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Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator
Verfasst von Homer Hickam
Gesprochen von Adam Verner
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Mit Anhören beginnenBeschreibung
Elsie Lavender and Homer Hickam Sr.-the future parents of Homer Hickam Jr.-were high school sweethearts during the Great Depression. When Homer asked for her hand, Elsie instead headed to Orlando, where she sparked with a dancing actor named Buddy Ebsen (yes, that Buddy Ebsen). But when Buddy headed for New York, Elsie's dreams of a life with him were crushed and eventually she found herself back in the coalfields of West Virginia, married to Homer.
Elsie was reminded of those carefree Florida days by Buddy's unusual wedding gift: an alligator named Albert who lived in the only bathroom in their little house. Eventually Homer gave Elsie an ultimatum: "Me or the alligator!" After giving it some thought, Elsie concluded there was only one thing to do-carry Albert home.
Buchaktionen
Mit Anhören beginnenInformationen über das Buch
Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator
Verfasst von Homer Hickam
Gesprochen von Adam Verner
Beschreibung
Elsie Lavender and Homer Hickam Sr.-the future parents of Homer Hickam Jr.-were high school sweethearts during the Great Depression. When Homer asked for her hand, Elsie instead headed to Orlando, where she sparked with a dancing actor named Buddy Ebsen (yes, that Buddy Ebsen). But when Buddy headed for New York, Elsie's dreams of a life with him were crushed and eventually she found herself back in the coalfields of West Virginia, married to Homer.
Elsie was reminded of those carefree Florida days by Buddy's unusual wedding gift: an alligator named Albert who lived in the only bathroom in their little house. Eventually Homer gave Elsie an ultimatum: "Me or the alligator!" After giving it some thought, Elsie concluded there was only one thing to do-carry Albert home.
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Rezensionen
Subtitle: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her AlligatorHickam 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.
By the author of "Rocket Boys" a story about his mother, father, Buddy Ebsen, Albert (the alligator), an unnamed rooster & the journey south to return Albert to Orlando Florida.At first I loved this book... but the more I read it, the more I became tired of Elsie Lavender Hickam and her ingratitude & selfishness.....Other than Elsie's attitude (which ruined most of the story for me), it was an interesting & fantastic, if unbelievable tale.
I have recommended this book to several people since I read it. I couldn't stop listening, and so many of the scenes have stayed with me. It was very Big FIsh, and I loved it.
Quirky and sweet at times but my enjoyment of the story is coloured by my dislike of the main female character. She reminded me too much of a best friend I had broken up with. I couldn't understand the fascination with her. Way too self involved and vain. Unfortunately, it really affected my enjoyment of the story. I loved the Alligator and the rooster though and some of the situations were quite delightful. Will appeal to those who enjoyed The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and Forrest Gump. Will keep it and re read in a couple of years and see if I enjoy it more. Have heard others have really enjoyed, so please keep that in mind. I however review my books based on MY enjoyment of the story, not the quality of the writing. The writing is fantastic and the author tells a tale beautifully. Just a wee bit sensitive about vain self involved girls these days. But again I loved the frickin Alligator. And the story kept me reading even-though I seriously disliked the Mom
Lovely story! For anyone who has ever really loved someone.
What a wonderful, heart warming and colorful book by Hickam. This book is written about the supposed events of his parents when they determined to take a pet aligator back home to Florida from the coal mines in which they lived. This book was a joy to read.J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and "Tell me about the United Methodist Church"
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that I found totally entertaining. Married into an old West Virginia family, I can appreciate the adage "mostly true"! Homer and Elsie go on a long journey to return Albert, an alligator, to his native Florida. Many adventures occur during this trip, made long before the interstates took all the interest out of driving. I enjoyed seeing an added dimension to the relationship between Homer and Elsie that I glimpsed in pieces in Hickam's autobiographical Coalwood novels. It was a fun adventure for me traveling along on the trip.
