Bonus Book of the Month: ‘Cat’s Cradle’ by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
New year means new books!
This January, we are choosing a classic novel to dive into.
Our BONUS BOOK for January is Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
The novel’s timeless themes are the reasons why people have called it a modern classic. Vonnegut Jr.’s satirical approach to religion, science and the human capacity for self-destruction has been a fascinating exploration for many.
Join our live book chat on Twitch to discuss the series together!
Join our book club today and help us vote for our 2026 books.
About the Author:
Kurt Vonnegut, Junior was an American novelist, satirist, and most recently, graphic artist. He was recognized as New York State Author for 2001-2003.
He was born in Indianapolis, later the setting for many of his novels. He attended Cornell University from 1941 to 1943, where he wrote a column for the student newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun. Vonnegut trained as a chemist and worked as a journalist before joining the U.S. Army and serving in World War II.
After the war, he attended University of Chicago as a graduate student in anthropology and also worked as a police reporter at the City News Bureau of Chicago. He left Chicago to work in Schenectady, New York in public relations for General Electric. He attributed his unadorned writing style to his reporting work.
His experiences as an advance scout in the Battle of the Bulge, and in particular his witnessing of the bombing of Dresden, Germany whilst a prisoner of war, would inform much of his work. This event would also form the core of his most famous work, Slaughterhouse-Five, the book which would make him a millionaire. This acerbic 200-page book is what most people mean when they describe a work as "Vonnegutian" in scope.
CAT’S CRADLE
by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Synopsis:
Dr Felix Hoenikker, one of the founding 'fathers' of the atomic bomb, has left a deadly legacy to the world. For he's the inventor of 'ice-nine', a lethal chemical capable of freezing the entire planet. The search for its whereabouts leads to Hoenikker's three ecentric children, to a crazed dictator in the Caribbean, to madness. Felix Hoenikker's Death Wish comes true when his last, fatal gift to humankind brings about the end, that for all of us, is nigh...
What Cat’s Cradle offers
the absurdity of human existence
the search for meaning amidst chaos
technology and societal structures failing humanity
science vs. morality
human connection
Join Our Book Chat
Maude and our community will dive into Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. on Thursday, January 29th. Join us on Twitch from 5-7 p.m. PT.
What did you think about Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.? Let us know in the comments below, or join our Discord today!
Did you miss our latest book chat? Become a member today to read more books and get access to behind-the-scenes content of ‘Maude’s Book Club.’
