Oswald

By: Kerry Thornley

Narrated by: Jack Chekijian

Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Kerry Thornley began writing at the age of 14. He sold his first piece of work to a local newspaper when he was 19 and sold many short stories, articles, and poems during his life. While attending high school in Whittier, California (home of Richard Nixon), Thornley won a number of public -peaking competitions, including the Voice of Democracy competition.

After attending the University of Southern California for one year as a journalism student, he decided to fulfill a two-year active-duty assignment (assumed earlier when he joined the marine corps reserve). He was assigned to El Toro Marine Air Station in Santa Ana, California, where he was to meet Lee Harvey Oswald. Later Thornley served in the Far East, in the First Marine Aircraft Wing, and distinguished himself again as a public speaker on political/philosophical issues by winning first place in the Wing Technique of Instruction competition. He was therefore sent to Washington, D.C., to appear in the finals.

It was shortly after his return to overseas duty that Thornley read in a newspaper of Oswald's defection to Russia and, as a result, began work on his first novel, The Idle Warriors, featuring a protagonist modeled after Oswald.

After leaving the marine corps, Thornley moved to New Orleans to finish The Idle Warriors and to gain background material for future writings. Just a few days after the assassination of JFK, Thornley's book was highlighted in New Orleans newspapers as being a key to understanding the "assassin," Lee Harvey Oswald.

Some researchers have speculated that Thornley may have associated with both Lee and Marina while in New Orleans. There is even a claim that Thornley and Marina were having an affair. Whatever the truth, there is no doubt that Thornley was close to certain assassination players.

©2015 Kerry Thornley (P)2015 New Saucerian

Critic reviews

"Kerry Thornley's first-hand portrait of Lee Harvey Oswald is a most valuable document because it gives an illuminating view of the man who almost certainly murdered President John F. Kennedy and presents him as the author saw and lived with him several years before the assassination." (Albert Ellis, PhD, from the Introduction)

Great story with robotic narration

The first half of this book I wasn’t sure if the narrator was actually human because he sounds like an artificial intelligence bot.
The end of the book, narrating the court transcripts he became human.
I love reading about Kerry Thornley and his association with Oswald in the early days, I’ve also followed Thornley‘s discordian movement and literature for sometime now.
Hail Eris!

Oswald

If you could sum up Oswald in three words, what would they be?

Great courtroom scene

What was one of the most memorable moments of Oswald?

How Oswald was fascinated with communism and his insecurity

Which character – as performed by Jack Chekijian – was your favorite?

All of them. He portrayed all the characters clearly

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Interesting Tidbits About Oswald

I found "Oswald" to be quite an interesting listen. I don't know too much about the incident as I wasn't quite born yet however, I've always found it fascinating. I like hearing firsthand accountings regarding the whole JFK mystery or conspiracy. I like Kerry Thornley's book because he gives a good amount of insight into the kind of person LHO was while serving in the Marine Corps with him.

It goes further into him being deposed before a committee and having to answer questions regarding everything he knew about Oswald. He had also been working on a manuscript while in the Corps and was asked about that as well.

I liked the part of the audiobook where Oswald had read George Orwell's "1984" and then gave it to the author to read. That was pretty interesting. Overall, it adds more to the puzzle. I would definitely recommend listening to this one, especially if this topic interests you. I can never get enough. I'd like to listen to more of his work in sudio format.

About the narrator: JACK CHEKIJIAN did an o-u-t-s-t-a-n-d-i-n-g job with this audiobook. It couldn't have been any better. It was well spoken, clear, and held my attention the entire time. I like his voice and his style. It was almost as if the author himself were telling his story. Another GREAT job.

Audiobook received in exchange for an unbiased review.

Predictive Programming 1.0

Knowing what is now established about Angleton's Oswald Program, our False Defector Program and the brilliant work of John Armstrong (Harvey and Lee), it is amusing to hear the words of Thornley building the legend.

By now, when the Talking Head announces that "a lone gunman was apprehended," we should be alerted that it is time to begin our own investigation.

Cheers!