HomeSkills: Landscaping: How to Use Plants, Structures & Surfaces to Transform Your Yard

by Editors of Cool Springs Press
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  • ID: 4872
  • Added: 2025-10-22
  • Updated: 2025-10-22
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
ebay.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-10-22
breathtaking 4.50

The reviewer initially disliked Vonnegut's work but found Cat's Cradle captivating and mindblowing, praising its style, plot, and scientific elements. They appreciated the book's exploration of complex themes and its ability to provoke thought without preaching.

The reviewer had a negative experience with Vonnegut's previous work but decided to give him another chance with Cat's Cradle. They were immediately hooked, reading the book in one go and loving every aspect of it. The reviewer appreciated the unique style, the intriguing plot, and the scientific elements, finding the book mindblowing. They also enjoyed the exploration of themes such as the invention of the atomic bomb, the role of science, and the futility of religion. The reviewer found the characters compelling and the short chapters engaging, making for a quick and captivating read. They were impressed by the book's ability to provoke thought and raise important questions without preaching. Overall, the reviewer was thoroughly impressed and fascinated by the novel, shocked by the ideas it raises, and eager to read more of Vonnegut's work.

Quick quotes

    I literally couldn’t put it down. I read it in one go and I loved everything about it. The strange style, the plot, the sciency bits… just mindblowing!

    The style is both simple and complicated. Vonnegut uses simple words and short, precise sentences to tell a story that folds back onto itself, that jumps back and forth in time and expects the reader to know things that are only revealed much later.

    I was thoroughly impressed and fascinated by this novel, shocked by the ideas and thoughts it raises, and finished with my mouth gaping open, yearning for more science fiction books like this.

ebay.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-10-22
thought-provoking 4.50

The reviewer finds Kurt Vonnegut's 'Cat's Cradle' to be a profound exploration of social technology and postrationalism, with the novel's religion, Bokononism, serving as a scaffold for deeper philosophical themes. The story's speculative elements, such as the apocalyptic ice-nine, are secondary to the human struggles and societal critiques that Vonnegut masterfully portrays.

Kurt Vonnegut's 'Cat's Cradle' is a novel that defies easy classification, blending elements of science fiction with profound philosophical and social commentary. The reviewer appreciates Vonnegut's unique approach to speculative technology, which focuses on social rather than mechanical or digital advancements. The story follows a first-person narrator who becomes entangled in the political and religious dynamics of the fictional island nation of San Lorenzo. The novel's true depth lies in its exploration of Bokononism, a religion created by the character Bokonon, which serves as a vehicle for Vonnegut's critique of societal structures and human behavior. The reviewer highlights the relevance of Bokononism's themes to contemporary issues, such as the mental health crisis and the failure of economic and governmental reforms. The novel's speculative elements, like the apocalyptic ice-nine, are secondary to the human struggles and societal critiques that Vonnegut masterfully portrays. The reviewer finds 'Cat's Cradle' to be a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of postrationalism and the human condition.

Quick quotes

    Kurt Vonnegut is difficult to classify. He’s often described as a science fiction writer, but that never struck me as accurate. Many of his stories involve the future or advanced technology, but those elements seem to be afterthoughts in his stories which are actually about mundane human struggles.

    The hardest part of this review was about picking which Vonnegut novel to cover.

    The parallels to the contemporary world write themselves.

abebooks.com · Unknown · 2025-10-22
intriguing 3.50

Cat's Cradle is a darkly satirical novel with shades of science fiction. The writing style is initially alienating, but the book's irreverence, black humour, and commentary on human absurdity make it compelling.

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut is a darkly satirical novel that blends science fiction with a unique narrative style. The story is narrated by a writer named John, who becomes entangled with the eccentric children of Dr. Felix Hoenikker, one of the creators of the atomic bomb. The novel is segmented into short, snappy chapters that can feel disorienting at times. The characters are not particularly likeable, and the romantic subplot is somewhat wince-inducing. However, the book's irreverence, black humour, and commentary on science, religion, and the absurdity of human existence make it a compelling read. The fictional religion of Bokononism adds an interesting layer to the narrative. Despite initial frustrations, the novel's timeless ideas and bleak view of humanity make it worth revisiting.

Quick quotes

    The story is narrated by a writer called John, who in the beginning plans to write a book about the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

    The book is segmented into short, snappy chapters, some barely a few paragraphs in length and essentially a series of observations and snippets of conversations.

    It’s filled to the brim with timeless ideas relevant way beyond the Cold War era and its nuclear terror that clearly shaped the book.

betterworldbooks.com · Unknown · 2025-10-22
brilliant 4.50

The reviewer enjoyed Cat's Cradle for its dry humor, ironic narrative, and exploration of themes like religion and the ethics of science. They appreciated the book's concise storytelling and engaging dialogue, making it a quick and thought-provoking read.

The reviewer found Cat's Cradle to be a compelling introduction to Kurt Vonnegut's work, particularly enjoying the novel's dry humor and ironic tone. The story follows a journalist investigating the legacy of a scientist who created a dangerous substance, intertwining themes of religion and the ethical implications of scientific advancement. The reviewer appreciated the book's relaxed pace and down-to-earth style, as well as its rich dialogue and brief chapters, which made it an engaging and thought-provoking read. They also highlighted the novel's exploration of the fatuousness of science, comparing it to the famous line from Jurassic Park. Overall, the reviewer highly recommended the book for its unique intelligence and no-nonsense approach.

Quick quotes

    I love the subtle, dry humour and bitter irony that colours the narrative, joined with a relaxed, unhurried pace and very down to earth style

    The other major theme is the abnegation and often exuberant fatuousness of science, which reminds me of the line by Ian Malcom in Jurrasic Park: "... your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn't stop to think if they should

    I highly recommend that you read this book at least once.

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