The Keeper's Son

Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing
Review: For readers that could not make it through Torpedo Junction by Homer Hickam this book will tell in a more engaging fashion the same stories of German U-boats off the coast of North Carolina. While I thoroughly enjoyed Torpedo Junction I can understand that many could not get caught up with the real life characters in the book. With The Keeper's Son very few readers will not become attached to the intriguing characters unique to the North Carolina Outer Banks. It will be interesting to see how the next two installments fit into this story. With the story telling talents of Homer Hickam I feel confident that they will be successful and can't wait to read them. It would make a terrific movie.

Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I thought it started out slow, but stick with it ,it get's better!

Rating:
Summary: Something for Every Reader
Review: In his seventh book Homer Hickam expertly blends facts and fiction to entertain his readers with a love story set in some of the darkest days of US history. This is very different from Mr. Hickam's successful memoir books such as Rocket Boys but is a book that this reader believes will appeal to both men and women alike and earn him a new group of fans. The main plot revolves around Josh Thurlow, son of the lighthouse keeper, and Dosie Crossan, who has returned to the island to find herself. Years before, Josh's baby brother had been lost at sea and throughout his life, Josh had blamed himself. His every thought and decision in life was painted with the brush of guilt and an attempt at redemption for his actions. The book has a large cast of characters including Krebs, a German U-Boat commander with a conscience and Vogel, a Nazi commander without one, Harro, a young seaman under Krebs' command, Doc Folsom, the island's doctor, Willow, the local "hoo-doo," and Rex Stewart, a Hollywood cowboy stuntman ineligible for the draft but "drafted" nonetheless into the coastal horse patrol. Even though Otto is the enemy, he and Josh form a strange bond and respect each other professionally. And though Josh doesn't know it, Otto may hold the key to his brother's disappearance. This book is well researched with wonderful characters. The action holds your attention and shows a realistic picture of life at sea. It also describes day-to-day life on a remote island with such realism that you can smell the salt air and feel the sand in your shoes. Mr. Hickam writes with such attention to detail that the climactic battle scene will have you gripping the arms of your chair. The Keeper's Son should appeal to everyone. It has history, romance, local color and charm, eccentric characters and battles on land and sea. It will be a great book for the upcoming cooler weather. Curl up in your favorite chair with a cup of hot chocolate and be entertained and educated. This is the first book in a series and I anxiously look forward to the next book.

Rating:
Summary: Just good writing
Review: The Keeper's Son is an example of how an historical novel should be written. Great characters, taut writing, several interesting storylines, a little war, a little romance, always something going on. It's a page-turner. Readers will get swept away in the romance and action of the Outer Banks in 1942. After reading this book, my family took a vacation to Cape Hatteras. That's how it affected us. Just good writing. Looking forward to the sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Read
Review: The Keeper's Son is in the tradition of classic writers like Herman Melville. The fact and fiction of the time period are the artist's tools by which Hickam creates his story telling masterpiece. The juxtaposition of German and American characters provided a perspective on World War II that I had never previously considered. Who would have thought that battle scenes on the Atlantic ocean would appeal to women? Redemption and romance are the central themes of this historical fiction which appeals to both men and women. The book was well researched and and contains symbolism, fiction, and facts that both entertain and educate the reader. I can't wait for the next adventure on the Outer Banks!

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book
Review: This book was so good that I did not want it to end.
It is written with the historical accuracy of W.E.B.Griffin with plot twists worthy of Jack Higgins. Homer Hickam brings to life the little known fact that the coastline of Eastern Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina were a war zone in the early months of World War II. Hickam shows that he has a clear knowledge of the history and culture of the Outer Banks and the German U-Boats. A previous reveiwer stated that this would make a great movie, I could not agree more. The charaters are colorful and believable. I recommend that Hickam's nonfiction book (Torpedo Alley)be read also. This book is also well written and will give the reader even more information of this facinating subject.