Elsie Lavender Hickam received a rather unusual wedding gift from her previous fiance Buddy Ebsen, a baby alligator. Mrs. Hickam adored that alligator and lovingly raised it in the coalfields of West Virginia. When the alligator scared her husband out of the house without his pants, Elsie had to choose between her husband and the alligator. What ensues is the hilarious tale of Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator by Homer Hickam.Imagine the late 1920s and a young woman, Elsie Lavender, raised in the coalfields of West Virginia is now living it up in a pre-Disney Orlando, Florida. She's attending secretarial school, working as a waitress, and enjoying the company of the up-and-coming actor/dancer Buddy Ebsen. Elsie and Buddy get engaged and then he receives a job opportunity in New York city and then California. Weeks and months go by without any correspondence from her fiance, so Elsie returns to rural West Virginia and her family. She receives an unusual marriage proposal from her future husband's boss, ponders the proposal, and subsequently marries the young man, Homer Hickam. After their marriage, she receives a belated wedding present from Buddy Ebsen, a baby alligator named Albert. When forced to choose between her husband and the alligator, she chooses her husband (somewhat reluctantly it appears) with the proviso that they must return Albert to Florida. Now if the picture of an alligator being raised in the coalfields of West Virginia in the 1930s wasn't strange enough, imagine this husband, wife and alligator on the road...oops, I almost forgot the rooster that decided to travel with them.To give you an idea of just how hilarious the travel adventures of Elsie, Homer, and Albert were, you only have to look at some of the titles for sections of the book: How Elsie Became a Radical; How Elsie Rode the Thunder Road, Homer Wrote a Poem, and Albert Transcended Reality; How Albert Flew; How Homer and Elsie Saved a Movie and Albert Played a Crocodile; and, How Homer and Elsie Survived a Hurricane - A Real One as Well as the One in Their Hearts. Elsie and Homer have some amazing adventures on their quest to return Albert home, including foiling a bank robbery, meeting John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway, participating in the illegal transportation of moonshine, and more. Elsie even becomes a millionaire for a few hours in North Carolina. The 1000 mile road trip this couple took provides some poignant and heart-touching moments along with some outrageously funny moments. Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator is much more than a story of returning an animal to its native habitat, it's about letting go of the past, overcoming jealousy, being happy with what you have (without giving up on your dreams), as well as finding and accepting love. Homer Hickam has taken the outlandish and fantastical tales about his parents' trip in the 1930s and made it into a fictionalized story that is a testament to fortitude and love. Carrying Albert Home was a fast-paced read for me and one that I enjoyed from beginning to end. (Adding to that enjoyment was the ability to see Mr. Hickam, the author, at the recent West Virginia Book Festival.) Don't put Carrying Albert Home on a TBR list, go out, grab a copy, and then sit down and read it...you won't be disappointed.
Carrying Albert Home by Homer Hickam is a wonderful "somewhat true story" that weaves a wonderfully fantastic trip around nuggets of family lore from the author's life. When you start reading it simply seems like a nice tale, a bit fanciful in the events but otherwise just a down home rural story with the usual embellishments those tales usually incorporate. Yet as each section ends you feel both closer to the characters as well as closer to understanding the dynamics of a relationship in general.The writing flows such that you don't realize how much you're reading. This really allows the reader to get lost in the story, pulling for or against characters. I even found myself imagining the personality of Albert and really liking him, and this isn't one of those talking animal books where the personality is explicit.I would recommend this book to just about anybody. The sections are often like little adventures or mysteries while the entire book is about love(s), relationships and what people will do try to make love come, grow and stay.Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
Faced with the ultimatum to choose between her husband and her growing alligator, Albert, Elsie Hickam chooses her husband on the condition they take Albert home to Florida. Thus begins the tale of an epic road trip, based on real events, but grown into tall tales by the author’s parents as they told the tales to him over the years. Adventure, humour, danger; everything is here as the three main characters—two humans and a reptile—are joined in their journey early on by a rooster, for a while by author John Steinbeck, and a host of characters, some honest, some nefarious, some rather odd. This is the first book I’ve ever read by Homer Hickam, and I’m grateful to the group that had an author discussion with him that prompted me to read it, to whomever came up with such a winning title that kept me interested in starting it despite delays on my part, as well as the good writing. This may not have been one of those rare five star books for me, but it is a very strong 4 stars. I have another book of Hickam’s here now, waiting to be read.
