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Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, his Wife and her Alligator
by Hickam, Homer
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used; Good
- ISBN 10
- 0008154244
- ISBN 13
- 9780008154240
- Seller
-
Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
6 Copies Available from This Seller
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About This Item
Harper. 01. Paperback. Used; Good. Simply Brit welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring theres something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality. 06/30/2016
Reviews
On Aug 8 2016, CloggieDownunder said:
"Elsie had always felt her life was like a jigsaw puzzle with no picture on the box to show her how the puzzle pieces should fit together"
Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of A Man, His Wife, and Her Alligator is a book with a title that is certainly lengthy-yet-succinct and quite intriguing. This memoir by American author, Homer H. Hickam Jr. is his account of his parents, Elsie and Homer's epic adventure with an alligator named Albert (and a rooster), in which (Hickam's website tells us) everything is true, except the bits that are made up. Which is no doubt why the cover says "a novel". Some say it could be considered a prequel to his Coalwood series.
An embarrassing incident with Albert leads Homer to issue Elsie with an ultimatum, "Me…or…that…alligator". The decision is made to carry Albert home from Coalwood, West Virginia to Orlando, Florida. Albert travels in a quilt-lined bathtub on the back seat of Homer's Buick. For no apparent reason, a russet-coloured rooster with green tail feathers decides, at the last minute, to join them. Homer takes two weeks' leave from the mine, expecting to be back in Coalwood by then. But the trip does not go according to Homer's plan.
When they finally reach Florida, they encounter Elsie's former beau, singer and dancer, Buddy Ebsen, the man who was responsible for sending them the hatchling Albert as a wedding gift. Buddy apologises if Albert caused them any trouble. Homer, by this stage is quite angry: "Oh, no trouble at all. Your marvellous gift merely made us abandon our house, get caught up in a bank robbery, run illegal moonshine through North Carolina, get cast adrift in the Atlantic Ocean, act in a jungle movie, and get all but blown away in the Keys! No, sir. No trouble at all". Their adventure has also included joining a bunch of radicals, flying a plane and meeting John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway.
Underlying the crazy adventure with all its quirky characters is the love story between Elsie and Homer, which hits a few rough patches before a relatively happy ending. But the real star of the story is, of course, Albert (although the rooster does have a certain appeal). Funny and moving, this is a very enjoyable read.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Brit Books Ltd (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 2011986
- Title
- Carrying Albert Home: The Somewhat True Story of a Man, his Wife and her Alligator
- Author
- Hickam, Homer
- Format/Binding
- Paperback
- Book Condition
- Used; Good
- Quantity Available
- 6
- Edition
- 01
- ISBN 10
- 0008154244
- ISBN 13
- 9780008154240
- Publisher
- Harper
- This edition first published
- 06/30/20
Terms of Sale
Brit Books Ltd
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged. Please contact us on customercare@britbooks.co.uk if you have queries regarding your order.
About the Seller
Brit Books Ltd
Biblio member since 2010
Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire
About Brit Books Ltd
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