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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Rocket Boys is a wonderful memoir by a coal miner's son who fell in love with rocket-building (and girls, too!) during the time of Sputnik. It offers interesting insights to life in a coal town, boys coming of age and independent women during the late 50's. It was funny, but had its share of sadness, joy and all of the other emotions of life, too. A wonderful book.
This book is very likable, the story accessible and the writing excellent.
Oddly, this book is great when paired with "The Glass Castle." They are both memoirs that take place in Welch. And both interesting.
Oddly, this book is great when paired with "The Glass Castle." They are both memoirs that take place in Welch. And both interesting.
Understand what this book is, and you will love it. It's not exactly the same story as the movie of the same name, but more detailed and rich in color.
Beyond the tale of how to build a model rocket, it is the lively story of a boy's journey from adolescence in a small coal community, through how he succeeded in a great quest and became a leader and hero of his town.
It explores and demonstrates the scientific method in development of a functional rocket, designed and built by high-school aged boys, that travelled miles above the ground.
It's a profile of a mining community and how common practices of management plays the workers against each other until it finally abandons them. It's a story of adolescent infatuation and love, and heartbreak. It's a character study of the challenges of a family dealing with life, and mostly succeeding.
Primarily it is a thick slice of life in coal town Appalachia, the good and bad, with some high successes that let this boy grow into a successful rocket engineer. A good read. No, better than that, a good book; a great read.
Beyond the tale of how to build a model rocket, it is the lively story of a boy's journey from adolescence in a small coal community, through how he succeeded in a great quest and became a leader and hero of his town.
It explores and demonstrates the scientific method in development of a functional rocket, designed and built by high-school aged boys, that travelled miles above the ground.
It's a profile of a mining community and how common practices of management plays the workers against each other until it finally abandons them. It's a story of adolescent infatuation and love, and heartbreak. It's a character study of the challenges of a family dealing with life, and mostly succeeding.
Primarily it is a thick slice of life in coal town Appalachia, the good and bad, with some high successes that let this boy grow into a successful rocket engineer. A good read. No, better than that, a good book; a great read.
Wow. Quite possibly one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the movie that was based on this, but the book puts the movie to shame (no easy feat). Absolutely spectacular. For anyone who's ever dreamed of space, and faced the long hard journey to get there.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I really liked this story. It was just a good story about boys growing up in West Virginia's coal mining country and trying to escape.
I read 5 books on holiday. This book was my favourite of all my reads. I'm inspired! I felt very proud of the young boys and the community. A true story to boot. Amazing I feel all gooey inside.
Watched the movie "October Sky" as part of a leadership training course to highlight mentoring. Had to read the book to get the full story and I totally enjoyed it! Of course there were a lot more details than the movie. Fascinating to see how the various adults in Sonny's life supported him- some openly (Mom) and others not (Dad). Was a fun read and also an intriguing glimpse into the life and death of a coal town.
The author recently spoke at our arts center before a showing of "October Sky" and I never got a chance to read the book before his visit. I'm glad I read it, though. Even if you think it sounds uninteresting --- rockets, coal mining and West Virginia aren't my favorite topics --- give it a chance. It's a great read.
Initial selection for our new mayor's book club. Good to see this started again in SA.
Now finished, and would like it give it a 4+ rating. Not a masterpiece, but well worth reading. Looking forward to our book club discussion.
Now finished, and would like it give it a 4+ rating. Not a masterpiece, but well worth reading. Looking forward to our book club discussion.