18 votes

Tildes Book Club - Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut - How is it going?

I'm about a third of the way through the book. We will discuss the week of August 25.

24 comments

  1. [3]
    smores
    Link
    I totally forgot about this and luckily saw this post last night in time to buy the book before my flight this morning. Manage to read about 60% of it while the baby was napping on me on the...

    I totally forgot about this and luckily saw this post last night in time to buy the book before my flight this morning. Manage to read about 60% of it while the baby was napping on me on the plane.

    I've read this before (like 12 years ago) and I remembered liking it, but I'm definitely getting way more out of it this time through. Excited to talk about it with you all!

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      Requirement
      Link Parent
      Two insane, impressive feats in one post: You got a baby to sleep on a plane?! You read so much faster than me! A whole plane ride nets me 15% of a book!

      Two insane, impressive feats in one post:

      1. You got a baby to sleep on a plane?!
      2. You read so much faster than me! A whole plane ride nets me 15% of a book!
      1 vote
      1. smores
        Link Parent
        Hahahahaha well thanks. It was our first flight with our baby and she actually did great. Definitely a lot of active work to keep her comfortable/happy, but she wasn't bothered by the altitude...

        Hahahahaha well thanks. It was our first flight with our baby and she actually did great. Definitely a lot of active work to keep her comfortable/happy, but she wasn't bothered by the altitude change and managed to take three 45-60min naps over the 6 hours flight. Overally pretty seamless, which is great because it really felt like a huge gamble haha.

        Also, this book in particular is a pretty quick read and pretty short, so I think that helped quite a bit with the progress haha

  2. crialpaca
    Link
    I'm at about 10%, reading on my phone in spare moments. The only other Vonnegut work I've read is Harrison Bergeron, which I think is quite different, but it's been so long.

    I'm at about 10%, reading on my phone in spare moments. The only other Vonnegut work I've read is Harrison Bergeron, which I think is quite different, but it's been so long.

    5 votes
  3. Wes
    Link
    I finished last week. I've written down some thoughts, though I'm not sure how I'll put them together just yet. I'll not go into any details here, but the book reminded me a lot of...

    I finished last week. I've written down some thoughts, though I'm not sure how I'll put them together just yet.

    I'll not go into any details here, but the book reminded me a lot of Slaughterhouse-Five. I guess that irreverent tone is just Vonnegut's style. I found this novel a lot more straightforward, and generally easy to follow.

    I look forward to the discussion, and learning about all the subtext I may have missed...

    3 votes
  4. [6]
    first-must-burn
    Link
    I had a tough time finding the audio book version. On downpour, it said it was not available in the US. Also not available on Libby. I did find an audio version on youtube, of all places. It's not...

    I had a tough time finding the audio book version. On downpour, it said it was not available in the US. Also not available on Libby. I did find an audio version on youtube, of all places. It's not my preference to do it that way, but I won't buy it from audible.

    I'm about 5/6 of the way through and enjoying it.

    I feel like I'll have to really sit and think about what the book means. It seems to have many layers. I've had several Cat's Cradle quotes in my quote database, so it's nice to attach some context to them. I feel like I'm going to come away with a few more.

    3 votes
    1. smores
      Link Parent
      Oh, I just bought it on Libro.fm last night! I'm having the same thoughts about needing to sit with it and digest once I'm done. It feels quite dense, thematically and metaphorically

      Oh, I just bought it on Libro.fm last night!

      I'm having the same thoughts about needing to sit with it and digest once I'm done. It feels quite dense, thematically and metaphorically

      4 votes
    2. [3]
      tanglisha
      Link Parent
      I did manage to get it through Libby, thanks to a reciprocal library. I dish my know roar was a thing until my library got hacked and shut down, they gave a list of other libraries in our state...

