Whippoorwill Chronicles

by Timothy Strong

Beautiful, heartbreaking, funny and enlightening.

Sam and George are childhood friends, sharing a deep loyalty that is cemented when George, the older by three years, saves Sam from drowning. When George decides to enlist during Vietnam, and Sam’s first sexual experiences lead to a pregnancy, the stress and pressures are too much for Sam’s mind to process. He breaks and has his first experience of a psychiatric hospital. As he faces the stigma of mental illness, his girlfriend Delores is ostracized after having an abortion. The two run away to join a commune.

When the consequences of their choices unfold, Sam faces the frailty of relationships, the danger of misplaced emotion, and a complete loss of control. Returning home again, Sam begins a long journey to regain a sense of what is real, what is true and what is his responsibility.

Genres: Fiction

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2020

Reviews

[Jakky]

I made it about three quarters through the book before finally throwing my hands up. The story has potential, but this first person narrator is driving me nuts, pun intended. It’s exhausting reading page after page after page of his “mental illness.” He just doesn’t evoke sympathy or empathy in me, although he should. The story lost me back in the beginning when George saved Sam from drowning. Ensued a bizarre exchange of “don’t tell anyone about this - I don’t want anyone to think you owe me anything, blah blah”. What? Where did that come from? From then on, I kept trying to like the book but I give up.

[W.T.]

I call myself fortunate to know Mr. Strong through his capacity as the owner of an incredible used bookstore that has become my weekend sanctuary, when it is open. When I learned that he was authoring his first novel, as a fellow writer, I was excited for him.
What I wasn't prepared for was the level of emotion I found myself devoting to this story. The beauty and complexity of the relationship between these teens, the development of the characters, the dialogue, the detail of the natural landscapes (which mentally brought me to so many of the trails and nooks of the Adirondacks I frequent).
But it was Mr. Strong's ability to address the issue of mental illness one of his characters struggles with that was most wonderfully displayed. In great detail, Mr. Strong writes of the challenges the character faces to keep his head above the waters of a psychosis that seems hell bent on drowning him.
The strengths, the weaknesses, the humanity and the beauty and importance of friendship has all been written with a level of intensity that makes me comfortable calling Mr. Strong not just a wordsmith, but a master at his craft.

[Corrine Ardoin]

A deep and depressing story that relates the events in one young man's life, beginning with a near-death experience and ending with his friend's return home from war. Like S.E. Hinton's book, The Outsiders, Whippoorwill Chronicles is about teenagers who continually turn to patterns of behavior that only make life worse for them. Like with The Outsiders, you wonder where are the parents?

Told from the point of view of the main character, Sam, his life is challenged by a predisposition for mental illness, an alcoholic father, and an overwrought mother. His friend's enlistment and his girlfriend's pregnancy and subsequent abortion push him over the brink into what appears to be madness. Stays in psychiatric hospitals, medication, and a few caring people help Sam to recover and achieve his goal to attend college.

Realistic and compassionate, Whippoorwill Chronicles is not for the faint of heart. Riddled with profanity and alcoholic binge-drinking, it seems doubtful Sam can overcome being his own worst enemy. But, with the help of loyal and determined friends, and with an insightful wisdom he is lucky enough to be gifted, Sam pulls through and realizes his dream.

[Barb]

Sam and George are childhood friends, sharing a deep loyalty that is cemented when George, the older by three years, saves Sam from drowning. When George decides to enlist during Vietnam, and Sam’s first sexual experiences lead to a pregnancy, the stress and pressures are too much for Sam’s mind to process. He breaks and has his first experience of a psychiatric hospital. I really enjoyed this sad book

[Cheryl]

A trip to the past

This book will take you smoothly back to the Vietnam Era. Unlike Delores I married at age 16. Tagged along with my solider, fought my on battle with my parents, and still finished high school. I think we all struggled with bits of madness. I salute you Mr. Strong for a job well done. Flawless. Thank you.

[Allen Schoer]

I’ve just finished Tim Strong's lovely, evocative Whippoorwill Chronicles. His writing is beautiful - straightforward, yet poetic. Sam’s journey is moving and engrossing. I already miss each of the characters. Kudos!

[Scot]

Enjoyed the read

A different book about the recent past with issues still relevant today. The characters are like so many of us. I think ending it at the end of chapter 42 would have made it better.

[Sunni Parker]

A good read with a lesson of being grateful for the things you have and stop worrying over the things you can’t control.

[Jean Neiderhiser]

First

This is my first experience with reading of mental illness. So very hard to fathom. I will try to enrich my experience with others. Wonderful.

[David S.]

Good book. Why is a headline always necessary?

A book that started so/so and ended extremely strong. Well worth reading. It was also about my generation growing up.

[Drayallen]

DNR