"The captain, a huge man with ears like an African elephant, looked up and frowned. “What the devil is it, son?”“It’s my wife, Captain.”“Elsie? What’s wrong with Elsie?”“She wants me to take her and her alligator to Orlando.”The Captain sat back and considered Homer. “Does this have anything to do with you running around your yard without your pants?”“Yes sir, it does.”The Captain cocked his head. “Okay son, I’m always up for a good story and I sense this might be a good one.”"And so begins a true (well, somewhat true) gem of a book, the latest adventure by Rocket Boys author Homer Hickam, who has recently come out with Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of A Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator. It’s a madcap adventure with a dash of romance starring a remarkably mismatched couple; Hickam’s parents.When faced with the age-old ultimatum “Either that alligator goes or I do,” Elsie Lavender Hickam gives her husband, Homer, the elder Hickam, a perfectly reasonable answer. “I’ll think it over.” A few days later Homer, Elsie, Albert the Alligator, and a rooster who shall remain nameless, embark on an epic journey from the coal fields of West Virginia to the Florida Keys. It is a remarkable tale, patched together by Homer (the younger) from years of conversations with both of his parents. Their rollicking road trip includes encounters with bank robbers, famous authors, radical labor unionists, moonshiners, and baseball players; and that’s just the first hundred pages. To describe all of their adventures would take all night and deprive the reader of the opportunity to discover them for themselves. But it is more than just a madcap comedy. It is also a journey of discovery by two people whose hopes and dreams are far different. Admittedly, we know that they will resolve their differences else there would be no Homer Hickam Jr. to write down their adventures, but still, it is fun to learn how it comes about. Bottom line: After reading Faulkner and O’Connor, McCullers and Caldwell, it is almost a relief to come across a southern author with a true sense of whimsy. P.G. Wodehouse, move over.*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending. *1 Star - The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
Travels with Homer, Elsie, and Albert, the Alligator (and a rooster) - Forrest Gump Style AdventuresWow! What a great book! It’s imaginative, well-written, fun, warm and engaging. In fact, it is so engaging that my husband picked up the book every time I put it down, unable to wait until I finished it. Albert is an alligator, not a crocodile, and makes a “yeah-yeah-yeah” happy sound when you scratch his creamy belly while he waves his paws in delight. He smiles, too, a very toothsome grin. Albert is Elsie’s “little boy,” and, perhaps before Homer, Elsie’s husband, object of her love. Her parents, who live near them in Coalwood, West Virginia, also love Albert. Elsie’s Mama sends Albert Christmas and birthday cards. Her Daddy built a small pool for Albert. Elsie received Albert as a wedding present from Buddy, a former boyfriend in Orlando, Florida. Albert, not even five inches long, arrived in a shoebox, punched with holes and tied with string. Two years later he was almost four feet and lives in the bathtub of the Hickam house and follows Elsie around like a puppy (no puppies were allowed due to Albert’s tendency to “play” with them.Homer, a coal miner like all men in Coalwood, has had enough. After Albert grabbed his pants in the bathroom and Homer had to jump out of them, he told Elsie to choose between them. So, she thought it over while she fed Albert chicken inside the house. Two days later, she decided to take Albert home, to Orlando. Given no choice, Homer took two weeks leave, bought Albert a galvanized tub, put him in the back seat of the Buick, and they set off for Florida. Secretly, Elsie hoped they could all stay in Orlando. She wasn’t a coal miner and longed to leave the coalfields for a better life.Elsie’s Daddy cautioned Homer that they were protected from the Depression in the mountains of Coalwood, but he would meet desperate people and should be on guard. There, the adventure begins. (Think Coen Brothers movie.) To say more would spoil the story, so I’ll leave the rest for you to discover and enjoy.
Homer can never seem to compare to either of his wife's first loves: Buddy Ebsen or her pet alligator Albert. After Homer gives his wife an ultimatum of him or Albert, his wife agrees to travel to Florida to release Albert into the wild.Nearly this entire story takes place during their journey away from home. As the back cover implies, it's a quirky story reminiscent of something like Big Fish. Fantastical and outrageous, there is a blurred line between reality and fantasy in this book. How much is truth and how much fiction? We don't really know. We know there was a Homer Hickman, his wife Elsie and her alligator Albert. We know they made a trip to Florida. Beyond that, we don't know a whole lot. The author explains, "Carrying Albert Home is a family epic, which means it's a blend of fact and fiction, evolved from stories told by my parents, both of whom were West Virginians and knew how to make their tales tall as the hills that surrounded them on all sides."This story is rich in colorful characters (some of them you'll recognize) and events, spanning the distance between Coalwood, West Virginia and Key West, Florida, with Albert in the backseat and a rooster sitting up front (the rooster is a character all his own). Homer is a good man, and has more patience with his wife Elsie than he would ever have with anyone else. And she is not an easy woman to get along with. Homer seems to do nothing right when it comes to Elsie. She is constantly displeased with anything he says or does. Homer is a bit clueless on how to make Elsie happy, even though that is what he desires more than anything. And no matter how hurtful she can be, he keeps trying.My final word: Clever, curious, and colorful, this story keeps you guessing. You never really know how much truth lies in it, but you get the feeling that there may have been a fair bit of truth, dressed up to make it a little fancier and bigger than life. Elsie can be a bit off-putting much of the time, but then she redeems herself with some tender moment, kind gesture, or humorous quip. And I found myself continually rooting for Homer in his quest to make her happy. Just a man, his wife, her alligator and a rooster on a road trip. What more could you ask for? I can almost hear Albert happily expressing yeah-yeah-yeah.