      I did manage to get it through Libby, thanks to a reciprocal library. I dish my know roar was a thing until my library got hacked and shut down, they gave a list of other libraries in our state that would give us cards. If you haven’t looked into this, smaller libraries sometimes have less selection but the waits are shorter. Search for the name of your library and “reciprocal” or “partner”.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        first-must-burn
        Link Parent
        Thanks! I did check, but all the libraries in our county (Allegheny County) are already part of a unified system, so it seems like that takes the place of the reciprocal relationships. There is...

        Thanks! I did check, but all the libraries in our county (Allegheny County) are already part of a unified system, so it seems like that takes the place of the reciprocal relationships. There is the Free Library of Pennsylvania, which I was already a member of. But it was good to check.

        3 votes
        1. tanglisha
          Link Parent
          Wow, that’s pretty nice. Each one I’ve signed up for has had a slightly different process to keep track of if you can’t make it in physically.

          Wow, that’s pretty nice. Each one I’ve signed up for has had a slightly different process to keep track of if you can’t make it in physically.

          2 votes
    3. Jerutix
      Link Parent
      It’s on Hoopla if you (or others who see this since you’re mostly done) have access to it through your library. I haven’t started yet, but I’ll knock it out soon.

      It’s on Hoopla if you (or others who see this since you’re mostly done) have access to it through your library. I haven’t started yet, but I’ll knock it out soon.

      2 votes
  5. PnkNBlck71817
    Link
    I have the audiobook waiting, just trying to get through my current audiobook before starting it. It's pretty short, so I should be able to finish it during my drives to work next week.

    I have the audiobook waiting, just trying to get through my current audiobook before starting it. It's pretty short, so I should be able to finish it during my drives to work next week.

    3 votes
  6. georgeboff
    Link
    I finished in a few days, but I read this along with a bunch of other Vonnegut about 20 years ago so that helps. Cats Cradle is among my least favorite of his writing but I still think it's pretty...

    I finished in a few days, but I read this along with a bunch of other Vonnegut about 20 years ago so that helps. Cats Cradle is among my least favorite of his writing but I still think it's pretty good overall. I will look forwards to reading everyone's thoughts in the discussion thread, and am also looking forwards to all of the books coming up (except for Kafka, I read that once and have no desire to do so again)

    3 votes
  7. tomf
    Link
    this felt like the internal monologue of Andre from My Dinner with Andre while he was in the thick of it.

    this felt like the internal monologue of Andre from My Dinner with Andre while he was in the thick of it.

    3 votes
  8. carsonc
    Link
    I liked the observations about the military-industrial complex in Cat's Cradle (1963), which would seem to show up in Stanislaws His Master's Voice (1968). Also, the Bokononist bits kept reminding...

    I liked the observations about the military-industrial complex in Cat's Cradle (1963), which would seem to show up in Stanislaws His Master's Voice (1968). Also, the Bokononist bits kept reminding me of Earthseed, albeit with more inventive terms for different relationships.

    The disappearing polymorph phenomenon at the heart of Cat's Cradle is, thankfully, not real, but the freezing-memory effect is, apparently.

    The nucleation rates significantly increased when the water had previously frozen as ice and melted (freezing-memory effect)...

    I've been toying with the idea of reproducing this at the "high-school science fair" level.

    I was reminded also of The Xi Effect, where the earth ends up being destroyed by these vast alterations.

    3 votes
  9. arch
    Link
    I'm about 1/3 of the way into Cat's Cradle so far. This is my first time reading Vonnegut, and I've been pleasantly surprised at how accessible his writing is. I haven't exactly figured out how he...

    I'm about 1/3 of the way into Cat's Cradle so far. This is my first time reading Vonnegut, and I've been pleasantly surprised at how accessible his writing is. I haven't exactly figured out how he manages it, but his style is at once heavily clichéd, but somehow dodges actually feeling cliché. I'm not sure if it's the overlapping frameworks that he uses (the story being so much about describing the religion Bokonon as it is anything else) or the fact that his main character isn't so heavy with it in his internal monologue vs. when he speaks to the other characters the clichés fly incessantly, making it somewhat comical. It manages to come off as tongue-in-cheek instead of annoying. I'm also trying to stay constantly aware of the fact that Cat's Cradle is 60 years old, so some of what may feel overdone today is due to the effect that Vonnegut has had on the cultural canon.

