Hocus Pocus by Kurt Vonnegut
Grade: B
Hocus Pocus is the story of a Vietnam War veteran who, after the war, becomes a physics teacher at a college for the rich but academically challenged. The school is invaded by an army of prisoners from across the lake and it’s like Vietnam all over again, except this time he’s not fighting.
I put off posting about this book because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. It was one of the hardest Vonnegut books to get through, but that may not be entirely the author’s fault. I started reading it during a very bad time, and because of that association, I felt like I never wanted to pick it up again. I only did for the sake of the marathon.
Hocus Pocus wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t great either, and I suspect that some people might find parts of it slightly offensive. I recommend it only for die-hard Vonnegut fans.