I'd like to open up by declaring that I really am enjoying this novel so far. I haven't gotten that far in yet... And I know there are some people who have some serious objections to whatever happens later in the book... So I'm looking forward to getting to that. Vonnegut's style is different than anything I've ever read before.
I like it.
So one thing that really jumped out at me as I was reading was Newt Hoenikker's off-hand comment at the beginning fo chapter six: "Aren't the gorges beautiful? This year, two girls jumped into one holding hands. They didn't get into the sorority they wanted. They wanted Tri-Delt" (pg 13). Then he goes on to continue his story--reminiscent of his father, I think, saying whatever may come to mind and then moving onto the next interesting thing...
I find this novel, so far, to be very postmodern in its outright discussion of lies. To me, a lot of postmodernism is sort of delving into the depths of subjects people don't really like thinking about--stuff they're uncomfortable with. And Vonnegut pointing out that religion is founded on lies definately falls into that category of discomfort. Take the first sentence in The Books of Bokonon: "All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies" (pg 5).
Even the format of the novel itself adds a little to the reader's discomfort--we open a book, and more often than not expect to see tradition, as it has been laid down for centuries by all the great authors--lengthy chapters, mostly. Something about these ultra-short chapters worries us somehow. Maybe we can't quite put our finger on it... I know I certainly can't... And, like I said, to me... that's a little bit of postmodernism.
I'm definately looking forward to reading more. Onward we plunge!!!
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Nice blog Marin.
ReplyDeleteI too am enjoying Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle!
I like how you mentioned that Cat's Cradle deals with subjects that people are uncomfortable talking about. I, personally have not seen the book that way but now that you've mentioned it, I see it perfectly! There actually have been numerous times when Vonnegut has slipped little unusual comments into his book. An example of this would be when the bartender said that Newt "was just one of those kids who made model airplanes and jerked off all the time" (23). Really, who says that?!? lol I think that your blog is really getting somewhere...it is focusing on a subject which you should bring up in class!
Your central idea for this blog is something different...and I like it! Keep up the hard work...your thoughts are certainly not nonexistent :)
P.S.
ReplyDeleteSweet blog layout!
true, the lies and the short choppy chapters are postmodern, but what is it that all of us have missed... I get that funny feeling I failed to spot something that I will notice later and have to hastily edit my blog... could just be a hunch though. we see how it plays out. And that was an outlyong comment about the two would be pledges, I wonder if it merans anything.
ReplyDeleteHello Marin! First of all, I really appreciate the style of your blogs. It really feels as though you are thinking things out as you were writing the blog. It really helps me follow your train of thought in developing your ideas. I think that you should really delve deeper into the ideas about lies more, because it seems like you really have something to say there. I think that there can be absolute truth, for example- so what does this mean through the postmodern perspective. Without truth, are there lies at all? Since lies most definitely do exist (the cake is a lie, for example), does that not automatically prove the existence of truth. If there is a truth then, does that not disprove one of the fundamentals of Postmodern perspective. I also do not believe that Bokonovism is a viable religion- requiring that doublethink must be used to be a true follower.
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