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Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of A Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator by Homer Hickam
fedorasommora's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is an absolutely charming tale, woven on the tapestry of memory. A tale where fact and fiction are constructs, and not the point. It’s beautiful.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Subtitle: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator
Hickam grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia, where his father, Homer Sr, was foreman at the coal mine. Over the years his mother, Elsie, and father occasionally made reference to a trip they had taken during the Depression, when they were a young married couple but didn’t yet have children; it was to “carry Albert home,” Albert being his mother’s pet alligator. This book recounts some of those stories of the trip and their adventures on the road.
I loved listening to the stories my father, mother, aunts and uncles would tell of “the old days” and adventures they had had. Even just a few years before my father died, I was still surprised to learn things about his youth as he related a story of sheep-shearing in Montana. (My father was raised on a ranch on the Rio Grande in Texas.) So, I was predisposed to like this tale of the author’s parents and a great adventure they embarked upon without any plan other than to “carry Albert home.”
And they DID have adventures. If even half of the episodes are true, they met with famous authors, helped blow up a textile mill, foiled a bank robbery, got kidnapped by bootleggers, learned to run a boarding house, got conscripted into the Coast Guard (and then thrown overboard by smugglers), helped film a Hollywood movie, and survived a hurricane. Most importantly, they found one another on this road trip, and learned what was truly important in their lives.
I found it fun and enjoyable, but gosh, Elsie got on my nerves. I don’t know why Homer didn’t just leave her and Albert somewhere along the way and go find a woman who truly appreciated him.
Hickam grew up in Coalwood, West Virginia, where his father, Homer Sr, was foreman at the coal mine. Over the years his mother, Elsie, and father occasionally made reference to a trip they had taken during the Depression, when they were a young married couple but didn’t yet have children; it was to “carry Albert home,” Albert being his mother’s pet alligator. This book recounts some of those stories of the trip and their adventures on the road.
I loved listening to the stories my father, mother, aunts and uncles would tell of “the old days” and adventures they had had. Even just a few years before my father died, I was still surprised to learn things about his youth as he related a story of sheep-shearing in Montana. (My father was raised on a ranch on the Rio Grande in Texas.) So, I was predisposed to like this tale of the author’s parents and a great adventure they embarked upon without any plan other than to “carry Albert home.”
And they DID have adventures. If even half of the episodes are true, they met with famous authors, helped blow up a textile mill, foiled a bank robbery, got kidnapped by bootleggers, learned to run a boarding house, got conscripted into the Coast Guard (and then thrown overboard by smugglers), helped film a Hollywood movie, and survived a hurricane. Most importantly, they found one another on this road trip, and learned what was truly important in their lives.
I found it fun and enjoyable, but gosh, Elsie got on my nerves. I don’t know why Homer didn’t just leave her and Albert somewhere along the way and go find a woman who truly appreciated him.
authorjenn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This " Somewhat True Story" is full of Tall Tales. Its a cute story but I found it to be boring at times. I find it hard to believe a bank robbery, explosion of a sock mill, bootlegging, kidnapping, serial killer, ghost, and crime duo just to name a few, all happened to one couple and their alligator & chicken all in a two week period. I appreciate the photos in the back of the book, interestingly there are no photos of Albert. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.
meme_too2's review against another edition
5.0
This was so much fun to read! The stories were charming, far-fetched to the max, and proof of an epic love story. You have to take seriously the title, "The somewhat true story." Apparently, Elsie can't appreciate her dreamboat husband who only has eyes for the coal mines of West Virginia. But, the relationship Homer and Albert have with each other because of the many times Homer saves Albert and Albert saves Homer is incredibly heart warming. No one understands why the rooster is there, but that is one awesome rooster.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
5.0
I loved Carrying Albert Home, a charming tale based on the tall tales the author’s parents told him about that time they took their pet alligator to Florida. It’s a testament to oral storytelling on a family scale, where the events are embellished but hold a grain of truth. Who knows if Albert really was a team mascot or starred in a film…
Albert is the star of the show. Baby Albert was sent to Elsie as a wedding gift from Buddy Ebson, the man she never stopped loving. As he grows, Albert’s a constant reminder to Homer that his wife’s heart is elsewhere. But even Homer can’t resist Albert’s charm as the journey unravels. I’m not convinced an alligator would act so dog-like but I still loved him. He’s on the younger, and smaller, side so it’s more believable that he wouldn’t be trying to eat people, despite what Homer may think in the beginning.
