Basic Training by Kurt Vonnegut

You know how, after famous musicians die, sometimes people still release new music of theirs? When it happens, you feel as if they've come alive again, if even for a moment (or, in 2Pac's case, you get further convinced he never really died). That is how I felt when I saw a new Vonnegut book released on my Kindle recently. (RIP Kurt, you crazy genius). However, this book is very non-Vonnegut, at least in what we have come to expect in his popular books (evidently a young Vonnegut wrote this novella in the 40s). There is no sci-fi, no Kilgore Trout appearance, no sarcasm. There are traces of old man Vonnegut, though. The main character, an adolescent boy named Haley, has to move in with relatives, including a man who makes his children call him General. Haley is a sweet, artistic boy who is lost in this military-style, stereotypical-manly place (he's like a young, sane Billy Pilgrim). Haley had a difficult time adjusting to this new life. According to the description on Amazon, Vonnegut was influenced by Salinger, and I can see the resemblance (though Haley isn't bitter and negative like Holden and the book isn't written with terrible grammar). I loved the book. The story was great, as well as getting back in touch with Vonnegut.