'Hocus Pocus' by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a novel that follows the story of Eugene Debs Hartke, a Vietnam veteran caught up in a series of events at an odd college adjacent to a massive prison. The narrative is a first-person account filled with cynical outlooks, dark humor, and social commentary. The story jumps around in time, focusing on Eugene's life, observations, and interactions with a slightly anti-establishment perspective. Vonnegut's writing style in this book is described as circular storytelling, filled with random humor and subtle creativity, keeping readers engaged and on their toes.
The plot of 'Hocus Pocus' delves into themes of satire, social commentary, and intellectual musings, exploring the absurdities and inadequacies of society. The narrative evolves through various threads and locations, centered around Tarkington Prison, with a complex and somewhat hard-to-get-into structure initially. As the story progresses into a disastrous prison riot overtaking the college and town, the rhythm of storytelling becomes clear, revealing Vonnegut's trademark wry commentary on human nature, making the book funny, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.
Genres:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence, war trauma, mental health issues, and social inequality.
From The Publisher:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Slaughterhouse-Five comes an irresistible novel that combines "clever wit with keen social observation…[and] re-establishes Mr. Vonnegut's place as the Mark Twain of our times" (Atlanta Journal & Constitution).
Here is the adventure of Eugene Debs Hartke. He's a Vietnam veteran, a jazz pianist, a college professor, and a prognosticator of the apocalypse (and other things Earth-shattering). But that's neither here nor there. Because at Tarkington College-where he teaches-the excrement is about to hit the air-conditioning. And it's all Eugene's fault.
Ratings (12)
Loved It (3) | |
Liked It (4) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (26):
Read It (13) | |
Want To Read (9) | |
Not Interested (4) |
What can you read after
Hocus Pocus?
About the Author:
Kurt Vonnegut was a master of contemporary American literature. His black humor, satiric voice, and incomparable imagination first captured America's attention in The Sirens of Titan in 1959 and established him, in the words of The New York Times, as "a true artist"…
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