Elsie never wanted to be stuck in a coal mining town, married to a coal miner. She yearns for a more exciting life, with a more exciting man. Yet their journey south isn’t exactly boring and maybe the couple can meet halfway; Homer can grow beyond the coal mines and Elsie can realise a good, kind man is better than the exciting, dangerous type, any day. The fact that the story is introduced by their son (the author), means we know it must work out some how.
Who knows how much is true? It seems it really doesn't matter at all...
Review copy provided by publisher.
Albert is the star of the show. Baby Albert was sent to Elsie as a wedding gift from Buddy Ebson, the man she never stopped loving. As he grows, Albert’s a constant reminder to Homer that his wife’s heart is elsewhere. But even Homer can’t resist Albert’s charm as the journey unravels. I’m not convinced an alligator would act so dog-like but I still loved him. He’s on the younger, and smaller, side so it’s more believable that he wouldn’t be trying to eat people, despite what Homer may think in the beginning.
Elsie never wanted to be stuck in a coal mining town, married to a coal miner. She yearns for a more exciting life, with a more exciting man. Yet their journey south isn’t exactly boring and maybe the couple can meet halfway; Homer can grow beyond the coal mines and Elsie can realise a good, kind man is better than the exciting, dangerous type, any day. The fact that the story is introduced by their son (the author), means we know it must work out some how.
Who knows how much is true? It seems it really doesn't matter at all...
Review copy provided by publisher.
cookster_k's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
noodles01's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
I will post a quote when the book is published.
I had never read anything by Homer Hickam. I know he is a popular author and that one of his books, Rocket Boys has been made in a film (October Sky). I have no real idea why this novel caught my eye in the Edelweiss list. However, once again, I am grateful to serendipity and Edelweiss. I had a blast with this novel.
According to Hickam, his parents told bits and pieces of their story to Hickam when he was a child. Hickam’s parents drove from West Virginia to Florida to return an alligator, Albert, to its natural home. They also carried a rooster with them for no reason that they could see. They encountered movie makers, bank robbers, the Coast Guard and many other strange people.
This sounds like some of the stories I heard growing up. My dad told us that he played the Victrola in the school band and that he and my mom met at Kennywood Park. As a child, I didn’t know which of these stories was possible and which was made up. When Hickam heard all the adventures of his parents, he probably couldn’t figure out the truth either.
So while in this tale, the reader should suspend his or her disbelief. Some of this novel is what Hickam’s parents actually did and some of it is what they or he wished they had done. It doesn’t really matter. The story is excellent and Hickam makes you believe in his parents’ adventure even if it may not be strictly how it happened. I will be reading more of Hickam because he drew me into this story and didn’t let me go until Albert got home.
It is hard for me to review humorous books. Humor is a personal thing and the fact that I was laughing out loud at this story does not mean you will also laugh. However, this is one of the funniest things I have read this year. I was entertained and just could not put this novel down. If you are looking for fun in your next book, I recommend this to you.
I had never read anything by Homer Hickam. I know he is a popular author and that one of his books, Rocket Boys has been made in a film (October Sky). I have no real idea why this novel caught my eye in the Edelweiss list. However, once again, I am grateful to serendipity and Edelweiss. I had a blast with this novel.
According to Hickam, his parents told bits and pieces of their story to Hickam when he was a child. Hickam’s parents drove from West Virginia to Florida to return an alligator, Albert, to its natural home. They also carried a rooster with them for no reason that they could see. They encountered movie makers, bank robbers, the Coast Guard and many other strange people.
This sounds like some of the stories I heard growing up. My dad told us that he played the Victrola in the school band and that he and my mom met at Kennywood Park. As a child, I didn’t know which of these stories was possible and which was made up. When Hickam heard all the adventures of his parents, he probably couldn’t figure out the truth either.
So while in this tale, the reader should suspend his or her disbelief. Some of this novel is what Hickam’s parents actually did and some of it is what they or he wished they had done. It doesn’t really matter. The story is excellent and Hickam makes you believe in his parents’ adventure even if it may not be strictly how it happened. I will be reading more of Hickam because he drew me into this story and didn’t let me go until Albert got home.
It is hard for me to review humorous books. Humor is a personal thing and the fact that I was laughing out loud at this story does not mean you will also laugh. However, this is one of the funniest things I have read this year. I was entertained and just could not put this novel down. If you are looking for fun in your next book, I recommend this to you.