Rating: 
Summary: Coalwood Boys
Review: I purchased the audio version of "Rocket Boys" about a year ago. It laid in the back seat of my car waiting on a trip of the right length. I recently took that trip, and it was well worth the drive. "Rocket Boys" is a piece of real nostalgia by a Baby Boomer. I call it real nostalgia because it is not the type of marketing-driven nostalgia with which the Baby Boomer generation has been afflicted since its members reached their teen years (and which Joe Queenan rightfully lampoons in "Balsamic Dreams"). The nostalgia in "Rocket Boys" is for a place that no longer exists (Coalwood, the West Virginia coal town of his youth that died along with its mine); for a political culture that now seems quaint (when issues of national importance were actually the subject of daily discussion and immediate concern among common folk); and for a small-town community culture, in which all children were watched by all adults, allowing children to roam freely -- a freedom that is inconceivable now. While the class/race/gender types, who now reign triumphant in academia, would like us to reflect on the past as a pure horror, those who have been alive long enough can remember times like those depicted in "Rocket Boys" with a pure sense of loss. The narration by Beau Bridges is perfectly pitched. He does an excellent job of capturing the tone and inflections of speech of a fairly sizable number of characters. His voice accurately tracks, and amplifies, the emotional content of the narrative. His narration is on a par with the best audiobooks I have listened to. (I read far more books than I listen to, but I've listened to probably 70 or 80 audiobooks to date.) Those others include David McCallum's spooky and malevolent rendition of Edvard Radzinsky's "Stalin;" Daniel J. Travanti's emotionally evocative reading of Gay Talese's "Unto the Sons" (Travanti was Lt. Furillo for all you "Hill Street Blues" fans); and David Ogden Stiers's virtuoso performance of a large palette of colorful fools in Tom Wolfe's "A Man in Full" (Stiers was Major Winchester on M*A*S*H, and shows an astonishing range far beyond that which the Major Winchester role allowed). Since the subject matter and plot of "Rocket Boys" are described at length in the other reviews, I'll confine my remarks to the depiction of Hickam's family. I wasn't sure that Hickam has entirely come to terms with his family history (not that most people ever do). He seems to have gone out of his way to reflect poorly on his father and brother. Notwithstanding this, his father (eventually) emerges as a somewhat heroic, if flawed, type: a doggedly loyal, self-taught, hardworking, and physically courageous man who saw nothing to wish for in life beyond the mine that eventually killed him. Hickam also seems to have gone out of his way to depict his mother in a contrastingly heavenly light, notwithstanding which she comes off as willful and relentless in her resentment -- hatred is only slightly too strong a word -- of her husband; it becomes unclear whether her desires for her son are motherly ambition or wifely retaliation, or whether she herself recognized any difference in the two.
Having said that, it is clearly this war between his father and mother that is the dramatic engine of Hickam's story, without which it could otherwise have lapsed into an extended version of "What I Did Last Summer." Hickam also depicts, but does not reflect upon (at least in the abridged audio edition), the passing from the American landscape of the type of town and community he grew up in -- dissolved by the corrosive effects of crime (and the fear of it), television, rampant consumerism, and the culture wars raging since the 60s. For this "reader," at least, the little town of Coalwood, West Virginia, and its people were more interesting and ultimately more meaningful than the rockets of Hickam's youth.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: This is a great book...I loved the movie, but the book was a thousand times better. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I grew up in what was once a mining town, so I could sort of relate with the story. I would recomend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have read
Review: The book is one of the best books I have read in my life. In this book you take twists and turns through the authors life in coalwood. This books has it's ups and downs and a ending to the book that will make you want to read more about his life. I would tell everyone that has not had a chance to read this book yet to make it your next book to read.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Inspirational!
Review: Anyone you enjoyed the movie October Sky should definately read this book! This is the memoirs of Homer Hickman. It is a tale of the struggle of a boy growing up in a coal mining town in the 1950's and his dreams of becoming a rocket scientist and working for NASA. There are many differences between the movie and the book. Both are brilliant in their own right and form an inspiring message that a person can succeed at making his dreams come true regardless of the odds. One of the best books I have ever read! The fact that it is a true story adds evidence to the fact that truth will always be more compelling than fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!!!!!!
