Robert Slentz-Kesler

I really liked this book, but I'm not sure I can explain why. It's the story of Gerard, who's joined the army in a fit of pique, really, to impress his awful fiancee and to prove to himself that he has some kind of plan for his life. So, armed with nothing more than a degree in Music with a minor in Religion, he heads off to Fort Benning for basic training.

Basic training is predictably awful but filled with quirky, hilarious characters. The more important of the minor players are all nicely drawn; they could have been more deeply explored, I think, and I think that would have been really fascinating, but I also think that kind of exploration wouldn't have fit into a story narrated by Gerard, who is, in sum, a doughy, slow-thinking individual, not exactly a complete narcissist, but definitely inwardly-focused in his thoughts. As he goes through basic training, Gerard finds himself without his usual distractions (the cello, essentially), and with a lot of time on his hands that he spends thinking about his past - his fiancee, his parents' stormy marriage, the death of his two-year-old sister. Slentz-Kesler has Gerard moving towards a new self while still trying to make sense of his old self, and I think the contrast is really effective.

The book isn't for everyone, though. It's rambling, almost sprawling, careening between basic training, college, Antwerp, and Gerard's childhood as Gerard's thoughts wander. There's a lot of cursing and sex, and, you know, guns and stuff (Go Army!) but it's also hilarious and serious and complicated. When I got to the end of it I wasn't quite sure what I had just read, but I kind of want to read it again, because it was a lot of fun.… (plus d'informations)

Sylvia, Rachel, Meredith, Anna is a novel about a man named Gerard who is in his last year of college and not sure what he wants to do with his life. His fiance, Sylvia, keeps harping on him to decide on a job after they graduate. One day Gerard finds letters addressed to Sylvia from a guy she had an affair with. This sets up the decision Gerard finally makes.

Gerard decides to enlist in the army. This is when all the fun starts in this novel. I am not familiar with military life so I found the story very interesting and funny. The language is very colorful yet I can see why it would be. Seeing how the men are treated by the drill sergeants and other enlisted men I can see how they would talk like they do.

I enjoyed the story even though I felt that in some parts it dragged a little and I would have to push my way through the story. The book did get very interesting towards the end just before the men graduated from the infantry. If you are one that does not like colorful language and vulgarities then this is not a book for you.… (plus d'informations)