Questions About Cat’s Cradle

by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

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Answered Questions (11)

does this book curse really bad and is it clean enough for a 15 year old?

Bryan Hovey If you think a 15 year old has never heard the f word ...

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Is CAT'S CRADLE clean? Also, is it very captivating? Does it keeps the reader's attention easily?

Laurel Profanity is not the issue. Vonnegut is writing about big themes, never more important than today when the ice caps melt, the seas rise, and the fores…moreProfanity is not the issue. Vonnegut is writing about big themes, never more important than today when the ice caps melt, the seas rise, and the forests burn. An intelligent teen wouldn't be put off by a few "swear words." Neither should their adult guides.(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Bonnie But he has been BANNED ya know!! So he must have had lots of bad words and sex in his work. Not.
OTOH, I have never read a more gentle, compassionate, …moreBut he has been BANNED ya know!! So he must have had lots of bad words and sex in his work. Not.
OTOH, I have never read a more gentle, compassionate, and intelligent author. He makes his points sometimes so softly you don't realize what he is doing. Or you THINK you know what he said, so let's BAN him because you missed his point entirely.
About adult language, issues, ideas, in adolescent literature: if your child understands what he has read, he has already been introduced to the concept. If he doesn't understand yet, no damage done! Maybe you could even use a book to open a discussion so your child knows the reasons you feel as you do!
Admission: I spent 30 years as a high school librarian, and raised four daughters who are avid readers.
I hate censorship. I love ideas.(less)

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Am I the only one who really didn't like this book??

C. Steele No.. and not due to topics covered in the book, but just because I thought it was completely boring. Wish I wasn't so OCD and didn't make myself finis…moreNo.. and not due to topics covered in the book, but just because I thought it was completely boring. Wish I wasn't so OCD and didn't make myself finish it. (less)

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My favorite line from this book is, "No damn cat, no damn cradle." But I can't remember the lines leading up to it. Can anybody quote them please?

Kate Babbie “He held out his painty hands as though a cat’s cradle was strung between them.
‘No wonder kids grow up crazy. A cat’s cradle is nothing but a bunch o…more“He held out his painty hands as though a cat’s cradle was strung between them.
‘No wonder kids grow up crazy. A cat’s cradle is nothing but a bunch of X’s between somebody’s hands, and little kids look and look and look at all those X’s...’
‘And?’
‘No damn cat, and no damn cradle.’”
-Chapter 74

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