• Carrying Albert Home

  • The Somewhat True Story of a Woman, a Husband, and Her Alligator
  • By: Homer Hickam
  • Narrated by: Adam Verner
  • Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (207 ratings)

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Carrying Albert Home  By  cover art

Carrying Albert Home

By: Homer Hickam
Narrated by: Adam Verner
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Publisher's summary

Big Fish meets The Notebook in this emotionally evocative story about a man, a woman, and an alligator that is a moving tribute to love, from the New York Times best-selling author of the award-winning memoir Rocket Boys - the basis of the movie October Sky.

Elsie Lavender and Homer Hickam (the father of the author) were high school classmates in the West Virginia coalfields, graduating just as the Great Depression began. 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, married to Homer.

Unfulfilled as a miner's wife, Elsie was reminded of her carefree days with Buddy every day because of his unusual wedding gift: an alligator named Albert she raised in the only bathroom in the house. When Albert scared Homer by grabbing his pants, he gave Elsie an ultimatum: "Me or that alligator!" After giving it some thought, Elsie concluded there was only one thing to do: Carry Albert home.

Carrying Albert Home is the funny, sweet, and sometimes tragic tale of a young couple and a special alligator on a crazy 1,000-mile adventure. Told with the warmth and down-home charm that made Rocket Boys a beloved best seller, Homer Hickam's rollicking tale is ultimately a testament to that strange and marvelous emotion we inadequately call love.

©2015 Homer Hickam (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Carrying Albert Home

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Absolutely Delightful!!

When I saw that this book was about an alligator, I wanted to read it. I'm so glad that I was drawn in by both the cover and the title. This is a delightful story about the ups and downs of a young married couple, the wife's pet alligator (not a crocodile!!) named Albert, and the attempt to return him to the wild. Believe me when I say it is quite a journey.
If we are to believe this "Somewhat True Story", we meet many amazing characters along the way, including Buddy Ebsen, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway and more. Such fun. I really enjoyed listening to this book. The narration perfectly captured the tone of the book.
I plan to read more by Homer Hickam soon.

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4 people found this helpful

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Truth or fiction; a fantastic journey the same.

As a prequel to the Rocket Boy series; this tells of Homer's mother and father going cross country to bring a very dog like alligator home to Florida. It's a fantastic odyssey with all sorts of weird situations that stay grounded in reality but might be a little exaggerated.

It does have some faults. Elise comes off as a real jerk at times that make me feel she is being too harsh on her husband. A man who's crime is having is head on straight but by the end it builds a great report with both of the couple growing to love each other.

If you loved the Rocket boys; get this. Call it a prequel. Try not to ask why a rooster and alligator make better pets than a cat or dog and just enjoy the journey. You'll love it!

Narrator was great too. Not too boring but not too hammy. He did a really great job with this one!

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3 people found this helpful

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Classic tall tale

Class tall tales in the spirit of Mark Twain, this was one of the most fun things I have listened to in a long time. Definitely a good car trip book

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2 people found this helpful

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I loved this book

This was a fun book and I enjoyed it very much. I would recommend it to anyone interested in an escape. It was funny and entertaining. Narration was perfect.

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Loved it!

This book was a pleasure to read! I laughed a lot, and cried a little. Homer Hickam hit another "Homer!"

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I loved it and would listen again!

Such a unique and interesting listen! Nothing too serious but so creative and totally pulled at my heartstrings. I really enjoyed the narrator as well.

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Well done.

Well written, fun adventure, beautifully narrated! The story kept my interest throughout the entire piece.

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a great lesson on how to approach life

such a great imagination and a wonderful way to consider how people approach or live life.

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Another excellent book from Hiram Hickam!

Set as a ( SORT of) prequel to Rocket Boys. Don't want to have spoilers though, so I won't say more!
I would definitely go to a movie made from this book!

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loved the story

loved it from start to finish. laugh out loud funny and brings tears to my eyes poignant. knowing it was made up of stories of his parents young lives made it even better......

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