Sky of Stone

A Memoir

By: Homer Hickam

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

In the summer of '61, Homer "Sonny" Hickam, a year of college behind him, is dreaming of sandy beaches and rocket ships. But before Sonny can reach the seaside fixer-upper where his mother is spending the summer, a telephone call sends him back to the place he thought he had escaped, the gritty coal-mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. There, Sonny's father, the mine's superintendent, has been accused of negligence in a man's death. Sonny's mother, Elsie, has commanded her son to spend the summer in Coalwood to support his father. But within hours of his arrival, Sonny realizes two things: His father, always cold and distant with his second son, doesn't want him there... and his parents' marriage has begun to unravel.

For Sonny, so begins a summer of discovery - a time when he will learn about love, loss, and a closely guarded secret that threatens to destroy his father and his town. As the days of summer grow shorter, Sonny finds himself changing in surprising ways, taking the first real steps toward adulthood. But it's a journey he can make only by unraveling the story of a man's death and a father's secret - the mysteries that lie at the heart of Coalwood.

©2004 Homer Hickam (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Another five stars

Delightful narration of a truly delightful telling of real life. Hearing Homer’s poignant and humorous recounting of life in Coaltown while returning from college break, including admissions of hod own shortcomings , makes us all feel a little more patient with our own circumstances and foibles.

I am glad I didn’t miss the epilogue. Being from Huntsville, AL myself and also coming from a space program background, I loved the sense of familiarity. I also was certified by McClure’s AquaSpace dive shop. I interacted with Story Musgrave when I worked on Spacelab crew training at MSFC. I was there when the Challenger exploded.

The narrator Dick Hill is so good, I am going to look for other books that he narrates.

My favorite of the Coalwood stories!

Great story and Dick Hill really brings it to life. it makes me want to visit Coalwood just to ar what remains of the town.

Mr Hickam is a great story teller

the Narrator does a out standing job reading the book to ya. I loved it listening to it five times.

candygirl 57

Really enjoyed the book and thr reader. had read Rocket Boys and Taking Albert Home. All 3 great books.

Wholesome

Such a wholesome story depicting real life in a small American town specialized in coal mining. Excellent character development. Beautiful story of family and growing up. A small dash of puppy love and mystery woven in make for a delightful read. Homer Hickham is a master story-teller. Dick Hill brought his A-game for creating such distinct characterizations and voicings. I highly recommend this offering as one to enjoy again and again.

lightning doesn't strike twice

I really wanted to like this book and even though I loved the rocket boys I don't think this author is terribly good at it.

The second book was awful and the narration terrible. this one is slightly better but halfway through it takes again a very dour tone and the narrator thinks it's vaudeville.

He tries ti sound like he's on the phone, like little kids, women and it's actually more distraction than it is effective.

On my third book of this trilogy from the same author all I can say is thank God this is my last.

This man didn't have terribly good parents and I'm tired of hearing about them.
He also doesn't have enough life story for three books but that didn't stop him from capitalizing on one experience.

I would rather of him made a biography/memoir and condensed all of this.