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Band In The Wind #1
Band In The Wind
Against the backdrop of 1960s music and culture, comes a tale of memories and mayhem...and loyalty and love...and racism, revenge, and rock n' roll. 1990 - Key West, Florida - On a moonlit evening, the "Journal of Johnny Cipp" is discovered on a secluded beach. It has been more than twenty-three years since its author disappeared from his home 1500 miles away. His opening journal entry is cryptic in its message. "Unlike the lyrics to the classic rock song, 'The Summer of '69,' the Jimmy in my band didn't quit, and my Joey didn't get married. In my life, they died. In fact, except for me, they all died . . . and I have never before told our story."1967 - Southeast Queens, New York is in turmoil. Amid the escalating chaos, five young men form a band in hopes of escaping the mounting violence, poverty, and drugs surrounding them. Their story, as told in Johnny’s Journal, weaves an intricate tale of five individuals who attempt to succeed with their only available weapons—their loyalty to each other and their music. As the group bonds both musically and personally, each band member comes to realize that the band holds the promise of a brighter future. In June of 1967, they got their big break, and it was the beginning of the end. Praise for Band in the Wind . . . "This book is an almost perfect blend of music, nostalgia, a coming-of-age story...and tragedy! It really does have a bit of everything. Highly entertaining." - Online Book Review (4/4 stars) *** “Rostron manages to capture the mood of this tumultuous time—a feat that takesskill, a great memory, and the ability to put emotion into words.” - Writers Digest Self Published Book Awards***This tale told by Rostron succeeds...massively. It is a story told with dollops of nitty and gritty but also some blasts and burns that will thrill you as powerfully as...well...as a power chord. A giant power chord, amped up with emotions, friendship, cruelty, hate, revenge, and love.- James J. Spina (contributor to Rolling Stone, Hit Parader, Creem, and Mojo)*** "A must-read for book-lovers hoping to experience the lost, yet somehow lingering, days of 1960s American culture."Michael L. Burduck, - Professor of English - Tennessee Tech Universitywww.williamjohnrostron.com
- GenresFiction
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2018
132 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 19, 2022
This is a story for music lovers. From life that soars then dips really low, a picture of life and reality.
November 16, 2020
The Plot
It’s 1967 and Johnny “Cipp” and his bandmates are catching the eye of the local music scene. The band is talented and it is tight. The future is exciting and bright for a bunch of inner-city kids who love the music more than they love the “perks.” Each band member is his own brand of musical genius and Johnny loves every one of them. However, the band is dead both symbolically and literally. Johnny is the only survivor of the band and he’s not taking it well.
The story of Those Born Free, the name of the band, is told in Johnny’s journal. We, the reader, meet Johnny in the early 1990s. He is a middle-aged man who has drunk and self-medicated his way through adulthood. He writes with a love and an excitement that is infectious to the reader. I for one was all in once the story found its groove.
In between Johnny’s journal, there is an omniscient narrator. The narrator's job is to introduce the villains of the book and provide social and cultural commentary on 1960’s New York. Johnny does not live in an accepting and free-thinking world. At times, he feels the world is closing in on him. The villains of this story are a little over the top, but I disliked them and honestly feared for the band, so, mission accomplished.
The end result of this story is a well designed confessional of a man who flew too close to the sun and never recovered from the fall.
What I Think…
By the time I finished this book I was invested in the young men cruelly ripped out of their dream. I longed for Johnny’s journal entries because it was so engaging. When the narrator took over I would check out. The 1960s holds a personal fascination for me. So, I understand the Civil Movement and the racial tension that was very common at the time.
For someone who has not studied history or is too young to care, the narrator provides important context. You should be concerned for Johnny when he “crosses the line” into the black neighborhood. The fact that the “n-word” is used so liberally is not as shocking to a modern reader if you understand the period. As a side note, if racism is a trigger for you, this book could be a rough read. Johnny isn’t racist, but he is passive and the world he inhabits is that of scared, entitled white men fighting back against a perceived social imbalance. Camden Heights is not a nice place in this story and for that reason, I wanted the kids to do well and get out.
What I liked about the book.
One word, Bracko. Bracko is the lead guitar player in the band and if he had been a real person, my highschool self would have followed him around like a puppy. The guy comes from an abusive home, music is his only language, and I LOVED him. I crashed so hard when Johnny explained what happened to him in his journal.
The other guys have equally tragic ends, but Bracko’s is the one that made me pump my fist and internally scream. I played As My Guitar Gently Weeps until I went to sleep for this character.
I appreciate that Johnny is written like a real kid. He does some stupid stuff. He’s not street smart to the point that you could call him cool. He’s good at getting out of the way and that’s about it. I was glad it didn’t all come to him easily, he had to work for his arc and he provided a very emotional and satisfying ride for me.