    It's a really fun read. I didn't expect the short chapters, it makes it very easy to pick the book up for a few minutes and then put it down when life interrupts me. I'm not sure if that's slowing me down more than it's speeding me up, but I am definitely more likely to walk away after just a few minutes because of it.

    3 votes
  10. [2]
    lackofaname
    Link
    I read this about a decade ago, and hated it (I tried another Vonnegut later and also couldn't get into it). While it could be interesting to see if my perception has changed, I only have so much...

    I read this about a decade ago, and hated it (I tried another Vonnegut later and also couldn't get into it).

    While it could be interesting to see if my perception has changed, I only have so much free time in my life. I'd also rather not be a huge negative drag on the book club discussion, so I'll give it a miss :)

    2 votes
    1. boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      I respect your point about your time. However if in future you read a book club book that you dislike, telling us about it can also be a solid contribution.

      I respect your point about your time.

      However if in future you read a book club book that you dislike, telling us about it can also be a solid contribution.

      3 votes
  11. [3]
    chocobean
    (edited )
    Link
    This is my first Vonnegut (aside from Harrison Bergeron, which I read in school and didn't know was him), and so far I'm liking it. [Edit: finished. I really liked it] Especially curious for folks...

    This is my first Vonnegut (aside from Harrison Bergeron, which I read in school and didn't know was him), and so far I'm liking it. [Edit: finished. I really liked it]

    Especially curious for folks who like his other writings but not Cats Cradle, why this one reads differently for them

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      Zorind
      Link Parent
      I need to re-read it and some of his others I own too. I first read them a few years back and I think I really liked Cats Cradle and Player Piano, but I don’t remember exactly. Sirens of Titan I...

      I need to re-read it and some of his others I own too. I first read them a few years back and I think I really liked Cats Cradle and Player Piano, but I don’t remember exactly. Sirens of Titan I think was slightly to “weird” for me…and I don’t think I finished reading Slaughterhouse 5 so I should probably do that.

      I’ve been to the Vonnegut museum/house in Indiana and bought a shirt, specifically the one with this quote:

      The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries

      If you like his books and are ever in the Indianapolis area, I do recommend checking it out. It has a couple of neat displays, and discusses literary censorship.

      5 votes
      1. first-must-burn
        Link Parent
        I really love this. I wish the library quote tshirt came in black. I look terrible in light colored clothing. I ordered the tote bag and the stickers that say: Mild spoilers No damn cat, no damn...

        I really love this. I wish the library quote tshirt came in black. I look terrible in light colored clothing. I ordered the tote bag and the stickers that say:

        Mild spoilers

        No damn cat, no damn cradle

        3 votes
  12. rosco
    Link
    I love Vonnegut and I was so excited to see we're doing one I hadn't read. The true absurdity that he leans into is so cathartic, particularly at this moment in time. I'm about half in and can't...

    I love Vonnegut and I was so excited to see we're doing one I hadn't read. The true absurdity that he leans into is so cathartic, particularly at this moment in time. I'm about half in and can't wait for our final discussion!

    2 votes
  13. sorkceror
    Link
    I've started it, only about 10% of the way through I think. The pacing is interesting, the short chapters make it feel like I'm racing through the story despite not very much actually happening so...

    I've started it, only about 10% of the way through I think.
    The pacing is interesting, the short chapters make it feel like I'm racing through the story despite not very much actually happening so far.

    I'm reserving judgement until I've read more, but I like it more than Slaughterhouse 5, which is the only other Vonnegut I've read.
    I don't remember much of Slaughterhouse 5 beyond thinking at the time that it was severely overrated.