Super Short Summary

Train Whistle Guitar by Albert Murray, a bildungsroman set in 1920s Alabama, follows Scooter as he comes of age through a series of lessons learned at his school, a barbershop, and encounters with a musical gunfighter. The story, narrated from Scooter's older self, reflects on his education, philosophical musings, and life's intricate complexity, all symbolized by his relationship with a chinaberry tree. The book addresses issues of racism in America.