Sylvia, Rachel, Meredith, Anna

Robert Slentz-Kesler
Thatcher Forest Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9780967050485
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (10/07)


“Sylvia, Rachel, Meredith, Anna” is a great book and not at all what I expected.  With a title that lists four female names, I was assuming that the story was about women friends or a story about a man with lots of girlfriends.  The author cleverly addresses this issue with the statement “…and with the title ‘Sylvia, Rachel, Meredith, Anna’ you might be suckered into thinking that much of the action doesn’t take place in an army infantry training unit in Georgia.”  And I was suckered!  Even though this statement is part of a rambling narrative about the book that is on the front and back cover totally replacing any cover art or traditional book cover text. 

The main character, Gerard Kelderman is graduating from college with a major in music and a minor in religious studies.  He is an outstanding cello player and has learned the art of diamond cutting from his father who is a Master in the field.  He is engaged to Sylvia and they plan to move to Colorado after college so that she can go to graduate school.  Yet as the book opens, we find Gerard’s life in turmoil over the fact that he has found out Sylvia had an affair with another man.  In his emotional state, Gerard makes a rash decision to enlist in the army. 

The story follows Gerard’s life in basic training and his thoughts back to his previous life and his childhood.  He finds standing at attention gives him plenty of time to think and he brings up repressed memories from his childhood, specifically memories surrounding the death of his sister.

I would not normally pick up a book about army cadets and their experiences in basic training.  I am not interested in reading about gun parts, bivouacs, macho talk, and the verbal abuse given by Drill Sergeants.  But this book surprised me.  Although all the above topics were included, the book was more about the relationships between the cadets.  Author, Robert Slentz-Kesler was able to create characters that I enjoyed getting to know.  And he was able to weave the storylines of the present and the past together into a seamless novel.

I am so glad I read this book!  I feel like I have a better understanding now of the teamwork that is necessary in the army, and why the Drill Sergeants yell so much.  I recommend “Sylvia, Rachel, Meredith, Anna” to anyone who loves to read.  No matter what genre you like, this book is a delight.  Find out for yourself who Sylvia, Rachel, Meredith, and Anna are, and how they fit into a story about a group of male soldiers.

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