Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Live by the foma [harmless untruths] that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy.

The Books of Bokonon. I: 5

Kurt Vonnegut thought Cat's Cradle was one of his best novels, and I have to agree with him.  It is a tragicomedy of the first rank, and even more than fifty years after its first publication (1963), it is still a relevant and powerful document.

Cat's Cradle is narrated by Jonah (we never do find out his last name).  Jonah is intending to write a book about the day the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.  His research puts him in contact with the children of Felix Hoenikker, the (fictional) father of the A-bomb, and this leads him to the tiny (fictional) Caribbean island of San Lorenzo.  Here he finds and adopts a new religion, Bokononism,  meets lots of interesting people, becomes love-struck and then witnesses, um, something big - something very, very big.

Cat's Cradle is a retrospective narrative.  Jonah tells us early on in the novel that he is a convert to Bokononism, a religion founded in San Lorenzo by Bokonon, and he uses some of its theological terms to impart a metaphysical relevance to his tale. Bokononism is a fatalist religion and, therefore, a sufficiently discriminating practitioner will be able to see God's hand in even the smallest details of his/her life.  For example, when Jonah's cab driver suggests they make a detour during their trip, Jonah quotes from the Books of Bokonon: “Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”

Of course, Cat's Cradle isn't really about a fictional religion.  It is a satire on the human condition in general (especially in relation to science, religion, history and politics), and the state of world affairs as it was in the early sixties.  As one would expect, the Cold War figures in the narrative, as does U.S. imperialism in the Caribbean, exploitative capitalists and well-meaning individuals.  Vonnegut also investigates the ethical implications of scientific research and the ways in which its discoveries and technologies are used by others.  On any of these points Vonnegut is both hopeful and bleak.

If you are worried about the current goings-on in the Ukraine or the Spratly Islands, or even in the environment in general, then Cat's Cradle may be the book to make you laugh and cry at the same time.  Challenging, entertaining, seemingly effortless and highly recommended.

P.S.  Regarding Chapter 125 on Tasmanian Aboriginals, Vonnegut says: "And the aborigines found life so unattractive that they gave up reproducing."  He got this wrong.  I am glad to say the Aboriginal Community in Tasmania is strong, proud and still here.