
I consider it another failure of the New York Education Department, that until three years ago, I haven’t heard of Kurt Vonnegut. This should be considered criminal and I’m in talks with my lawyer to see if I have a case. In the meantime, I’m willing to share this new found treasure.
Kurt Vonnegut’s Hocus Pocus, is a satire that cover topics like, race, government, war, sex and wealth, and manages to be unbelievably funny. The story follows Eugene Hartke, a vet of the Vietnam War who becomes a professor for the disabled and illiterate. When we meet Hartke, he his currently awaiting trial being apart of a prison break that happens across the lake from the school where he was a professor. The story is told through sporadic recollections of the events that got him in prison but mixed with history lessons, little known facts and unrelated opinions. It is done in a fast paced way that makes it almost playful (caught myself giggling out loud on the subway. yes, men do giggle).
The continuing side story is the lead character spends part of the book adding up the amount of people he has slept with and killed, to only find out that its the same number. There is an awesome mathematic word problem at the end of book to figure out the total number.
Great read. Check this and his other books out!