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Loading... Cat's Cradle (original 1963; edition 1998)by Kurt Vonnegut
Work InformationCat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (1963)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Very similar in themes and atmosphere to Galapagos. That one has a much wider scope, whereas this is more synecdochic. The amorality of scientists is also a strong theme here, which I don't remember it being in Galapagos. It's also harsher - there is an almost savage glee in the ending of (in)humanity, instead of the serene fatalism of Galapagos. For what it's worth, I think Cat's Cradle is probably a better constructed and written book (I particularly loved the abrupt but perfectly judged ending), but Galapagos perhaps more enjoyable. While I like Vonnegut a lot, I do find he has a somewhat aggressive passivity to him, which can be a little annoying. Maybe it's a faked incomprehension of the everyday compromises and voluntary ignorances of life - while I tend to think he is correct, in an idealistic sort of way, there's something about his phrasing which I sometimes find jarring. That and his world weary tone means I need to take breaks between my Vonnegut, but I'm still looking forward to when I next pick one up. I went into this one blind. Had no idea what was coming, and had never heard of Bokononism. I found it actually more delightful than expected. I enjoyed the not-so-subtle satire and found myself sometimes chuckling at Vonnegut's points, sometimes nodding in agreement. Is it weird I thought this was kind of a fun read?
"Cat's Cradle" is an irreverent and often highly entertaining fantasy concerning the playful irresponsibility of nuclear scientists. Like the best of contemporary satire, it is work of a far more engaging and meaningful order than the melodramatic tripe which most critics seem to consider "serious." Belongs to Publisher SeriesKeltainen kirjasto (124) — 6 more Is contained inThe sirens of Titan; Mother night; Cat's cradle; God bless you, Mr. Rosewater; Slaughterhouse-five by Kurt Vonnegut Novels & Stories, 1963-1973: Cat's Cradle / God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater / Slaughterhouse-Five / Breakfast of Champions / Stories by Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut: Slaughterhouse-Five / The Sirens of Titan / Player Piano / Cat's Cradle / Breakfast of Champions / Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Has as a commentary on the textHas as a student's study guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
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. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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I'm glad I finally got around to reading Vonnegut-- I always knew I was going to like his writing, but I kept not getting around to it. The library here has a bunch of his books (though I can't find [b:Slaughterhouse-Five|4981|Slaughterhouse-Five|Kurt Vonnegut|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1227252234s/4981.jpg|1683562], which is the one I really want to read). ( )