Cat's Cradle
A Novel
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4.4 • 701 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
“A free-wheeling vehicle . . . an unforgettable ride!”—The New York Times
Cat’s Cradle is Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical commentary on modern man and his madness. An apocalyptic tale of this planet’s ultimate fate, it features a midget as the protagonist, a complete, original theology created by a calypso singer, and a vision of the future that is at once blackly fatalistic and hilariously funny. A book that left an indelible mark on an entire generation of readers, Cat’s Cradle is one of the twentieth century’s most important works—and Vonnegut at his very best.
“[Vonnegut is] an unimitative and inimitable social satirist.”—Harper’s Magazine
“Our finest black-humorist . . . We laugh in self-defense.”—Atlantic Monthly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Vonnegut's 1963 satirical science fiction novel still manages to pack a powerfully subversive punch. The new audio release offers listeners an excellent opportunity to connect or reconnect with a classic text whose thematic elements nuclear terror, the complications of science, American imperialism, global capitalism and the role of religion in public life are remarkably relevant to our 21st-century landscape. The story line centers on a young writer's quest to research the history of the atomic bomb, which leads to a bizarre political soap opera and apocalyptic showdown on the shores of a seedy banana republic in the Caribbean. Tony Roberts brings tremendous energy to his reading, projecting a sardonic tone perfectly suited to Vonnegut. His portrayals of the principal male figures sometimes take the form of interchangeable over-the-top carnival barkers, but given the essence of the material, such a unnuanced approach can be understood and appreciated. The audiobook includes a 2005 interview in which Vonnegut who died April 11, 2007 discusses how his life shaped his literary craft.
Customer Reviews
Amusing, at times Confusing
This book uniquely describes the folly of man in a humorous way. The brilliance of the writing is undeniable.
What I think.
When I was 22 years old, I met a young woman in a coffee shop in Southern California. She gave me her copy of “Cats Cradle.”
As she handed it to me, she said, “This book will change your life.” I never saw her again.
I’m now 52, and I just finished re-reading this book for the first time in 10 years—though I’d read it at least a dozen times before then.
She was right, that young woman in the coffee shop.
I can’t begin to promise this book will have the same affect on you. Maybe you’ll like it. Maybe you’ll hate it. That’s art for you. That’s life.
But for me, to this day, it remains my very favorite book.
The Last Sentence is Perfect
Yes, it is.