Most people call them reading lists. I call them your Library of Candidates—books you look forward to reading. Rocket Boys recently moved from my Library of Candidates to my Living Library. I’d recommend it for your Library, too.
Like many communities across America, our county of Palm Beach, Florida, chooses a book to read together. The leader of our local organization (www.pbcliteracy.org) asked me to read and recommend one of the five books being voted on; I’m so glad she did. I had seen the movie October Sky, but had not read the book it was based on. Here is my pitch for this lovely memoir.
Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam Jr.
The story begins with the blast-off of Sputnik in October of 1957. The beep-beep-beep of this first satellite from our atomic rivals unnerves grownups in Cold War America, yet thrills certain adolescent boys in a coal-mining town in West Virginia. The story is told by one of those boys in a way so magical, it’s hard to believe it’s all true.
Other modern forces impinge on Coalwood, West Virginia: the grinding change from industrial manufacturing toward the science and engineering pursuits that would dominate the second half of the 20th century. Yet even more meaning comes from enduring tensions—between a husband and wife over their differing views of what their lives should be, about lopsided love, about ordinary injustice and extraordinary courage.
The fragile combination of powerful forces required to lift a rocket seem similar to the forces that could shut down a hopeful young life…or raise it to the heights. These and other tensions keep you eagerly turning pages.
In 1998, Rocket Boys was a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, and serves as evidence that bestseller status and great literature can coincide (as indeed it did for the likes of Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Steinbeck). The following year, Rocket Boys was made into an award-winning movie called October Sky.
Homer Hickam, born in 1943, dodged the mining engineer career his father had hoped for him, and instead made his career at NASA. The wonder is that he learned not only how to power rockets, but also how to power words so that they ignite with rare force.
And if you’re swept away with this memoir, there’s more good news. Rocket Boys is the first in a series of three memoirs, and Hickam has also written popular novels.
The history of Sputnik may also lead you to enjoy Sputnik: The Shock of the Century, by Paul Dickson.
Since both the book and the movie are marvelous (a “boovie” in my parlance), we can enjoy comparing the two. Why was the name changed to October Sky? What was left out and for what reason? Despite inevitable cuts, does the movie stay true to the book? Must it? Searching Wikipedia, www.imdb.com as well as the author’s own website, www.homerhickam.com, can lead to some surprising answers.
Reading, viewing, Web research: all of it is good. Rocket Boys reminds us that we explore literature because it’s meaningful and our perception of its meaning has a power to please us in ways we can’t fully understand—something like rockets soaring off into a cool October sky.
P.S. If you’re interested in adding any of the books I mentioned to your Library of Candidates, here’s a link to www.booksense.com, in case you’d like to buy them from your favorite independent bookstore.
I don't entirely understand the idea of building a list of possible books. I'm still trying to keep things *off* the list. If I go seeking more, I'm going to drown in them all. Is the idea to find books if you don't know what you want to read or to narrow the focus ultimately?
I just got your book today, and I'm only on page 24, so I guess I'll find out. The bit about 12 books a year scared me though. I pass that by the end of February.
Posted by: Ivy | January 24, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Thanks for the great review, Steve. For folks who might like to help me push for a National Miners Day and also help support my Red Helmet - Homer Hickam, Sr. (that would be my dad) scholarship for the kids of coal miners, please go to www.homerhickam.com and they'll see how to do that. No contribution too small! And not incidentally, they might like to check out my new romantic novel Red Helmet set in today's Appalachian coalfields.
Here's hoping Rocket Boys gets the nod in Palm Beach. I wouldn't mind hanging out with the folks there for a day or two! Wish I could come right now, considering how cold it is here in north Alabama today.
Homer Hickam
Posted by: Homer Hickam | January 25, 2008 at 08:30 AM
My grandfather worked for NASA for most of his life. My father is retired after 30 years in the Air Force. However, was born a girly girl only interested in animals and books. When October Sky was released in theaters I went with my father. I remember that day well. After the film was over we went for coffee and talked about NASA, the Air Force and my father's dreams when he was a child. Being the only daughter and still young, it was eyeopening to hear my father's dreams. Shortly after that, I picked up Rocket Boys and throroughly enjoyed it. My father has it in his library now and every time I visit I smile from the memory of that day.
Wonderful review. Fabulous book!
Rean Day
Posted by: Rean Day | January 31, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Steve - I recently discovered your blog and am glad I did! I love your products and read your book when it first came out. I'm pleased you enjoyed Rocket Boys. I am a fan as well. I've had the great fortune of talkng with Homer for over an hour - as I interviewed him for a radio show several years back.
I hope Palm Beach picks the book and if Homer visists - let me know - I'll come too!
Kevin Eikenberry
author of Remarkable Leadership
http://RemarkableLeadershipBook.com
Posted by: Kevin Eikenberry | February 05, 2008 at 10:51 PM