Review: All I have to say is: If you like the movie October Sky then you'll love the book! There is another book called October Sky it's the same book.
Rating:
Summary: "Outstanding"
Review: Book is written very well. A nice easy read that gives you more than just a boy and his adventures. I have a lot of respect for Coal miners now after reading this book. Shows you what small towns meant to this great nation of ours. Every one will enjoy reading this story, and experiencing the Coal minning through the eyes of a teenager.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring Book!
Review: This book is enjoyable to read because it is simple, easy, heartwarming and definitely inspiring. It tells of Homer Hickam Jr.'s dream of building launching a rocket in smalltown, Coalwood, West Virginia and what he did to accomplish that dream. Many saw bleak future for Coalwood, a mining town, which was slowly dying. Hickam, and his friends (Quentin, Roy Lee, Billy, Sherman, O'Dell)- known as "The Rocket Boys" went through many failures to make their dream come true. Their efforts, changed their fates and futures. One of the reviews from the book says "Rocket Boys .... rewards every mother and teacher who ever told children they could be anything they wanted if they worked hard enough.... The memory of a special time remains for Hickan and everyone who ever dreamed of soaring to the stars" by The Orlando Sentinel. Hickam's mother and teacher played an important role in encouraging him to have aims, plans, for his future and should not be content in working in his father's mine. Her favorite phrase whenever Hickam experimented with building and launching rockets was "Just don't blow yourself up". Hickam did a good job in describing the events that took place during his childhood and teenage years, giving his readers a better outlook on the beliefs, ideas, of the late 50s and 60s. from the launch of Sputnik by the Russians to the election campaign of John F. Kennedy. This book ultimately challenge me to dream and take action. It's important for children and adults to have dreams and make it come true as the process of making it come true is often more rewarding than the reward itself.
Rating:
Summary: Heartfelt, Inspirational, Entertaining
Review: October Sky (or Rocket Boys) is one of the best coming-of-age story I have read. It ranks up there with the story The Body by Stephen King (which was turned into the great movie Stand By Me). I bought October Sky after seeing the film, which I just loved. Now that I've read the book, I've grown to appreciate this coming of age tale even more (although, surprisingly enough, the movie did remain faithful to the book). This is the story of Homer Hickam, a high school boys who dreams of a life outside of the small mining town of Coalwood, where things have always been the same and where only the school's football players get any recognition. But all that is about to change. When Homer becomes enthralled with Sputnik, he wonders what it would take for him to build a rocket. From that moment on, Homer embarks on a self-searching mission where he will learn to attain his true potential. This is a book which I'll come back too often. After reading the last page, you just feel sorry and sad because you now have to leave all those great people behind. Hickam was able to recreate his past which an incredible realism and sense of truth. You believe every word mentioned in this book. You start to feel like you've known these characters all your life. Hickam is a greatly talented author. I can't wait to read his other books!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I found this book really easy to relate to. A lot of the obstacles that Homer and his friends encountered in their younger years are the very same ones that many teens deal with today. The first love, jealosy, wanting to be at the top, doing what you want and not what you parents want, finding friends and building life long relationships, and following your dreams. A touching book that I would read over, anyday. One of my favorite portions of the book is the 8 pages of photgraphs, where I got to see Homer and his friends, Homer's house, and other important places from the book. I really loved this book, a must have in your library!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best books I've ever read
Review: I absolutley loved this book. Its well written and it kept me interested. It had everything in it: drama, a little bit of romance, humor, and just stories about teenagers being themselves. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read. On the back of my copy there was a quote from a reader and it said something like: One closes the book with an immense feeling of satisfaction. I totally agree with that reader, October Sky is wonderful reading and I encourage everyone to read it, they won't be disappointed. I hope that everyone who reads this review and the book will enjoy October Sky as much as I did! ^_^
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