Matthew’s Comments (group member since Oct 21, 2016)

Matthew’s comments from the Arters AP Literature 2016-17 group.

Affecting millions of Americans, WWII was one of the worst tragedies the world has seen. Many individuals were directly involved in the cause. One of these individuals was Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut was heavily influenced by his experiences which is clearly shown through his writings. Vonnegut, most famous for his satire, pokes humor in all aspects of life.
War being one of his favorite satirical subjects, Cat’s Cradle speaks of the end of the world. As the main character, John, seeks out the creator of the atomic bomb, he ends up going on an adventure taking him all over. Vonnegut manages to bring John from New York to the feet of a dictator in San Lorenzo in a crafty manner. In a very “Vonnegut” fashion, he opens Cat’s Cradle talking about a made up religion. Right from the start Vonnegut is questioning the true meaning behind religion. In the most brilliant way, Vonnegut makes the reader laugh at the turn of almost every page while still getting his personal views across.
Unlike some more “notable” authors, Vonnegut goes about writing in deep, but simple manner. His writing lacks the elegant fashion of many, but makes up for it in his ability to create a story touch on all aspects of life. For example, the whole book is Vonnegut setting up one giant ironic situation where John goes to seek the man who created the atomic bomb. John, who is writing a book on the end of the world, befriends the creator. After the many different places they go, he finds that he is faced with the true end of the world, but not with the invention he had originally thought.
While this whole ironic situation is being set up, Vonnegut finds a way to make fun of the stupidity in mankind. From religion to mass destruction, he touches on almost every subject.
This has to be the best book I have ever read. I have always gotten a kick out of sarcasm. He can make a reader laugh at some of the darkest aspects of life. I was bursting out in laughter at some of the oddities he uses in his story, yet, at the same time, each character was faced with a different serious issue each chapter. Vonnegut did an amazing job of making the reader feel involved in the story. As the story progresses, I felt that I related to each character in some way. I felt most connected to the selfish nature of the characters. It was sad but true. The most relatable parts of the story were when characters acted in self interest that I connected with. For example, when the Hoenikkers took ice nine from their father to use for power. It is hard to say I wouldn’t have done the same. However, my favorite character is Felix Hoenikker because of his innocent destructive nature. Felix does his own thing and cares about himself. He can’t focus, show emotion towards family, make money, or hold basic interactions with people, yet he had the ability to make two different world ending devices. This was never his intention, but his blindness to true human nature allowed him to release these inventions the world. Adding to the case of human’s or lack of ability to realize this and end the world by accident.
The one thing that is worth mentioning is that Cat’s Cradle has a very different structure to it. Vonnegut takes a different approach to order of events. He decides to move the ending to the middle of the book. It made it more of a cliff hanger earlier on and did a great job of holding my interest. For the last portion of the book, nothing surprising or exciting really happens. Vonnegut just sums up the book. I actually enjoyed this structure, but some people would say that the ending was poor. Among this unique structure was many anecdotes. In the beginning, I thought it was weird that he included so many weird and at the moment irrelevant information, but later I found that it all tied together. I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoy satire or to people who want to change things up. Vonnegut has many interesting perspectives on life. I would also recommend researching Vonnegut’s life and personal views. It will make it easier to pick up on the satire and provide one with a different perspective.

After reading this book, I would recommend this book to those who like satire. I would put this at the top of the list for Vonnegut books. It is a little weird at times, like a lot weirder than some of his other books, but I really enjoyed the book as a whole.

Alex wrote: "Matthew wrote: "I think that's cool how Vonnegut reused his characters. He did an amazing job of including all issues in the world. It touched on so many topics and yet did not overwhelm me. I real..."
The only book he was in that I read was slaughterhouse five. He is a minor character, but holds the same personalities that he has in Breakfast of Champions. I think Rosewater was in both too. I know both characters are in several of his books. I think that's a cool concept to keep the same characters in different books. I wonder if any other authors do that.

I think that's cool how Vonnegut reused his characters. He did an amazing job of including all issues in the world. It touched on so many topics and yet did not overwhelm me. I really enjoyed this and put this at the top of my list of books. I always hated reading, but find myself wanting to pick up a book that is written by him.

