Bokononism

          Most people join a religion so they can have something to believe in. A god and set of beliefs that they can follow. This is mostly because we as human beings, can not comprehend the ultimate question to the existence of life the universe and everything, so we look to religion to explain the forming of earth, and the terrifying question as to when it is going to end. In the fictional religion Bokononism presented in Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, there is a very different case. Followers of the religion admit that their religion does not exist, they admit the foolishness in trying to find the extent of their religion. In this way, Bokononism is almost completely different from all other religions, some might say it is the exact opposite of other religions, almost making fun of the extreme extents people take their religions. In the past and today, people have made their religions a huge deal in their lives, some even going to such extents to place their soul in their Gods hands, believing all events happen because of God's will. For example, recently there was a big belief that the world was going to end on May 21 2011 because that was when God was going to take believers to an eternal paradise. In this scenario, like many before it, people have let their fate take to much control over common sense.

          So is Kurt Vonnegut simply poking fun at religious extremities, or is he sending a message? Possibly he is warning us of the danger religion can have on a person if they believe so deeply in it or let it take away their true sensible minds. Bokonon explains it, yet we as the reader need to discover what Vonnegut meant by creating this bizarre unique religion.

Cat's Cradle

        I have continued my reading of Cat's Cradle, a fictional novel written by Kurt Vonnegut. Let me start of by saying, that this book has the most bizarre form of writing I have ever read. Vonnegut is writing about a fictional religion called Bokonon, where the primary belief is that all religions are fake, and completely understanding the complete limits of ones religion is a waste, for you will never find them. Vonnegut tells us about this interesting religion through the journey of the main character Jonah, who is on a hunt to find as much about the father of the atomic bomb, a man named Dr. Felix Hoenikker, as he can. The search is currently leading Jonah to an island known as San Lorenzo. I find San Lorenzo to be a very interesting island mostly due to it's politics and form of running the society. It seems to be lead by a leader of the name, "Papa Monzano", who wants to make the island a perfect Utopia, and in order to do so, all the rules are made extremely strict. Any felony is dealt with by "The Hook.'' A big hook that is used to slice through people in the stomach, and hang them up.
       One question I have about the island of San Lorenzo and it's strict government, is on one of their major oppositions; Bokononism is not allowed to be practiced. Why is that? When Jonah lands on the island, he sees a billboard warning of this, and another claiming that the only religion to be practiced is Christianity. I think the author Kurt Vonnegut constructed this restricting rule of the island to warn of possible dangers that can occur if a society attempts to create a Utopia. Often, in history or in other fictional books, when a Utopia is created, it can leave other peoples believes, religions, and moral values out because they are not considered "perfect" enough for the society. The leader and followers decide they must get rid of it in order to make sure that their society is not contaminated with anything seen as unfit. Possibly however, there is another reason to this? As I continue to read, I hope to find the answer to this question.

Cat's Cradle

Cat's Cradle is the book my philosophy group has chosen to read, and so far I have a lot of feeling on the story. First off, it's a very bizarre book, almost nothing like books that I have read before. The author Kurt Vonnegut, starts with the main character Jonah and his 'religious' group the Bokonons, and branches off from there to talk about much smaller details from the main point of Jonah writing a book about the bomb on Hiroshima. In a way, it's kind of confusing, but it's new and fresh for me so I enjoy it's originality. But is there a purpose for Vonnegut going off on small, so seeming useless journeys from the main plot line. I say no. The story is based around Jonah, and Bokonon, the religion he follows. I believe these smaller parts to the story will eventually fit together, explaining more about Bokonon and how Jonah went from being a christian, to a Bokonon. In a way this style of writing builds up from small, to large, and you just have to continue going along with it, to see the final outcome. Possibly, the thing that pushes Jonah to join his certain religious group is the bomb on Hiroshima, and how he is going to write a book on it and one of the main creators of the bomb, Doctor Hoenikker. For that is what provokes Jonah to go out on the quest to write his story, thus causing the smaller, comedic side stories to occur.
         Another part of Cat's Cradle that I find very interesting is the portrayal of Doctor Hoenikker. In some ways, I would consider him to be a lot like my interpretation of Vonnegut. It seams like both of them have minds that stray. For example, Vonnegut writes the book in a way that wanders from the main point, but for a purpose, and Hoenikker's mind wanders, but because he is trying to discover more about science and how he can contribute to the good of man kind. Possibly Vonnegut made Hoenikker to be a portrayal of himself? Hopefully I will be able to learn more about this connection and discover more as I continue to read Cat's Cradle.

The Case of the One Eyed Witness

I have come back to the mystery book I was working on called Perry Mason and the Case of the One Eyed Witness. So far, I am not completely liking the book. I feel like the case that the detective/attorney is working on is already to convoluted, and some aspects are not to clear. Yet, some of these parts of the story reference to the time period it was originally written in, the 1950s, which means that it is written using a style and mentioning items and ways of life that I am not familiar with.

