Classic Fiction: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

My experience with the work of Kurt Vonnegut is incredibly limited. Cat's Cradle is only the second novel of his that I have read, with Slaughterhouse-Five being the first. He is one of those authors of which I have a generally favorable opinion, mostly due to the praise he receives from other readers. After reading the synopsis, I looked forward to a story full of satire and wit.

The Situation: A mostly unnamed narrator (who insists on being called Jonah in the first line, though his real name seems to be John, and then neither name is ever mentioned again for the rest of the book) is in the process of writing a book, The Day the World Ended. He is searching for any information pertaining to the late Felix Hoenikker, a co-creator of the atomic bomb, as well as a catastrophic substance known as ice-nine. The narrator seeks out Hoenikker's children, coworkers, acquaintances...anyone he can find that will give him more information on this fascinating figure. He eventually manages to find Newt Hoenikker, a dwarf and the youngest of the Hoenikker children, who only recalls his father playing the cat's cradle string game the day the first atomic bomb was dropped.

The Problem: After a magazine assignment sends the narrator to the island of San Lorenzo, he once again comes into contact with Newt, as well as the other two Hoenikker children, Angela and Frank. It is on the island that the narrator will be introduced to Bokononism, a made up religion that the people of the island practice, even though it is outlawed, and practicing it is punishable by death. The narrator also meets Mona, a woman he immediately begins to lust after, and her father and current president of San Lorenzo, "Papa" Monzano. The following days will be filled with the history and troubles of the island, the teachings of Bokononism, and a series of events that will lead the narrator to be the new president of San Lorenzo, and the world's oceans to be frozen solid.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set partly in the US, and later in the fictional Caribbean island of San Lorenzo. In true Vonnegut style, the novel is satirical in nature, and filled with the kind of humor that may make you smirk or outright laugh, but you kind of feel bad about it. From the beginning, two major themes are religion, and the science of the Cold War era, specifically the research that led to the creation of the atomic bomb. By the time the events of this novel take place, Felix Hoenikker has been dead for some time, but those that remember him recall how aloof he was, as well as his general lack of interest in the effect his research would have on the world. Another of his inventions, known as ice-nine, ends up falling into the hands of various world powers, a situation somewhat reminiscent of the nuclear arms race. As for religion, Bokononism, which the narrator later adopts, was invented to make life on San Lorenzo more bearable for its inhabitants, as the island is incredibly poor.  

My Verdict: I feel like I should enjoy Vonnegut more than I do. I thoroughly enjoy the absurdist humor of books like Catch-22, and authors like Flannery O'Connor. However, I do not know if it is the general pace of the novel (it contains 127 chapters, but is less than 300 pages long and is an incredibly fast read), or the actual plot, or maybe even the ridiculous characters, but I had a hard time staying interested. The premise is fascinating enough, and it is not slow or boring...and yet, I was bored and wanted it to move faster. It makes little sense, if any. Still, I will recommend it, if only because it is short and an interesting commentary on religion (or at least man's relationship with it), as well as the relationship between inventors and their responsibility for what they invent.

Favorite Moment: When the narrator realizes just how quickly he takes to the power he was hesitant to accept.

Favorite Character: They all have their quirks, and they are all tiresome in one way or another. Newt may be the most tolerable if only because he seems to be the most innocent.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, though it is much longer, and for most, much harder to finish.