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142nd out of 190 books
—
105 voters
Whistle
by
James Jones
The crowning novel of James Jones's trilogy brings to life the men who fought and died in the war and the wounded who survived, living to carry the madness home.
Paperback, 496 pages
Published
June 8th 1999
by Delta
(first published January 28th 1974)
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A great book about returning from war. The Viet vets (me included) thought that rejection, depression, and scorn was only for them. This WW II book tells pretty much the same story. Everyone didn't get the parade down Main Street.
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Ah, James Jones, you and I are old friends, aren't we? I remember when I first heard your name when I saw the film adaptation of your book "The Thin Red Line". An incredible movie on all fronts, far better than its apparent rival Saving Private Ryan (afraid I'm in 'that' camp) that completely changed how I looked at not only film but also at how a story could be told and told well, even profoundly so.
Fast forward a couple years from that and I finally got around to reading the source text, your...more
Fast forward a couple years from that and I finally got around to reading the source text, your...more
On a hospital ship headed home wounded in the war a group of soldiers try to recover both physically and mentally. I had seen the movies From Here To Eternity, and The Thin Red Line years ago as a kid. I had enjoyed the war movies of the day. I had never read any of James Jones works, but happened upon Whistle in a used book sale for one dollar and picked it up to add to my collection of old books. It struck me as soon as I started to read this was not going to be an ordinary book. It is a maste...more
This author has less a clue about women than even Hemingway. Unfortunately he's not near as good a writer though, so it's a book full of non-redeeming characters without a value system, but there's none of the starkly beautiful romanticism found in a Hemingway. Interesting insight into injured and wounded WWII soldier's environment and the era itself, though. But something tells me there's a whole other side to this story though, if told by someone with more moral maturity.
The novel was getting interesting when the author died several chapters from the end. Instead of bringing in an experienced writer to complete the novel (which I'm guessing would be done today), the publisher simply provided a narrative outline based on the author's intentions for the ending of the novel. Not a wise option. Made for an unrewarding ending for the reader (and likely would have disappointed the author as well).
BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.
But for the possible message, “To be avoided at all cost,” the themes of aimlessness, futility and despair hold no moral, social or entertainment value for me. Unfortunately these are the major themes of ‘Whistle,’ by James Jones.
Recommendation: No.
“It was all such a goddamned game. Everything was. Bravado. Bravery. Fear. Pride, humiliation, dignity, decency, viciousness. And yet it was serious. Even panic started out as a game, before it got serious.” –page 151
Adobe Digital E...more
But for the possible message, “To be avoided at all cost,” the themes of aimlessness, futility and despair hold no moral, social or entertainment value for me. Unfortunately these are the major themes of ‘Whistle,’ by James Jones.
Recommendation: No.
“It was all such a goddamned game. Everything was. Bravado. Bravery. Fear. Pride, humiliation, dignity, decency, viciousness. And yet it was serious. Even panic started out as a game, before it got serious.” –page 151
Adobe Digital E...more
The best book ever written on the subject of post-traumatic stress disorder. Ignore at your own peril.
Not as strong or consistently interesting as From Here to Eternity, but still not bad.
For those who think PTSS is just a phenomena of the Iraq and Vietnam wars.
Mar 12, 2011
Mike R
added it
4 WWII vets who have been wounded return home
WWII-Jon
Very interesting, moving novel. More later...
A great read, and a fine, fitting ending to the wartime trilogy Jones began with From Here to Eternity - but the ending is really a bummer. I especially wanted something much, much better for Robert E. Lee Prewitt/Bob Witt/Bobby Prell.
Wounded WWII soldiers returning home. As timely now, as it was when the novel took place. I read the first novel of Jones' WWII trilogy "From Here to Eternity" when I was still in high school. Forty years later, I read his concluding novel.
This is the last of the WW II trilogy; From Here to Eternity, The Thin Red Line, and Whistle. Does a great job with his characters.
Again there are moments in this book that moved me profoundly. Overall not amazing, but with some amazing moments.
A little tough to get through.
Jun 14, 2013
Alma Leonard
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James Ramon Jones was an American author known for his explorations of World War II and its aftermath.
His wartime experiences inspired some of his most famous works. He witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to his first published novel, From Here to Eterni...more
More about James Jones...
James Ramon Jones was an American author known for his explorations of World War II and its aftermath.
His wartime experiences inspired some of his most famous works. He witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to his first published novel, From Here to Eterni...more
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