Whistle (The World War II Trilogy Book 3)

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...

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.

Book captures quite well the mindset of veterans. Quite realistic and bold for its time. Not an action thriller, more a psychological study

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 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

I have read all of his books, and Whistle was one of my favorites - all of his books are favorites, but this one was the best.

Kept me interested most of the time. It's tedious and Jones' rambling, depressed image of all the happenings is kind of a pain. Shows a kind of view from the enlisted man's feeling in post war US Army.

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.

Other reviewers have aptly described the books final saga for the characters carried through the first 2 novels, From here to Eternity & The Thin Red Line. James Jones died shortly before finishing Whistle which took over 30 years to 'almost' complete... having commenced it in 1947. In this edition the authors note explains his thinking behind carrying through the main 4 characters in the trilogy but changing their names to allow scope for including different facets of their experiences in each book. The ending of Whistle is constructed from the authors notes and recorded wishes for how he envisaged the ending to be finalised, and if anything this makes the whole reading experience all the more poignant. I have never read a more powerful and compelling saga of the consequences on men of life in the army both in peacetime & war... and can only add my respect and thanks to the author for the dedication taken in bringing this story to us. I read The Thin Red Line a few years back and re read it which prompted me to read From Here to Eternity... Whistle I read last. Ideally read them in order.