https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc en-us 2021-12-23 00:04:33 UTC 2025-11-28 15:19:11 UTC hello@padlet.com ljstringer2 https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961241416 2021-12-23 00:07:08 UTC https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961241416 ljstringer2 https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961278599 Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut is a realistic/science fiction novel published in 1963. Its plot follows a writer named John who sets out to write a book about the day the first nuclear bomb dropped on Japan. His investigation takes him to a brand new country and the discovery of a chemical that holds the power to cause doomsday.]]> 2021-12-23 00:42:10 UTC https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961278599 ljstringer2 https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961315203 Kurt Vonnegut was born in Indianapolis in 1922. He attended Cornell University and enlisted in World War II where he fought in the trenches. He was a celebrated author publishing 27 books, plays, and short story collections in his lifetime. His fictional works often utilized satire and whimsy to spin poignant tales reflecting current society, religion, and war.  ]]> 2021-12-23 01:10:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961315203 ljstringer2 https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961357628 What originally drew me to this book was the concept of it being a social commentary parodying religion, human behavior, and other themes. While I did notice some of these, most registered in a way where I could tell there was more under the surface but I was not mature or educated enough to understand it yet. Vonnegut received his Ph.D. in anthropology for this novel so clearly it is jam-packed full of allegories, but nearly all of them went over my head. 
Despite that, I did enjoy this book. The plot was lighthearted and humorous from a surface-level perspective. It's a quick read, mostly due to the short chapters that made me feel like I was accomplishing more than I was. 
I usually define a good book as one that holds captivating characters, an addicting plot, and some heartfelt sentiment. While Cat's Cradle lacked most of these, it did offer some thought-provoking moments and a made-up religion with a surprisingly profound doctrine. ]]> 2021-12-23 01:41:29 UTC https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961357628 ljstringer2 https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961375016 In Cat's Cradle, John is introduced to a religion called Bokononism. While perceived by the community as peculiar and odd, it offered a philosophical discourse that struck me as very sincere compared to the overall tone of the story. ]]> 2021-12-23 01:54:21 UTC https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961375016 ljstringer2 https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961375433 2021-12-23 01:54:40 UTC https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961375433 ljstringer2 https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961558183 2021-12-23 04:22:48 UTC https://padlet.com/ljstringer2/ydgs04lmsqeedsrc/wish/1961558183