Darwin8u's Reviews > Cat's Cradle
Cat's Cradle
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"...for the quotation captured in a couplet the cruel paradox of Bakononist thought, the heartbreaking necessity about lying about reality, and the heartbreaking impossibility of lying about it.
Midget, midget, midget, how he struts and winks,
For he knows a man's as big as what he hopes and thinks!"
-- Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle
I first read this in 9th grade. The grade my two kids are right now. Life has a way of making you feel both old and insignificant. When I first read this book I was focused on the technology of Ice-9 and the absurdity of weapons of mass destruction. This time, as I read it in a quickly cooling bath.* Seriously, all men over 40 should read this book naked in a bath that is quickly losing its heat, while wrinkles develop on their hands, feet, etc. There is nothing emasculates a man faster than a cold bath, nakedness, age, and Kurt Vonnegut.
Anyway, 28 years after first reading it and I still love this book. It was my first Vonnegut. One of my first exposures to the world of literature as absurdism, dark satire, and the wicked wink of postmodernism. I was hooked.
* with all this damn technology, one would think it would be easy to develop a better system for insulating baths. During the last 60 years, our society has gone from porcelain to plastic. So, now I can't even scratch OR freeze my ass in my tub and remain dignified.
Midget, midget, midget, how he struts and winks,
For he knows a man's as big as what he hopes and thinks!"
-- Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle
I first read this in 9th grade. The grade my two kids are right now. Life has a way of making you feel both old and insignificant. When I first read this book I was focused on the technology of Ice-9 and the absurdity of weapons of mass destruction. This time, as I read it in a quickly cooling bath.* Seriously, all men over 40 should read this book naked in a bath that is quickly losing its heat, while wrinkles develop on their hands, feet, etc. There is nothing emasculates a man faster than a cold bath, nakedness, age, and Kurt Vonnegut.
Anyway, 28 years after first reading it and I still love this book. It was my first Vonnegut. One of my first exposures to the world of literature as absurdism, dark satire, and the wicked wink of postmodernism. I was hooked.
* with all this damn technology, one would think it would be easy to develop a better system for insulating baths. During the last 60 years, our society has gone from porcelain to plastic. So, now I can't even scratch OR freeze my ass in my tub and remain dignified.
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Reading Progress
January 8, 2017
–
Started Reading
January 8, 2017
– Shelved
January 9, 2017
– Shelved as:
2017
January 9, 2017
– Shelved as:
aere-perennius
January 9, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-15 of 15 (15 new)
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For he knows a man's as big as what he hopes and thinks!"
As Newt points out, Bokononism is one of the very few religions to make any explicit comment on midgets!* Thank you, one of my favorite passages!
* Pastafarianism also does. I am not aware of any others.
I'm not sure anyone does. My point was simply Vonnegut at times unmans the reader, makes this reader understand his mortality in a different way. My unmanliness comment wasn't meant completely to be serious (it was more like suggesting someone get stung by a bee or be dumped by their spouse).
To me, Vonnegut isn't after some general emasculation, but the ultimate emasculation: the mirror that reflects nothing back, or bends whatever is reflected to its most absurd and ridiculous... and in doing so perhaps to the truth.
As one who loves a hot bath, I get the frustration with today's tubs! I feel lucky to have a long and deep porcelain tub in my 1920's apartment. Although because it retains the cold in the winter, I also find it cools off too fast. Given my gender I don't experience quite the same consequences you describe. :)
I am willing to sacrifice my dignity on the altar of a plastic tub if it means the Universe will hear my silent call for warmth. Otherwise, I'll just thumb my nose at God and freeze my ass while my toes slowly wrinkle as I wait for death. So it goes.
I really think this is his best AFTER Slaughterhouse-Five.
I really think this is his best AFTER Slaughterhouse-Five."
That is another I have not read. I remember "Breakfast of Champions," but I don't recall the name of the other. I have the one you mentioned on my kindle too.
I really think this is his best AFTER Slaughterhouse-Five."..."
Well, I think you know what you MUST do now.
I really think this is his best AFTER Slaug..."
ha.ha. I have a 1000 or so books on my kindle and many in my house, and I keep buying more. I don't know what has gotten into me, maybe it is because I don't need anything else. so I don't know when I will read it and doubt if I will ever get many of those other books read.
I really think this is his..."
Yes, I just packed up the books at my office (I'm moving offices). 95 boxes full of books, plus all the ones at the house and on my Kindle. I definitely feel you. I just got three in the mail today and ordered two more yesterday.
It doesn't take long to read The Fourteenth Book. It consists of one word and a period.
This is it: "Nothing.”
I wonder how it is today"
Still amazing.