"This is a 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 previously owned by the School Department High School Library from Winchester, Massachussets.
I don't remember how I came by this book; time to continue its travels...

Sent today this WishList book as a Surprise RABCK to Shahrun.
Surprise... and happy reading!

Thank you so much for this surprise RABCK. It really brightened my dull rainy Saturday in London.

What started out as a journalist trying to write a book on the history of the atomic bomb quickly very very odd journey to the end of the world when he started following the Bokon religion on the island of San Lorenzo. It’s half total genius, half totally madness. I’d probably need multiple sessions with a therapist to decided exactly what my thoughts were. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I’m confused. There was one section on p89 though that really summer up the world for me:
“…”everything I've heard about it I like," said H. Lowe Crosby.
"They've got discipline. They've got something you can count on from one year to the next.They don't have the government encouraging everybody to be some kind of original pissant nobody ever heard of before."
"Sir??
"Christ, back in Chicago, we don't make bicycles any more. It's all human relations now. The eggheads sit around trying to figure out new ways for everybody to be happy. Nobody can get fired, no matter what; and if somebody does accidentally make a bicycle, the union accuses us of cruel and inhuman practices and the government confiscates the bicycle for back taxes and gives it to a blind man in Afghanistan.”

"And you think things will be better in San Lorenzo?"
"I know damn well they will be. The people down there are poor enough and scared enough and ignorant enough to have some common sense!"

Packing up with another book to post off to a BookCrosser.

Arrived safely along with its friend and other goodies. Many thanks for sharing I look forward to reading it.

"Science is magic that works."

Cat’s Cradle was first published in 1963 there are elements that speak of its time. There is misogyny and racial slurs; I'm still unsure as to whether or not a black leader was pivotal to the destruction of mankind and that a white man came along as saviour but failed was meant to be ironic, thought provoking or simply racist. I guess it boils down to the individual reader. But the story covers some pretty big issues, nuclear war, environmental concerns and the role of governments as well.
In particular it preys on our deepest fears of not only witnessing Armageddon but worse still, surviving it. A theme that still feels relevant today.

This is my fifth book by the author but my least favourite. The tale is told in Vonnegut's distinctive deadpan irony and bitter satire that I usually like but ultimately this one is just too weird for me. Yet despite its apparent depressing tone I found it somewhat uplifting as I felt that hope rather than despair was the underlining message and as such this book deserves to continue to be read.

Going out to another Bookcrosser as a Bookmooch. Enjoy!

Thanks 4evagreen, nice surprise to find out this Bookmooch book is also a Bookcrossing book, excellent!

An interesting read but not really my cup of tea. Now ready to go out into the world again.

Given to a friend