‌ای از دروغ‌گفتن برای رسیدن به‌ عشق می‌نویسه؛ کاری که من به‌شخصه غلط می‌دونم‌ش؛ جایی که راوی به‌ مونا می‌گه که مذهب نداره و برای رسیدن به [لذّت جنسی از طریق مونا] به باکونونیسم روی می‌آره؛ و وقتی که مونا [که یه‌جورایی فاحشه‌ی باکونونیسم بوده] بعد از فرا رسیدن آخرالزمان، خودکشی می‌کنه [که البته حق هم داشت، زندگی‌ش توی مسائل جنسی خلاصه می‌شده] روی راوی تأثیر زیادی ایجاد نمی‌شه، فقط همون‌موقع مقداری گریه می‌کنه؛ خوب مشخّصه، از عشقی که با تحریک جنسی از روی تبلیغ سن‌لورنزو ایجاد شده، توقع خاصّی نمی‌شه داشت؛ البتّه، مرگ مونا مساوی می‌شه با مرگ نسل بشریت، دلیل‌ش واضحه، چون دیگه زنی نیست که قابلیت باردار شدن رو داشته باشه و قبل‌ش هم مونا از رابطه‌ی جنسی با راوی پرهیز می‌کنه که مبادا بچّه‌دار بشن که این‌حسّ رو توی من ایجاد کرد که مونا دوست‌داشته نسل بشر منقرض شه. [حداقل توی سن‌لورنزو]
چیزی که من از دیدگاه ونه‌گات برداشت کردم، این بوده که مرگ بشریت با همین بمب اتم هست؛ چرا که همون آدمی که پدر بمب اتم بود، پدر یخ نُه هم بود که با سقوط هواپیما و پرت‌شدن جسدِ آغشته به یخ‌ نُهِ «پاپا لورنزو»، آخرالزمان شروع شد.
به‌نظرِ من سن‌لورنزو یه‌جور کاپیتالیسمِ دوطبقه داشت؛ طبقه‌ی پایین مردم عادّیِ سن‌لورنزو که در فلاکت به‌سر می‌بردن و طبقه‌ی بالا افراد دولتی/نزدیک به‌دولت، که شما هم می‌بینید که خدمتکار فرانک، استن‌لی، تنها فرد بومیِ چاقی بود که راوی می‌بینه.
با توجّه به این‌که شخص ونه‌گات خودش رو تابع خیلی از عرفان‌ها ]مثلاً آتئیسم که می‌گه خدا وجود نداره[ هست و درجایی از کتاب‌ش اشاره می‌کنه که همیشه به پشتیبانی قدرت برتری نیاز داریم، یه‌مقدار این قضیه پارادوکس شده برای من.
نمره بدم؟ خوب، دفعه اوّل‌م هست، خیلی سخته. :‌)) اگه غیرمنصفانه هم بود بگین به‌م. :د

۷ از ۱۰.

Bowie 

My second KV novel after Slaughterhouse V - didn’t grip me the way S5 did. I think I’m missing a lot of context via WWII & the satire there but I can appreciate that it’s there. 

Dr Felix Hoenikker, one of the founding 'fathers' of the atomic bomb, has left a deadly legacy to humanity. For he is the inventor of ice-nine, a lethal chemical capable of freezing the entire planet. Writer Jonah's search for its whereabouts leads him to Hoenikker's three eccentric children, to an island republic in the Caribbean where the religion of Bokononism is practised, to love and to insanity. Told with deadpan humour and bitter irony, Kurt Vonnegut's cult tale of global destruction is a funny and frightening satire on the end of the world and the madness of mankind.

Emma Thuresson

Krista M.

Funny-Fantastic-Dark
Really funny and fresh story. I enjoyed Bokononism a lot, especially the last rites with the mud. I thought it was actually really beautiful even if it was meant to kind of poke fun at religion. I liked the theme of fate finding a way to bind people together for a certain purpose (which may never be known to those people) is really cool and very true to life. There are people all around us whose lives we affect and interact with everyday who we will never know. This was a quick read with an engaging plot and while I did feel like it was spiraling out of control it was still a very interesting and unique story. 

Toni Turner

I love Kurt's wroting so much. This story just escalated in the most unexpecred ways. I didnt read the synopsis so I knew nothing while reading it which is my favorite way to go into novels. I definitely want to read more of his stuff.

Michael Moreno

My first Vonnegut read, I found myself initially bewildered but eventually compelled beyond expectation. Watching the world fall apart on a chain reaction of human stupidity was both prescient and morbidly entertaining.

Alexia

2.5 stars... This was my first Vonnegut and boy was I disappointed. Definitely not what I expected. 
This is supposed to be Sci-Fi and that aspect is way underdeveloped. 
Encountering derogatory remarks, comments and descriptions almost made me DNF it, but I persisted nonetheless, telling myself it was a short book —that actually took me an eternity to finish.
What I did enjoy was the commentary on religion, which remains relevant up to this date. 
Notwithstanding, I own several more books by him that I’d like to try, because I reckon this flee-style writing that jumps from one place to the other without making much sense and avoiding plot construction isn’t the norm among Vonnegut’s work. Or at least I hope so.

Cat's Cradle

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