Rating:
Summary: Romance and Adventure
Review: Truly a novel of romance and adventure, but, unhappily for some,
"romance" is the dominant theme.
The novel takes place in the years before WWII, and it then
travels into WWII and some awful events. But through it all,
the author makes most of his characters very nice people, regardless of which side they are on in the war, and in his
world, nearly everyone tried hard, and they are honest, with
redeeming values.
He obviously ignores the reality of the world we live in, and
even the world of the Depression and of WWII.
The action takes place in and around one of the small outer banks islands off the coast of N.Carolina, and the characters
are mainly those islanders whose lives revolve around the ocean,
fishing, boating, salvaging wreckage, etc.
The hero, Josh, is "the keeper's son", but it turns out he isn't
the only such son, and a possible 2nd son appears out of further
away than "nowhere," and our imagination has to be stretched rather far to follow the logic and storyline of this novel.
For example, even the Germans operating the U boats off our Atlantic coast, and sinking many boats with much loss of life,
are shown to be patriotic in their own way, and we are supposed
to have the American view that they aren't really such bad fellows after all.
A good deal of suspension fo belief is required here, even more
than typical novels, and it is a bit much for many.
But the author handles his premise nicely, and he weaves a
coherent, flowing story.

Rating:
Summary: Romance and Adventure
Review: Truly a novel of romance and adventure, but, unhappily for some,
"romance" is the dominant theme.
The novel takes place in the years before WWII, and it then
travels into WWII and some awful events. But through it all,
the author makes most of his characters very nice people, regardless of which side they are on in the war, and in his
world, nearly everyone tried hard, and they are honest, with
redeeming values.
He obviously ignores the reality of the world we live in, and
even the world of the Depression and of WWII.
The action takes place in and around one of the small outer banks islands off the coast of N.Carolina, and the characters
are mainly those islanders whose lives revolve around the ocean,
fishing, boating, salvaging wreckage, etc.
The hero, Josh, is "the keeper's son", but it turns out he isn't
the only such son, and a possible 2nd son appears out of further
away than "nowhere," and our imagination has to be stretched rather far to follow the logic and storyline of this novel.
For example, even the Germans operating the U boats off our Atlantic coast, and sinking many boats with much loss of life,
are shown to be patriotic in their own way, and we are supposed
to have the American view that they aren't really such bad fellows after all.
A good deal of suspension fo belief is required here, even more
than typical novels, and it is a bit much for many.
But the author handles his premise nicely, and he weaves a
coherent, flowing story.

Rating:
Summary: Homer Hickam knocks another one out of the park for sartain!
Review: Well, get on your pizer (porch) and start reading The Keeper's Son, because you are going to love it! Homer Hickam is an astounding author. By far the best I've read in quite some time. Every single time I read one of his books, I am more and more impressed.

Homer Hickam, PLEASE keep writing more of your wonderful books!

Rating:
Summary: Memorist Homer Hickam shows expertise in fiction, too
Review: With "Rocket Boys" (also called "October Sky"), "The Coalwood Way," and "Sky of Stone," best-selling author Homer Hickam showed that he could expertly write inspirational, multi-layered memoirs that captivate readers of all ages. But Hickam's artistic talents do not rest solely in the non-fiction genre, for with "The Keeper's Son" he once again proves his expertise in weaving intricate sub-plots around a central theme, in this case a storyline that hooks the reader from the opening chapter and which climaxes in a staggering conclusion. Fans of Hickam's works know that this volume is not the author's first literary foray into the world of enemy U-boats along the North Carolina coast. His first book, "Torpedo Junction," entailed ten years of research in war logs, diaries, and other primary sources; countless interviews; numerous letters of inquiry; and many dives onto the sunken hulks lying on the ocean floor off the shores of North Carolina. In "The Keeper's Son" Hickam utilizes this wealth of primary research material. By combining the accuracy of a historian with the realism of a novelist, he relates the exploits of Coast Guard Lieutenant Josh Thurlow and his men on the U. S. patrol boat Maudie Jane. This riveting adventure story is the first of several projected volumes featuring Thurlow and the residents of the tiny North Carolina island of Killakeet. Here's hoping that Homer Hickam is not resting on his well-deserved laurels but is already pondering the second volume in the series.