Stormy Weather


Young Adult - Non-Fiction
57 Pages
Reviewed on 02/04/2021
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Author Biography

Ranialdo H. Timms is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. He served in the United States Marine Corps where his education, training and experience afforded him the opportunity to serve his country around the world. After his eight years of enlistment, he left the Marines as a Sergeant and is employed as a first responder serving the local communities.

Ranialdo enjoys serving others, spreading his gift of humor and enjoyment of life that lifts the soul no matter how hard or easy the season of life. He’s an avid gamer, history and movie fan. He started journaling his life experiences which developed into this story that he hopes the reader will enjoy.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

Stormy Weather by Ranaildo H. Timms is a short memoir of the author’s time in the Marine Corps. In the preface, the author claims not to be a writer but to know how to tell a story. We learn something about his high school days in Alabama where he preferred playing football to studying, and we learn a bit about his close-knit family. After graduation when most of his buddies were going off to college or into jobs, he shocks his family and friends by enlisting in the Marines. Then he tells the story from the first day of getting on the bus and heading to Parris Island, his basic training, his combat training, and his eventual deployment on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. That was during the tragic tsunami in Japan when his ship could not dock due to the suspicion of radiation caused by that country's nuclear disaster.

Ranaildo H. Timms is right that he knows how to tell a story. I enjoyed his downhome, unsophisticated voice which comes through his writing, making it seem like a tale told over a few beers or maybe on a bench a la Forrest Gump. That voice is honest, self-deprecating, and with a friendly working-class charm. But it also shows the trials, mishaps, and victories of Marine training. Most interesting to me was the bonding that occurred between him and his fellow recruits and then Marines, which eventually defies his earlier pledge—“bros before hoes”—and leads to his complex love relationships with two female compatriots on the aircraft carrier where they all worked in the Navy’s laundry room. It’s a touching and gritty story, naturally and skillfully told, funny, scary, sad, and real. And it ends all too soon, with several unanswered questions. I hope that in the near future Mr. Timms will pick up his pen and give us some more of his natural and honest storytelling skills.

Soumya Sreehari

What image do you conjure up in your mind when you think of Stormy Weather? It usually is a dark sky with heavy clouds hanging gloomily. Despite the suggestive title, Stormy Weather by Ranaildo Timms is a story of dreams and hopes, the ups and downs of life – the storms and the following sunshine. The story takes you through the journey of Ranaildo’s life from high school graduation to his military life as a marine. Unlike his high school buddies who know what they want to do, young Ranaildo decides after his graduation to join the marines. The story of his training and deployment from day one1 to the tours on the sea form the rest of the book. His experiences during training and initial years of deployment have plenty to teach and relate to for readers.

Bidding adieu to his buddies on the night of his high school graduation, Ranaildo decides he is going to join the marines. Much to the surprise of his family. From the time he is dropped off to processing and the start of boot-camp, he asks himself what he got into. Stormy Weather by Ranaildo Timms is a detailed chronicle of his entire experience during marine training and his deployment on an aircraft carrier. The intensity of training, the surprises of deployment, the strong bonds of friendship, the love of family – all of these are important in this journey. Using humorous recounting of anecdotes, Ranaildo captures the wide range of physical and emotional experiences that are an indelible part of military life. His story touched my heart and could be an inspiration to many young adults.

Tiffany Hurt

This book was definitely informative as well as entertaining , giving the readers an insight of what the military is like . Definitely loved it and looking forward to more !

Ariel

I love this book it was very inspiring

Glenda Smith

Great Story!

The author tells a story about a young man’s military journey, self-discovery, growth, and development of himself and his relationships.
The theme, which has implications far beyond the obvious hilarious military journey, is skillfully and detailedly expressed. The lifelong friendship bond with his Marine friend and concern for his well-being; and the implied love that was never acknowledged is wholly absorbing.
As I read the book, I could not put it down! It was so interesting as if I were watching a movie. I could really feel the humor, simplicity, and authenticity of the writer. Even as he faces many challenges, he keeps the underlying humor. I feel the author’s subtle, relevant, timely message implication is that -even as we go through life challenges, we can embrace some humor to help us through tough times.
Ronaildo Timm has complete control of his own unique expression of his story and his style. I am really anxious to see how the next one will unfold. I absolutely plan to stick with this author as the cliffhangers unfold of a possible love relationship, his friend’s well-being, and intrigue by the life lesson of the young man. All the cliffhangers ending is a fitting denouement to unsatisfying suspense that I look forward to reading more about in the future. Great job and keep writing!!!

Edna H

This is an easy read informative about military life, yet funny.
Waiting for the next one

Sharay Bennett

This book was an interesting read, I really enjoyed reading bout the authors experience in the Military and school. It is well written and the author really gives the reader a visual overview within his wording. I enjoyed reading this book or should I say adventure.