The first half of this book was all right, but in the second half it really got rolling and indeed had me laughing out loud. Important caveat though: The story is a first-person narrative by a Georgia hillbilly, and the N word is used a few times. Indeed, there is one episode in which that word is part of the story, in which our narrator learns not to use it - and doesn't use it again for the remainder of the book. I can't give the book five stars, because of this. But if the book were edited to remove that... maybe five.
Will Stockton is a young backwoods bumpkin in Georgia who is drafted into military service. He does things his own way, the best he knows how. He never seems to fully understand what the military is even about, but he tries to do his best. His best friend on base is Ben, a short young man who is eager to rise in the ranks and do everything by the book, which makes the two an odd pair to say the least. And then there is Sergeant King, who has to be one of the most unfortunate characters in literature. Everything Will does seems to backfire onto King, time and time again. King wants nothing more than to get Will out of his hair, and yet, he can't quite bring himself to actually hate Will, because he knows the boy always means well, even when the results seem to always makes things worse for him. ( )

This novel, which was translated into a play by Ira Levin and a film starring Andy Griffith and Nick Adams, is the story of an uneducated and naive Georgia hillbilly, Will Stockdale, who is drafted into the Air Force during the 1950s. This book was also the inspiration for the television sit-com, Gomer Pyle. Andy Griffin captured Will's narration and speech.

Although the film was generally true to the film, I was fascinated in what changes were made. For example, the scene in the movie when Will is caught speechless encountering a female officer, the same scene in the book involves a black officer. I guess both were telling of the times when this book was published in 1954.

Generally, each page elicited a chuckle but I could not read it without the film running in my head, which is why I don't like to watch movies before reading the book. ( )

I really enjoyed this goofy story. It's a humorous look at a country boy who gets drafted into the Air Force. I'm not sure whether the main theme is country bumpkin Will Stockdale's difficulties in adapting to military life or if it's the military's difficulty in dealing with country bumpkin Will Stockdale.

Having seen the movie when I was a teenager. I couldn't help hearing Andy Griffith's voice as Will described his adventures.

I'd like to thank Lynn at Goodreads' On the Southern Literary Trail group for selecting this book and giving me the opportunity to read and discuss it with others. ( )

The first book I ever read which made me laugh out loud -- and it still fractures me just to think of it. ( )

NA