Whistle

This is the third and last part of the famous war trilogy by James Jones. The first part (from here to eternity) deals with life as a soldier in peace time. The second (the thin red line) deals with being at war. And this one, the last, deals with the experiences of soldiers coming back home after being wounded - and the effect of the war on them. I will not describe the plot as to not spoil anything. However, all those topics, some of which are totally unknown to the general public, are covered, and the author makes you understand them as you never will better without actually experiencing them yourself: the guilt feeling about being wounded and evacuated while your unit is still in combat. Post traumatic stress disorder. The feeling of not belonging and that people not from the army (or even branch) are outsiders. The loss of faith in the human race. The destruction of relationships with family. The emotional numbness and depression. The difficult road to physical recovery and the fear of losing a limb. the absurdness of war. The living in the present with no regard whatsoever for the future. Suicide.While it is less polished than the other parts of the trilogy (the author died before completing the last two chapters that only appear in sketch form) if may be a greater achievement overall, for the depth of understanding of the psychological effects of war it provides. It also enjoys the chance the author had to reflect for 30 years on his experiences before completing the book.To really know what war means, you need to read this book. There are many books about the experience of war itself, but few (novels at least) about the life after.It is an emotionally difficult read, and contains graphic sexual descriptions, if that bothers you. I bet you'll never forget it though.This is what the author had to say: "Whistle...(omitted)... will say just about everything i have ever had to say, or will ever have to say, on the human condition of war and what it means to us, as against what we claim it means to us".

This is the fourth book by James Jones that I have read. His books are not pretty, they are human. This book offers a look inside the life of four soldiers wonded in the Pacific Theatre of WWII and sent back to the states for treatment and recovery. It covers the period just before their injury, through transport home, treatment, recovery, and entry back into mainstream life. It is RAW. There is a lot of sex, but it is controversial, but not erotic. I was not alive at the time depicted in the book but I knew many men who were. I believe this to be a fairly accurate depiction of conditions of the time and what a wounded solder might have experienced. It deals a lot with PTSD which at the time depicted in the book was either considdered to not exist or it was described as "combat fatigue." This book is well worth reading on many levels. Just don't give it to your teenaged daughter...

Excellent read. Gives an outstanding perspective of the bond between Soldiers and the mental, physical, and psychological suffering they experienced from war, and following the war. Much of their suffering continues from betrayal from the system, betrayal by unfaithful wives and loose women, betrayal by scammers, and the choice between returning to war if recovered or destitution if discharged. While the book is excessively graphic with sex, and misogynistic, you have to read it with 1940 eyes and attitudes. Certainly a good read. I would give Jones' first book in the series "From Here to Eternity" his best rating at five stars, followed by "Thin Red Line", then "Whistle."

Really good book but not as good as From Here to Eternity, the first of three in Jones's WWII trilogy, this being the final. Was also not as good as the second installment, The Thin Red Line. James Jones died before he completed this book and, according to an introduction, his friend/neighbor took dictation from Jones on his deathbed to summarize the ending. Unfortunately, it was a very unsatisfying conclusion as it was not in Jones's beautiful writing style, just a simple dictation and statement of fact.

I know that Jones died just before finishing the last couple of chapters, but even knowing that I was unprepared for the jarring switch from Jones' writing style to the space summaries of the last 3 chapter.Jones gave his notes and ideas of how he wanted the book to end to Willie Morris. Instead of ending the book by writing the last 3 chapters, Morris simply summarized them in just a few sentences. I think it would have been a much more fitting tribute to actually take Jones' notes and expand them into 3 chapters emulating the style of the rest of the books. It would probably have been less jarring. Perhaps a small note at the end of the last "real" chapter explaining the situation might have been nice.Overall, this was a good ending to the pseudo-trilogy of Eternity, Thin Red Line, and Whistle. Jones wrote about PTSD back when it was called "battle fatigue" and really captures some of the issues that he and other soldiers of his generation faced returning home.

I just needed to read this for closure I suppose. The first book is a masterpiece. The second is not up to it but still a good book. This is no way on the same level. Perhaps if Jones had lived to finish it he could have refined it a little. The final suicide and out of body jumbo jumbo was just too much for me.

I was unaware of the Trilogy and of Whistle when I came across it on Amazon / Kindle and appreciated the opportunity to complete the story. Whistle is different from the ENTERNITY AND THIN RED LINE in that it is after they leave combat and are rehabing in the hospital. The story sheds insights to how our Vets come back from the wars to follow as well. Jones really gets into the characters deeply, but the last 3 chapters close out the story without this depth as Jones had died prior to completing them.I recommed this to WWII buffs and Jones Fans, but it is a different story line.TDB