Carrying Albert Home

Carrying Albert Home chronicles a 1,000-mile road trip taken by Homer and Elsie Hickam in 1935, as they transport Elsie's pet alligator Albert from their coal mining town in West Virginia to Orlando, Florida. Their journey occurs during the Great Depression, with a mysterious rooster joining them for the duration of their travels. The book combines elements of memoir, tall tale, and love story as the young married couple encounters historical figures, navigates natural disasters, and finds themselves in improbable situations across the American South. Homer Hickam Jr. reconstructs this adventure based on stories told by his parents, blending family history with creative storytelling. The narrative moves between coal mines and beaches, small towns and growing cities, while incorporating real events from America's past like labor strikes and hurricanes. Albert the alligator serves as both the catalyst for their journey and a constant presence throughout their stops in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. At its core, this story examines themes of marriage, personal identity, and the power of both real and embellished memories in shaping family histories. The Depression-era South provides a backdrop for exploring how people maintain hope and find purpose during difficult times.

Readers describe this as a blend of tall tales and family history, with many noting similarities to Big Fish in its storytelling style. The book maintains a 3.8/5 rating on Goodreads (14,000+ ratings) and 4.4/5 on Amazon (900+ ratings). Readers appreciated: - The humor and whimsy in the road trip adventures - The alligator Albert as a memorable character - Historical details of Depression-era America - The author's storytelling voice Common criticisms: - Repetitive narrative structure - Too many side stories that slow the pacing - Questions about which parts are true vs. embellished - Length (some felt it could be shorter) Multiple reviewers mentioned feeling disconnected from the main characters, particularly Homer's parents. As one Amazon reviewer noted: "The stories within stories became tedious, and I found myself skimming to get back to Albert's journey." Several readers compared it unfavorably to Hickam's earlier work "Rocket Boys," citing this as less focused.

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🌟 Homer Hickam Jr. drew inspiration from stories his parents told him throughout his life about their early marriage and their epic journey with Albert, their pet alligator. 🦎 The real Albert was a wedding gift to Homer's mother from Buddy Ebsen (later famous for "The Beverly Hillbillies"), who had been her former romantic interest. 🚗 The journey described in the book covered 1,000 miles from Coalwood, West Virginia, to Orlando, Florida, in a 1925 Buick. 🌺 A mysterious rooster accompanied Albert and Homer's parents throughout their journey, appearing and disappearing at various points without explanation. 📚 Though marketed as a memoir, the author admits the book is a "tall tale" that blends family history with creative storytelling, dubbing it "a true story, mostly."