Alex wrote: "Another observation I've made about Vonnegut's writing is that he does a great job of "showing" instead of "telling" if that makes sense. For example, he could've just said that Dwayne Hoover was i..."
Totally agree. Throughout this whole book, I feel apart of the story and really connect and visualize these characters. I think reading his stories have helped me better display events in my own writings.

Alex wrote: "Matthew wrote: "So far my favorite part was satirization of wealth where he puts people in the two groups of the powerful and the nothing. Then he proceeds to talk about communism as a solution. Th..."
Yea, I'm not for communism either and same with Vonnegut. He is just making fun of people that believe it is the solution.

So far my favorite part was satirization of wealth where he puts people in the two groups of the powerful and the nothing. Then he proceeds to talk about communism as a solution. The idea of communism being the solution made me chuckle, but the problem with wealth in the world as he discussed sadly still applies.

Alex wrote: "After reading some more, I'm inclined to question Vonnegut's sanity. What sane person would introduce characters by name and genital size? I've never read a book which talked about how big a certai..."
Hahaha I would agree. I normally love his humor, but he may have taken this a little too far... Like i said in my earlier comments, I know a good amount on Vonnegut. To give you some background knowledge he was in Germany serving during WWII and was in the Dresden fire bombing. A lot of his sanity was in question in his life. In my opinion, writing was therapeutic for him.

Knowing about Vonnegut's history, each character has a little bit of Vonnegut in them. You can see personal traits and beliefs (or radically different beliefs) in each character. He does an amazing job of portraying these issues like Yao said. It is unique and hilarious.

Alex wrote: "I really like the style in which Vonnegut wrote this book. As I read, I feel as if I am just having a conversation with him as he explains the story and helps elaborate on certain things with pictu..."
Yes, I found that with his other books. He has a great way of making you feel as if you are in the story yourself. The pictures weren't in his other books I have read, but I like the addition. I wonder if he drew them himself because I think he was an artist on the side.

After reading cats cradle and slaughterhouse five, I am very excited for what I hear to be one of his best. I love the satire and his views on life. He seems to like starting his books way different than how the rest of the book is written. He starts with a disclaimer in breakfast of champions which I compare to how he satirized bookonism. I have not read much yet, but already love the craziness with the robots.

Yao and I have Breakfast of Champions

Heather wrote: "Matthew wrote: "I am reading Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. I am on page 77 out of 287. In the beginning it was very weird and confusing as the main character, Jonah, believes in a made up religion..."
I am on page 114 out of 287 now and the book is really starting to pick up. Jonah has written to Felix's kids asking them about the day of the bomb earlier in the book. One, a midget, Newt replied and his sister did not. The other kid Franklin has been missing and wanted for a while now. It is cool to see it all come together now. Franklin was found and he is now a dictator of San Lorenzo and Jonah, Newt, and Angela are all on the same plane and have interesting conversations. As each child is described he states that each one had ice nine in a thermos. I have a new prediction that since he is writing a book about the end of the world that they will drop ice nine in an ocean and end the world. It is also revealed that Franklin is marrying who Jonah thinks is his true love. I find this religion to be very funny. It is mentioned in almost every chapter and some of the explanations for how people are and act is hilarious. They have just arrived on the island and I am waiting to see how the Hoenikkers and Jonah come together again....

I am reading Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. I am on page 77 out of 287. In the beginning it was very weird and confusing as the main character, Jonah, believes in a made up religion called Bokononism. The book is hilarious and does a great job with satire. One of my favorite things about this religion that he is devoted to is that the opening statement of their religious book is that everything in the book is a lie. The book (so far) is about Jonah trying to make his own book about the end of the world referring to the day the atomic bomb was dropped. Jonah is in New York trying to find out more information about Dr. Felix Hoenikker one of the main scientist on the Manhattan Project. Dr. Felix Hoenikker is an interesting character. He is never interested in much, but when he is it becomes his passion until the next thing he sees. He views the world very different from others. The book put a weird and short emphasis on one of his inventions called ice-nine which freezes all water. I think this will come back up later in the book and serve a big importance. I think this is one of the best satirical pieces I have ever read so far.

Cat's Cradle