Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Plot:
Join our friend John as he tries to tie together the strings connecting the events of the day America dropped the bomb on Japan, by writing a book about those involved. Follow John as he meets the children whose father invented the bomb, Felix Hoenikker, a curious man with a wandering mind. Meet Frank, kicked out of college, and his clingy sister who raised the family while her father preoccupied himself with the bomb. See the surprise on John's face when he travels to the island nation of San Lorenzo to write a newspaper column on the dictator, and meets the Hoenikker's on the plane. Of course, Bokonon would say this was meant to happen, although he would be the first to say all his words are lies.
Dropped into the new world of San Lorenzo, John has just enough time to witness the tyranny and futility of life the island before he finds that San Lorenzo is the epicenter for a doomsday that would make Hiroshima look trivial.
Alex's Opinion:
This is the third Kurt Vonnegut book I've read, and I still find the style of writing, the plot, and the characters refreshingly original. Vonnegut writes in a satirical, matter of fact style which is easy and engaging to read. In a Vonnegut book, the reader has no idea what may happen next, what is even in the realm of possibility. In Cat's Cadle, I particularly enjoyed the characters- Vonnegut has a way of using a few choice words to create very real personalities in his characters, and it is fun to read about how they each uniquely react to whatever crazy scenario Vonnegut comes up with.
Who would like it:
If you like introspective critiques of humanity, this is the book for you. Also, check out Vonnegut's other books, like Sirens of Titan and Slaughterhouse Five. This is a pretty quick read, and the plot, while not action pack, is intriguing and draws you forward. If you only like books with happy ending, maybe give this one a pass- or try it out! Maybe you'll find you like this kind of writing.
Read it!
Amazon Kindle
(Read a free sample on your computer!)Amazon Paperback
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