A Time to Wander

by Chera Thompson, NF Johnson

Two college kids on two different roads.

Save for the one they share.

An email exchange between former college lovers take them back to their college years at Kent State, the 1970s. The Vietnam War is raging. Anti-war rallies hit the breaking point. It was a time of bell bottoms, vinyl, incense, free love, and travel by thumb.

For Kris and Lena, two strangers on two very different paths, a thrown beer bottle shatters the lives they have known, bringing them together by chance. Lena is attracted to Kris and his live-in-the-moment personality. When he invites her to join him on a spring break hitchhiking trip, she kicks aside her uptight attitude and accepts the adventure. The trip is harrowing at times, comical during others, and poignant as Lena and Kris learn about themselves and each other.

The events that shape and seal the fate of their relationship in unpredictable ways is revealed in the authors’ female/male alternating perspectives.

Inspired by true events, A Time to Wander is a magical tale of freedom before the future takes hold.

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2019

Reviews

[Rick Slane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is important to remember that 4 students were shot and killed at Kent State University during protests against the war in Vietnam. Kent State is in northeastern Ohio. Neil Young wrote the song Ohio about this. This novel is light historical-fiction.

It does capture much of the spirit of the late 1960's to early 1970's. Birth control was widely available and AIDS had not yet brought an end to "free love". Those who enjoyed the movies Easy Rider and Alice's Restaurant will probably like this story which could also become a motion picture.

The narrative is unique in that it alternates the telling of the tale between the perspectives of Lena and Kris. I rated it adult for the language and drug culture references.

[Lynn Thorsson]

Brought back memories

I loved this book. I went to Kent State from 1969 to 1972. I lived in Terrace Hall and hung out at the Robin Hood.
I felt like I was reading about two friends that I really missed.

[Teri Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TIME TO WANDER is written from two POVs. One is Kris’s, a young man who is playing the field with the ladies, hoping he won’t be drafted and sent to Vietnam. The other point of view is Lena’s, a “good girl” raised by a family with strong values and expectations. She has plans for her future and they don’t involve taking risks or having one night stands.

Both of these characters are changed forever when their fellow students at Kent State are gunned down for using their voices. The Vietnam War wasn’t their enemy, it was their very own government, and on that fateful day, they were catapulted into adulthood. Their beliefs about life changed, leading Lena and Kris to dissect and explore their choices and preconceived notions.

What struck and hooked me about this story is (sadly) its relevance to today’s government and humanitarian issues, and the challenges young Americans are facing, the dreams they once intended to pursue evolving out of pure necessity. I can imagine a young woman today relating to Lena and saying, “Yes. I am Lena.” Or a young man saying, “I am Kris.”

My secret hope is that Chera Thompson will start publicly speaking to students at this critical point in their lives. She has some wisdom to share with them. No pressure, Chera.

Chera, NF, and Evan, thanks for being you.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel that transports you somewhere you've never been is good. A novel that makes you feel the narrator's excitement and nerves, their trepidation and fear, is great. A novel that can pull someone from a different generation and a different part of the world into the story is exceptional. This novel did all three, and it left me wanting more.

It also served as a redemption for another Midwest road trip story by a beloved author, which I won't name here, but is now being turned into a TV series. That book left me disappointed and deflated. Chera Thompson and N.F. Johnson brought unexpected magic back to the genre.

The narration was fantastic. It brought the characters to life and was easy to listen to. I laughed out loud.

I'll be thinking back on Chera Thompson and N.F. Johnson's prose for years to come. I can't wait for their next book!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this semi-autographical novel written by co-authors Chera Thompson and NF Johnson, that also had alternating narrators. Wasn't sure how I would feel about that, but loved it and found both voices authentic and heart-rending. The whole hitchhiking, free love period was ahead of my time, but I felt completely there the way the authors conveyed it, especially the cold, the disappointments of waiting, and the scariness of some of the drivers. As a child of the 1980s, I had my own questionable choices of youth, so could relate to theirs. The love story was sweet, sorrowful and believable for anyone who experienced the intensity of young love during a turbulent period of time, be it a war or something else. Perfect ending. I highly recommend this book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this book for free and am glad I did. The reference to Kent State sucked me in. I was there during the riots but was in middle school. My Dad worked as the assistant student union director. So very involved in it. We left the next year because he didn't like how the town reacted to the students. I also traveled and hitch-hiked a lot. So really enjoyed the book! The author also lives by Lake Erie and so do I!

[Fran Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching. Nostalgic. A nice yet revealing reflection of the time, with the realism of hitchhiking across states mixed in with its romanticism. A tale of experiencing close connection

[Elaine]

kept waiting for this book to get really good or interesting but it just never took off for me. it was hard to finish and at that, i was just skimming thru it.