Closing Thoughts
There is a sequel to this book called Sound of Redemption. I am curious about it because I want to hear about Johnny’s muse’s side of the story. Mr. Rostron provided some background to his writing process. It was nice to hear that the tragedy of the band was fictionalized and that the reason Johnny felt so authentic was that the writer was Johnny. The appendix of the story gave me a deeper appreciation of the story. Mr. Rostron did admit that his villains were intentionally over the top, so I didn’t feel so bad about rolling my eyes a few times.
Overall, I liked Band in the Wind and would recommend it.
It’s 1967 and Johnny “Cipp” and his bandmates are catching the eye of the local music scene. The band is talented and it is tight. The future is exciting and bright for a bunch of inner-city kids who love the music more than they love the “perks.” Each band member is his own brand of musical genius and Johnny loves every one of them. However, the band is dead both symbolically and literally. Johnny is the only survivor of the band and he’s not taking it well.
The story of Those Born Free, the name of the band, is told in Johnny’s journal. We, the reader, meet Johnny in the early 1990s. He is a middle-aged man who has drunk and self-medicated his way through adulthood. He writes with a love and an excitement that is infectious to the reader. I for one was all in once the story found its groove.
In between Johnny’s journal, there is an omniscient narrator. The narrator's job is to introduce the villains of the book and provide social and cultural commentary on 1960’s New York. Johnny does not live in an accepting and free-thinking world. At times, he feels the world is closing in on him. The villains of this story are a little over the top, but I disliked them and honestly feared for the band, so, mission accomplished.
The end result of this story is a well designed confessional of a man who flew too close to the sun and never recovered from the fall.
What I Think…
By the time I finished this book I was invested in the young men cruelly ripped out of their dream. I longed for Johnny’s journal entries because it was so engaging. When the narrator took over I would check out. The 1960s holds a personal fascination for me. So, I understand the Civil Movement and the racial tension that was very common at the time.
For someone who has not studied history or is too young to care, the narrator provides important context. You should be concerned for Johnny when he “crosses the line” into the black neighborhood. The fact that the “n-word” is used so liberally is not as shocking to a modern reader if you understand the period. As a side note, if racism is a trigger for you, this book could be a rough read. Johnny isn’t racist, but he is passive and the world he inhabits is that of scared, entitled white men fighting back against a perceived social imbalance. Camden Heights is not a nice place in this story and for that reason, I wanted the kids to do well and get out.
What I liked about the book.
One word, Bracko. Bracko is the lead guitar player in the band and if he had been a real person, my highschool self would have followed him around like a puppy. The guy comes from an abusive home, music is his only language, and I LOVED him. I crashed so hard when Johnny explained what happened to him in his journal.
The other guys have equally tragic ends, but Bracko’s is the one that made me pump my fist and internally scream. I played As My Guitar Gently Weeps until I went to sleep for this character.
I appreciate that Johnny is written like a real kid. He does some stupid stuff. He’s not street smart to the point that you could call him cool. He’s good at getting out of the way and that’s about it. I was glad it didn’t all come to him easily, he had to work for his arc and he provided a very emotional and satisfying ride for me.
Closing Thoughts
There is a sequel to this book called Sound of Redemption. I am curious about it because I want to hear about Johnny’s muse’s side of the story. Mr. Rostron provided some background to his writing process. It was nice to hear that the tragedy of the band was fictionalized and that the reason Johnny felt so authentic was that the writer was Johnny. The appendix of the story gave me a deeper appreciation of the story. Mr. Rostron did admit that his villains were intentionally over the top, so I didn’t feel so bad about rolling my eyes a few times.
Overall, I liked Band in the Wind and would recommend it.
September 22, 2023
I was handed this book by a relative and fellow reader I trust. She didn’t recommend it but said she had found it to be (I don’t remember the exact words she used) weird.
I will say I found it to be badly written, improbably plotted, annoyingly filled with foreshadowing that is never even partially resolved until the very end, and with a main character who never once takes responsibility for his own actions. Things just happen, he doesn’t get around to things, he meant to do one thing or say one thing that he never does. He’s a shit.
Now I will admit his writing about how a high school rock and roll band comes together and the clear joy in his writing about music are often really really good, although just as often insufferably trite. But that’s the only redeeming aspect of this.
He says the manuscript was rejected more than 100 times and I completely believe it. Apparently however it captured enough audience that he wrote two sequels to it. If they are filled with as much bad melodrama, cliches ranging from 1950s-60s teenage life and culture to 1950s-60s era mafioso, and irrational plot lines, I pity their readers.
I will say I found it to be badly written, improbably plotted, annoyingly filled with foreshadowing that is never even partially resolved until the very end, and with a main character who never once takes responsibility for his own actions. Things just happen, he doesn’t get around to things, he meant to do one thing or say one thing that he never does. He’s a shit.
Now I will admit his writing about how a high school rock and roll band comes together and the clear joy in his writing about music are often really really good, although just as often insufferably trite. But that’s the only redeeming aspect of this.
He says the manuscript was rejected more than 100 times and I completely believe it. Apparently however it captured enough audience that he wrote two sequels to it. If they are filled with as much bad melodrama, cliches ranging from 1950s-60s teenage life and culture to 1950s-60s era mafioso, and irrational plot lines, I pity their readers.
