The Keeper's Son (Josh Thurlow Series #1)
by Homer Hickam
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Book Summary Information
Author: Homer HickamEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-08-31
ISBN: 0312999496
Number of pages: 448
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Book Reviews of The Keeper's Son (Josh Thurlow Series #1)
Book Review: Such a wonderful novel
Summary: 5 Stars
I knew I had something special from the opening pages when Josh loses his little brother at sea. The writing was so powerful, I could feel the great loss of that little boy. It surprised me when the story picked up some years later with Josh returned to Killakeet. But he is still looking for Jacob. This is a powerful resonating note that carries through this romantic wartime story. The romance between Dosie and Josh reminds me very much of Doc and Suzy in Steinbeck's Sweet Thursday and since I know Mr. Hickam is an admirer of Steinbeck, I just wonder... anyway, Dosie is a great character, vulnerable yet strong, headstrong yet tender, a woman of action, yet romantic. I love the way the action is moved along while Josh and Dosie are in bed together, pillow talk about U-boats and the beach patrol! You don't find that in many books. I loved Keeper Jack, of course, and Queenie O'Neal and Buckets, her husband. The chapter on Queenie telling her husband she's going to get Josh married is priceless because you can tell Buckets doesn't have a clue what she's talking about but, in the end, he gets what he wants and I think she does, too. As Hickam writes, there's nothing like seeing a lonely, tortured man to put a woman in the mood for romance! In fact, there are a number of these little writing gems throughout the book that makes me believe Hickam is a very underrated writer when it comes to understanding and writing about the human condition.
For another instance, Josh asks Dosie what's she's been doing since they knew each other as children and Dosie asks him if he wants the awful truth or a pretty story. Josh says the pretty story and she proceeds to give him a litany of woes including losing her money, falling in love with a musician, having a miscarriage, losing her job, losing the musician, becoming a falling down drunk, etc. until now she's washed up on Killakeet. Josh contemplates that, then says "I'm glad I didn't ask for the awful truth." I laughed out loud, startling the dog. Just good stuff. Little surprises all along the way. Many chuckles, some tears. I even liked the action scenes at sea fighting the U-boats because the author made me care about the boys (most of them teenagers or in their early 20's) on both sides. The romance between Krebs and Miriam is classic stuff. Why they don't make a movie out of this one, I don't know. Sure has all the elements.
Highly recommended to lovers of good reads and good literature. You won't put it down too often once you start reading it.
Summary of The Keeper's Son (Josh Thurlow Series #1)
Haunted by inner demons, Josh Thurlow returns home to Killakeet Island to command a small Coast Guard patrol boat manned by a colorful crew of locals. Dominating the glorious beauty of the little island is the majestic Killakeet Lighthouse, kept for generations by the Thurlow family. Its presence is a continuous reminder to Josh of the mysterious loss of his baby brother at sea seventeen years before, a tragedy for which he was blamed. But Josh is convinced that his brother might still be alive and begins searching for him even after German U-boats arrive and soak the beaches with blood.
Josh's quest puts him in the path of Otto Krebs-the most audacious of the U-boat commanders and a deadly enemy who may also hold the answers Josh is seeking. But when he meets Dosie Crossan, a young woman fighting her own war against the invaders, Josh must decide whether to risk all on a love that could destroy him or redeem him...
Josh's quest puts him in the path of Otto Krebs-the most audacious of the U-boat commanders and a deadly enemy who may also hold the answers Josh is seeking. But when he meets Dosie Crossan, a young woman fighting her own war against the invaders, Josh must decide whether to risk all on a love that could destroy him or redeem him...
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