After having shared on one of the first “BCTS Recommends” at the start of this year (2024) among others the Opus Magnus of Teddie S. with the title Tommy - The Trials and Tribulations of a Girl?, I decided to dig up this story and re-read it. It is truly a Opus Magnus, counting 253 chapters and approximately 1,400,000 words. So buckle up for the long haul!

I had read this super novel back when it was initially published here on BigCloset in the 2017-2020 time frame. Even re-reading earlier chapters in order to re-thread the story line after several real life issues would interrupt the regular posting schedule. But I had not re-read the whole story in one go since the story was brought to a close.

In the last two to three months I have noticed that my attention span had drastically dropped, even when reading to ongoing posts of my favorite stories here on BigCloset. Even for a typical post of around 2500 words I would loose the thread at least two or three times, and the “read in progress” tabs in my browser just keep piling up. But “Tommy - The Trials and Tribulations of a Girl?” some how was able to keep spell-bound from start to finish! It was literally a seven-day marathon. I started re-reading this novel on last Wednesday (2024-05-08) finished the last chapter just a few short hours back (2024-05-15).

Even though “Tommy - The Trials and Tribulations of a Girl?” is a love story, there is absolutely no graphic sex. And all erotic activities are very tastefully left to the readers imagination. But this love story contains a fair share of drama, comedy, thrill and even documentary.

The reader can and will be moved from tears to laughter and back repeatedly.

Although “Tommy - The Trials and Tribulations of a Girl?” is a fictional story, the setting and environment is so realistic that the whole story comes across as totally plausible. And the realism of the plot lines is top-notch.

We accompany the main characters for almost 12 years of their lives from the summer of 1957 to spring 1969. Starting with the introduction of a highly inquisitive and extremely curious 12 year old Tommy, who starts to discover himself during his junior high school years. His extremely depressing four years of high school get pretty much glossed over in a few paragraphs. But the story really takes off with return of, what turns out to be his soul-mate, for the start of college in September 1963 to Columbus, Ohio.

The college years until graduation in May 1967, are years of discovery and growth for Tommy and his family. Especially when they start to uncover, discover and embrace the Navajo heritage, starting with heart attack suffered by his maternal grandmother in norther New Mexico and the resulting visit there. This “initial” visit turns into regular return visits to New Mexico, and learning about his heritage.

After graduating from Ohio State in Columbus, Tommy and his wife move to New Mexico in June 1967 for post-graduate studies. It is at this point when the intrigues and around our main characters really start to take off with a mighty roar in crescendo. And what feels like to bulk of novel happens here in New Mexico, culminating with the graduate degree graduation at the end of March 1969.

Shortly after we say “so long” to our main characters and their family, allowing them move into the sunset for their happily ever-after.

The story of “Tommy - The Trials and Tribulations of a Girl?” gives a nice glimpse into the culture of the USA in the mid to late 1960s, as well as the culture of Native Americans with a very strong emphasis on the Navajo and their belief around two spirit persons. Given that this is a fictional story, I wish that the depiction of the two spirit beliefs was totally and completely true and accurate.

You can find more stories by Teddie S. on the BigCloset TopShelf Featured Author Teddie S. page. Another personal favorite story is “Sara, Becka, and me”. Go and enjoy this short, sweet and romantic story.