House Rules

I have just started reading House Rules, which means I am currently reading about three books at the moment. The book really has given me a deeper insight to Autism. Before now, I regarded the syndrome as a mild mental disorder, which only effected the person who carried the syndrome in a social way, meaning they would have a harder time making friends, and carrying out normal conversations. Yet on the other hand, they would be extremely smart, and to me, this almost made Autism in my eyes not so serious of an issue. But reading House Rules has changed all that, the book is about an Autistic teenager, and his struggles he and his family have to deal with. I realized that Autism really has very few benefits, things that regular people take as granted, Autistic people have to deal with. Even such small things as the color orange, paper crumpling, or being touched, might cause Autistic people to go off on a tantrum. This obviously not only effects the person with the disorder, but their family which have to take care of him or her. Such tasks as even making friends and being accepted are close to impossible. Yet the book not only showed me the disheartening effects of Autism, it showed me life in Autistic peoples eyes, and the good they have. The story alters between the life of Jacob, his mother, and Theo his brother. The reader is able to see Jacob's life, and through this, it showed me that Jacob tries his best to stop himself from having tantrums, and explains in his own words how he can not make friends but would so dearly like to have one. Only a few chapters in to the book, my views of Autism have changed, and I have learned a lot about the disorder and the challenges Autistic people face. I look forward to continue to read this book, and analyze my thoughts and feelings about Jacob and the story.

Right Behind You

I have taken a one week break from my current read, The Case of the One Eyed Witness and have instead been reading a bit easier of a read which has intrigued me. Right Behind You  by Gail Giles is a teen social issue book. I don't often read these, but thought that it might be interesting to pick up and read for a few days. The basic plot line is about a young boy named Kip, who is provoked one warm summer day in the Alaskan wilderness, to do the unthinkable, burn a child. He is at a difficult time in his life, his mother has passed away, and he is on bitter terms with his father who is barely getting the two by. It just so happens that on one day when he is bickering with his father, his pier, Bobby comes by to his house to show off his new baseball mitt, he then proceeds to brag about it, and eventually gets Kip to feel very jealous. Kip, not knowing what he is doing, throws lighter fluid on Bobby and takes a lighter which he tosses at Bobby, and he burst into flames. Bobby dies soon after, and Kip faces the long road of facing court, and rebuilding his life in a center for criminal children.
     So far in my reading this story, I find it very sad and depressing, which is my leading factor to not reading social issue books, but also entertaining. I believe the authors main goal in writing the story is to touch on the difficulties of changing your life, and moving on from your past experiences. This is very difficult for Kip in the story, and is a good analogy for victims of such horrible events. Not just the one who gets physically hurt, like Bobby did, but the one who is mentally hurt, Kip. Bobby's pain ended when he died, yet Kips continues long after the horrific incident, and most likely on through the rest of his life. He always has to live with the burden of killing a child, and the guilt that comes with it. I believe the key to avoiding such a life of guilt and shame, is to let it be in the past, and move on to the future, this is an incredibly hard task to achieve, we will always be the same person, and carry the memories of the past, but sometimes it is best to let the bad ones go, learn from your mistakes, and move on to the future. Some might say that the inflictor of the crime, in this case Kip, should always live with the guilt, but I say not. For if this person lives with the guilt, then their life will be ruined and they will never want to enjoy the goods of life. Isn't it better for only one life to be lost by death, then one lost by death and another lost by shame? I look forward to continue to read this intriguing story and analyzing more of the authors purpose.

The Case of the One-Eyed Witness

I am currently reading The Case of the One Eyed Witness by Perry Mason. This is the first time I have read a mystery novel n a long time, so I was interested to see how I liked them now. The story has several themes going on in it at the same time, which make it slightly hard to follow but interesting at the same time. The first mystery theme to enter the story has to do with a frantic woman who calls Mr. Mason late at night claiming that he is to receive a package shortly and that when he does he must deliver it to a man named Carlin. Once the phone call is over, Mr. Mason sees a distressed Cigarette girl in the restaurant he is in, and decides to confront her. He finds out that the young woman had her daughter take in from her by her husband, and can not find the two any where. The third theme that really takes effect in the story is after Mr. Mason wishes the cigarette girl well and leaves to find this mysterious Carlin. He is eagerly invited into the man's house and over a cup of coffee in the late night, explains to Carlin the interesting phone call from the frantic woman, and a message that she wanted him to here, "you are to get a new partner." The incident means nothing to Carlin and he claims he does not have the slightest idea what this woman is talking about. All three conflicts appear to have nothing in common, but I believe not. I have a feeling that they are very much all interwoven. Perhaps Mr. Carlin is not admitting everything that he knows; and the cigarette girl is involved without even realizing it? Often in mystery novels, all of the little stories wind up to one larger conflict. Hopefully however, I can deduce more of the mystery over the coarse of me reading, this and try and discover the mystery along with the detectives!