03/15/2025
One thing I love is how easy Vonnegut is to read. His dark humor and just overall way of delivering his stories are always enjoyable. Cat’s Cradle was my first introduction, so it goes. I didn’t know originally that this was about his life, but that just made the story that much better. What I love is the unreliable narrator of an old man who is telling people he’s been taken by aliens. And the conviction of which he tells the story. It also reminded me of when people die, they see their lives flash before them. This had that quality to it. But there was just enough correlated detail that you weren’t really sure if he was being delusional or not. Also, his daughter getting all worked up over him in the story, it just had that younger generation vibe to it that is always like, okay grandpa, let’s get you to bed.
Normally I am not a huge fan of the jumping around, but here, since it played into the story, it just works to take you on this will ride. I also love how the story title fits in, as I thought it was going to be about five people, but that wasn’t the case at all.
Again, this being a classic is a no brainer. It shows how important it is for you to find your own voice in your work.
2025-8
