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Not quite my normal taste, but I enjoyed it all the same. Perhaps I will come back and reread again. A second reading might reveal more to me. Nonetheless, I do recommend this book.
This sparks a fascination, and leads him to contact this late scientist's children. The end of the world has always been a difficult topic for discussion, probably because there is no saying when or how it will take place. And if you are at all familiar with Vonnegut's dark humor, you would not be surprised. Felix Hoenikker, the man behind the atomic bomb. The world ends when they are all on San Lorenzo, a made up island with a murderous dictator. The cause.
All the characters, seeming slightly exaggerated, are not at all what you would expect. In 'Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut, it is a topic that keeps coming up. This book is full or random coincidences that seem to make no sense when you are reading it, but they all come together in the end. Religion verses science. It starts when the main character, John Hoosier (who is telling this story in the first person) is researching for a book to be called "The Day the World Ended," about Dr. There is a radical religious figure, Bokonon, and a Minister of science, Frank, who are all thrown together with ICE-NINE, a chemical that freezes everything upon contact.
It is very fun and also interesting.
Fascinating story that puts forth some very interesting ideas on the purpose of religious belief. Highly Recommended. Quotes from the text: "All of the true things that I am about to tell you are shameless lies." "Anyone who cannot understand how useful a religion based on lies can be will not understand this book either." "Live by the harmless untruths that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy."
My sister scolded me on Christmas morning for purchasing a new copy, only I new that it was used. I ordered this book as a Christmas gift for my sister, she gave me instructions to purchase a "used copy" because a new copy would be a waste. I definatelyrecommend buying books from this seller, the shipping is reasonable and very fast, the books are of better quality than advertised. When the book arrived, very quickly by the way, I was pleasantly suprised. The "used" copy that I purchasedlooked like new. I'll be back. Thank You.
I am glad this wasn't the first Vonnegut book I read. I enjoyed the message, but not the way it was told. I also enjoyed the reactions John had to some of the absurd things people would say, especially on the plane.
Fortunately, my first was Slaughterhouse-Five. Vonnegut is a master at providing us with funny and ridiculous characters, and there are some in this book (although not enough to make it a great book, but still enough to make it worth a read). Had it been I probably wouldn't be enthusiastic about reading another.
And the elevator scene was a riot, funny and thought provoking. There are plenty of reviewers here who gave great, detailed synopses of the book, so I will skip that. What I found good about the book was it's commentary on religion and, more specifically, the relationship between religion and political power (Papa and Bokononists/Bokonon).
But.the book got slow in many places, and after a while it seemed almost like a chore to read. If this is your first Vonnegut book please don't use it against him if you find it boring, many of his other books (like Slaughterhouse-Five) are awesome.
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