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Summary: Vonnegut tackles America in this pleasing satire
Review: "Hocus Pocus" finds Vonnegut continuing his war with American politics and behaviors. Indeed, his central character is being held hostage in a library by 10,000 very hostile, mostly minority prisoners. One of their chief reasons for disgust? The Japanese have bought the prison, and taken over the guarding, etc. If you can't tell yet, Vonnegut has a lot to say, and not near enough plot to get it all out. He points out that the character's sexual exploits were the same number as the people he had killed in Vietnam. Is this a poignant addressing of American values, or pathos overkill? In "Hocus Pocus", you find a lot of both. But when Vonnegut can keep his focus and not be sidetracked into emotion, he can still make magic
Rating: 
Summary: Magically delicious
Review: "HOCUS POCUS," is one of the best pure fiction books I've read in a while. Because the method that Kurt Vonnegut uses to encompass humor with fiction created a hilarious story of a man named Eugene Debs Hartke, a jazz player with the huge desire of becoming one of the best musicians ever accompanied by his band "The Soul Merchants." But never makes it thanks to his dad, a chemical engineer, who "needed something to boast and impress the simple minded neighbors." So Eugene got enrolled in the military and when he returns he comes with the nickname of the "Preacher" because he never swore or masturbated. He also found a job at Scipio's high school as a teacher, yet it didn't last for he got fired and as he was dying of tuberculosis he wrote 2 lists; one with all the names of all the women he had sex with and the second one with all the names of all the people he had hurt. I highly suggest this book to everyone because besides being funny, sad, and interesting it portrays how many of us got screwed by our parents decision.
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Summary: Not as great as the classic Slaughterhouse 5
Review: Although Hocus Pocus does not have the same quality of genius as Vonnegut's classic Slaughterhouse Five, I can assure Vonnegut fans that this similar attack on war (Vietnam, this time) will not disappoint. As in Slaughterhouse, the plot shifts back and forth to different locations and times: Vietnam during the war, a college for mentally challenged but privileged students, and a prison. The main character's acerbic wit is what carries the novel and is its most enjoyable feature. Anyone who appreciates Vonnegut's social commentaries will revel in the passages of Hocus Pocus that carry the reader on to the hilariously dark ending. Vonnegut has mastered his approach to science fiction/fantasy/war novels. Anyone who has not yet read a Vonnegut novel is missing out...
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Summary: A European view of a great book
Review: As a European living in USA (and remember USA is not America), I think Hocus Pocus is one of the best account of today's USA, and past USA altogether! And even if it deals with the inevitable end of any society and human being it's a masterpiece of satirical humor, at the same level than Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse five. And even if the joke's is on us what a joke!
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Summary: One of his finest books
Review: At this stage in his career-1990, having already delivered several undisputed classics, Cat's Cradle, Slaughter-House 5, etc.-Kurt Vonnegut's place in the annals of American literature was already well established. And yet, he delivered yet another masterpiece with this book. The book is narrarated in first-person, and the character is another in the fine Vonnegut tradition: possessing a highly caustic wit, smart-alec persona, and a dry pessimism that is as funny as it is unfortunately true. This is the voice of Vonnegut, of course, and the body of literature is much the better for it. I won't divulge specific details of the book's plot here, like most Vonnegut, there is no real plot. Instead, the story is told in a very non-linear format, jumping from scene to scene in a juxtposed manner. This format, although idiosynctric, actually helps somewhat with the suspense factor... it reveals elements of the story that have not happened yet, without divulging their specific details. This is sort of a culmination of some of the many elements that make Vonnegut Vonnegut, coming on the heels of what many considered to be a series of downer books for him, which makes this one of his finest, funniest, and most enjoyable novels.
Rating:
Summary: Is any Vonnegut bad?
Review: Compared solely to other Vonnegut novels, I'd give this one 3-4 stars. As other reviewers mentioned, it's not quite as good as the favorites (Slaughterhouse Five). The thing I like most about Vonneguts style is it reads like you're sitting on a porch having a smoke with the guy and he's just telling you a story. So it goes.
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Summary: SATIRE AT ITS BEST
Review: Debs Hartke is a Vietnam Veteran, turned College Professor, turned Prison Warden, turned convict in this hillarious sattirical tale by Vonnegut. Although this novel doesnt get the attention of a BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS or SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, it is just as worth the read.Vonnegut uses the character of Hartke to chastise big government, big money, big media, and big egoes everywhere. Even if you dont agree with his assessment you cant help but laughing anyway. Things just keep getting worse for Hartke as life goes along, he wanted to be a journalist who graduated from Michigan. Instead his father forces him to go to Westpoint and things snowball from there. He goes through Vietnam, he marries a woman that goes insane in her forties,..........and every moment is brilliantly written. I recommend the book, I recommend the author. This will not be the last Vonnegut novel that I pick up.
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Summary: Vonnegut's Best
Review: Easily my favorite work by Kurt, and I've read them all. Some I have forgotten, others are fond in my heart, but my mind remembers Hocus Pocus above all others. Whenever I'm in need of a book to occupy a week or two and nothing else is striking my fancy at the moment there are three or four book I always go back to and never grow tired of . . . Hocus Pocus is at the top of the list. Just to give prespective on what other novels I like, my other top two favorite books of all time are Brave New World and Catch 22. Take that for what you will. Peace
Rating:
Summary: Vonnegut's Best
Review: Easily my favorite work by Kurt, and I've read them all. Some I have forgotten, others are fond in my heart, but my mind remembers Hocus Pocus above all others. Whenever I'm in need of a book to occupy a week or two and nothing else is striking my fancy at the moment there are three or four book I always go back to and never grow tired of . . . Hocus Pocus is at the top of the list. Just to give prespective on what other novels I like, my other top two favorite books of all time are Brave New World and Catch 22. Take that for what you will. Peace
Rating:
Summary: Hocus Pocus
Review: Eugene Debs Hartke is a Vietnam veteran, teacher of the unteachable at Tarkington College, and later, a teacher of the unteachable at nearby Athena Maximum Security Prison. With insane wife and mother-in-law in tow, he examines the seemingly small choices made in life, and their unexpected consequences.
With pathos and humor, the story details his unpromising youth, appointment to West Point, firing from Tarkington, and ends with his imprisonment for allegedly masterminding the prison break at Athena.
I especially like the worldview of the protagonist. In a universe where so much is unknowable, to the best of his flawed ability to discern it, he pursues the truth. There is pain-staking honesty in his careful evaluation of both himself, and the society in which he lives. After I finished the book, I wanted to call up Eugene Debs Hartke and invite him out for a Freedom Fighter Beer. I want to hang around with him and listen to his observations on the human condition. Too bad he is fictional.
The book reminded me to keep a perspective on human ego. Just because we consider ourselves to be the most developed life form on this planet, it doesn't mean we have the right to poison it, or the self-knowledge to render just judgments, or the wisdom to rule the universe.
Kurt Vonnegut writes with loving cynicism. As you read his words, you envision him slowly shaking his head at the funny, crazy, and sometimes terrible things humans do. This book would be best enjoyed by readers that still try to figure out who the heck we are, and just what the heck we are doing here. If you are a hit and run reader, it is divided up in to many small sections. You can read it in little hunks, if you like. It is my personal favorite Vonnegut novel.
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