Shandi Sturgill

If you know me you know it’s hard for me to resist a Homer Hickam novel. I had managed to hold off on Carrying Albert Home until around Valentine’s Day. Mr. Hickam released a short story, set during the Rocket Boys’ days in Coalwood on Amazon, and of course I devoured it. Reading this story reminded me how much I love his writing, as well as the world and characters he creates when he writes about Coalwood. Maybe it’s because I’ve been there a couple of times, walked around the town, seen Cape Coalwood, the machine shop, and the club house. Maybe it’s because I’ve met the men who inspired me when I first learned of their story. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a small town not too terribly far from where this story takes place. Whatever the reason reading this new story gave me this strange sense of coming home. It was nice to read about Sonny (AKA Homer, Jr. our writer) and Quentin again.

But back to the topic at hand, I couldn’t put off reading Albert any longer. I had trouble putting the book down, so needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed Homer (Sr.) and Elsie’s escapades. I think Parts 4 and 5 were my favorite sections. Though as a North Carolinian from Wilkes County I have a soft spot for Elsie running shine on Thunder Road. In fact, this maybe replacing Sky of Stone as my favorite Hickam work.

I have always had mixed feelings about Homer (the elder). I have always respected his devotion to his town and his work, but at the same time I always understood Elsie’s frustration at the toll this devotion takes on the family. I think anyone who has read the Coalwood books experiences some confusion regarding his relationship with his youngest son and namesake. I’ve always found it interesting that despite their differences Sonny was the one selected to be a heir apparent of sorts to Homer’s position as the mine superintendent.

Carrying Albert Home gives us more insight into the elder Homer Hickam, and shows why the younger described him as “the greatest man” he knew. We get to see that there was more than just the work ethic. There was compassion, humility, talent, and a fierce intelligence. I also love how Elsie is depicted. She is still the fierce outspoken woman we met in Rocket Boys, but we see more of her flaws in this new work. We see more of her temper, her bitterness, and dare I say selfishness. Hickam has never shied away from presenting the flaws and virtues of his parents, and they are wonderful complex characters because of it.

This book will suck you in, if I had the time I probably could have just sat all day to finish Homer and Elsie’s adventures. One thing I have always loved about Homer Hickam’s writing is that he writes about the broad scope of life. He brings in topics of spirituality, love, and fate and mixes them with great comedic moments. And true to form Carrying Albert Home delivers this style in spades.

I know this has been a lengthy post. I’m sorry for how rambling, and probably redundant, it’s been. But the long and short of it is if you’re into novels based on interesting family lore, that features comedic characters, two people finding their way to each other, outlandish (yet highly entertaining) adventures, and an adorable reptile pick yourself up a copy of Carrying Albert Home

“What about all the things you said you and Dad did?” “We did them all,” she said in a voice I had to strain to hear, “even when we didn’t.”