October 13, 2022
Loved the Concept, the Actual Book, Not as Much
I really wanted to like this book. I just didn't enjoy it. Everything takes place within a fews short months. Yet the build up had me believing that this would be more than a story of some high school boys. And, I couldn't relate at all to the narrator, I found him to be shallow and whiny. Just not at all the book for me.
I really wanted to like this book. I just didn't enjoy it. Everything takes place within a fews short months. Yet the build up had me believing that this would be more than a story of some high school boys. And, I couldn't relate at all to the narrator, I found him to be shallow and whiny. Just not at all the book for me.
July 7, 2023
A good story about 5 boys growing up in the sixties with the plan to be famous Musicians! The author did a good job describing the racial divide and the mob control in the country during this time. I loved the connections that the author made between Johnny’s memories to songs from that era! If you are into music, you will like this book!
April 8, 2024
Taking me back
Very entertaining and took me back to my young teenage music years in the late 1960 and early 1970s. Had friends in bands and spent many nights sitting on cellar steps listening to them practice. Reading this book brought back many happy and forgotten memories of just enjoying the music.
Very entertaining and took me back to my young teenage music years in the late 1960 and early 1970s. Had friends in bands and spent many nights sitting on cellar steps listening to them practice. Reading this book brought back many happy and forgotten memories of just enjoying the music.
November 18, 2025
Rambling and at times incoherent, probably on purpose, to accentuate the incoherence of their lives, but the music shines through. Nothing turns out as it should for any of the members of the band, and that fact makes the last part of the book very dark. I can't say I loved it, but nor did I hate it, as much as I hated what happened to them.
August 16, 2019
A great read! The book is dated in the 50', 60's. It describes the life of a teenager who wants to make something of his life and how life's circumstances get in the way. One of the best books I've read. Don't hesitate to buy it!
June 13, 2023
I loved this book. Having grown up in the same area of Queens in the mid 1960s, it brought back lots of memories for me. The story was great. I felt like I knew the characters personally. Everything was so familiar. I can’t wait to start the second book
April 11, 2024
Outstanding book. Hard to believe over 100 rejections were received by the author. Why? Loved the story, the music references, the ending and the wide range of emotions displayed in the book. Looking forward to the second and third nooks in this series. Kindle Unlimited Sewell
October 15, 2024
Very nice book about 60s culture and music...highly recommended to those of you boomers, like myself, who believed in the movement and are so disappointed that many of those with us either died or sold out or are stupidly voting for Trump.
December 16, 2024
I finished it because a friend recommended it, but did not enjoy it. The story just wasn’t very compelling to me and so much of the writing was just one cliche after another. At least it was a quick read, so I didn’t waste a lot of time with it.
January 16, 2023
Band in the Wind
This book really got to me. What happened to those boys made me feel so sad. Kept telling myself it's just a story.
This book really got to me. What happened to those boys made me feel so sad. Kept telling myself it's just a story.
February 28, 2023
A difficult book to review. I enjoyed the first three quarters of the book, However, the end left me felling disappointed. Life does not always go the way we want, same with books.
June 7, 2024
Nostalgic, tragic, uplifting
A story of musical dreams in world of limits, prejudices, violence, and crime. Failure leads to redemption. A very good read.
A story of musical dreams in world of limits, prejudices, violence, and crime. Failure leads to redemption. A very good read.
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July 21, 2024Not what I expected but what a great book. Written in autobiographical form about growing up in NY in the 60s. So raw so true. A real page turner! I can't wait to start book 2
January 13, 2024
I loved this book, as well as the ones that follow it. I'm re-reading the series now for the 4th time. I keep coming back to it because it speaks to me. As a child of the 60s, all the musical references took me back to a simpler, although not easier, time. For those of a certain age, Rock 'n' Roll provided the backdrop of our lives. It still has the power to put me right back in my teenage years, the sounds, smells, hopes, and fears. I've created a playlist from the book and enjoy playing it as I read the book.
Different from some other reviewers, I found Johnny to be fairly representative of the teenage angst found in kids who are searching for their identity when they don't see a lot of opportunities, particularly in a time of broader social upheaval and change. Also, this book isn't the end of the story. Reading the following three books brings so much context (and some big surprises) to end the story in a place of hope. Do yourself a favor and read the whole series before you decide what you think. And don't skip the Author's Note at the end of this first book to understand the real-life incidents that inspired the story.
I'm a voracious reader, and this series is in my top 10 that I keep coming back to.
Different from some other reviewers, I found Johnny to be fairly representative of the teenage angst found in kids who are searching for their identity when they don't see a lot of opportunities, particularly in a time of broader social upheaval and change. Also, this book isn't the end of the story. Reading the following three books brings so much context (and some big surprises) to end the story in a place of hope. Do yourself a favor and read the whole series before you decide what you think. And don't skip the Author's Note at the end of this first book to understand the real-life incidents that inspired the story.
I'm a voracious reader, and this series is in my top 10 that I keep coming back to.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews