Horror Book Reviews
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Title: Cat's Cradle |
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Review of Cat's Cradle
- One of Vonnegut's major works, this is an apocalyptic tale of the planet's ultimate fate, featuring a cast of unlikely heroes.
Product Description
- Cat's Cradle, one of Vonnegut's most entertaining novels, is filled with scientists and G-men and even ordinary folks caught up in the game. These assorted characters chase each other around in search of the world's most important and dangerous substance, a new form of ice that freezes at room temperature. At one time, this novel could probably be found on the bookshelf of every college kid in America; it's still a fabulous read and a great place to start if you're young enough to have missed the first Vonnegut craze.
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Comments for Cat's Cradle
- Posted on 2008-07-02
As relevant today as it was in the past
The 60's paranoia doesn't get more sharp, more funny and more smart than Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle". But, unfortunately, this portray is still somehow up to date than ever. Published early in that decade, this novel concerns on the fear of a chemical war and the end of the world. One of the characters is a scientist who fathered the Atomic Bomb and also developed something called `ice-nice' that is able to freeze all the water in the world. When the novel was published the world was living the edge of Cold War - hence the interesting metaphor. This is also a cautionary (and very funny) tale about too much power and too much desire of ending the workd. Vonnegut's tone transits between the regular science- fiction and black humor that add more layers to the book. If for one side the characters are plain, on the other, what remains, the fear of a nuclear war or something like it, is very relevant and contemporary.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-06-09
cats cradle
Well, what is there to say but that this book is quite highly overrated. An attempt at wry cynicism that was telegraphed all the way. No part of this story was exceptional either in thought or execution. About the best I can say for it is that it was an easy read. I am at somewhat of a loss as to why it has so many positive reviews because it has been my experience that while I do not always like or enjoy books with mostly positive reviews it is usually more a matter of taste but in this case there is a definite lack of quality in style and substance than can be overcome by whatever it is that others see in this story.
Score: 2
- Posted on 2008-06-02
Yes, I get it. He's very satirical...
After hearing so much praise about this book I had to check it out myself and discover the awesome writing of Vonnegut. I was sorely disappointed. Sure, he incorporated a great deal of satire about religion, politics, and just mankind in general, but it was all very boring for me. The stories of each character in the book seemed to be ridiculous just for the sake of getting a cheap laugh, leaving no lasting value...except the stories didn't make me laugh either.
Much like another reviewer, I really wanted to like this book. I forced myself to read the first 100 pages or so, hoping that it would become more interesting. Of course it turns out it didn't, so I had to stop. It's apparent that I'm in the minority here, considering the 100's of positive reviews or perhaps many are just hopping on the bandwagon. Regardless, this book is not for everyone. Anyone who has not read CC is forewarned that you may be quite disappointed.
I just hope Slaughterhouse-Five is better because I was looking forward to reading that as well.
Score: 1
- Posted on 2008-05-29
Positivist Humor
This book is full of whimsical humor. It's one of the few books that made me laugh out loud. Ironically, it's also incredibly pessimistic. Humanity is doomed by its own depraved nature to a farcical apocalypse. For Vonnegut, the main culprits are scientists who show no concern for the destructive applications of their inventions. Their scientific method is the only road to knowledge but (more pessimism) cannot yield moral knowledge or wisdom. Nothing can, including religion, which is 'all lies'.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-05-19
No Cat, No Cradle
This book is a strange prayer for peace. Written in 1963, at the height of a country in the throes of nuclear paranoia, Russian Fear, Kennedy's assassination and increasing American interest in the land of Vietnam, it is easy to see why Vonnegut felt compelled to write this book.
He writes, " Perhaps when we remember wars, we should take off our clothes and paint ourselves blue and go on all fours all day long and grunt like pigs. That would surely be more appropriate than noble oratory and shows of flags and well oiled guns."
This book is anti-war, anti-religion and anti- science, for it too, in the form of nuclear bombs and "Ice-9" will destroy the world as we know it.
From the books of Bokonon, a satirical send-up of Religious writings treated as the all-knowing word of god:
" Man blinked. 'What is the purpose of all this?'
'Everything must have a purpose?' asked god.
'Certainly,' said man.
'Then I leave it to you to think of one for all this,' said God.
And he went away."
I would recommend this to anyone who loved Slaughterhouse-Five, for this is how the author arrived at that great story. An evolution of sorts, dealing with the same subject matter.
(Sidenote: Ice-Nine is the name The Grateful Dead chose as it's lyrical publishing company name. Obviously this was a book on the shelves of many far-out kids throughout the 1960's. Just thought I'd mention it.)
Score: 4