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Homer Hickam's memoir of his life is an open look at his life in the summer after his freshman year in college. After a not too brilliant start at college he ends up going home for the summer to Coalwood, West Virginia a small coal mining town. The way of life in a "company" town is difficult to properly present, yet Homer Hickam does it with ease. The lessons he learns about his father, his mother,and life itself are so openly expressed and wonderfully written, that sometimes it is hard to remember that this is not a fiction novel. The author learns a great many important "life lessons", usually not the easy way. The hard work in the coal mines is vividly detailed, you can feel the aching muscles and exhaustion. His love of an "older" woman is a heartfelt part of this book. It is like a good friend sitting down and remembering a summer, honest, open and introspective, thankful that in the end some tough lessons were learned. There is never a moment of arrogance about what he has achieved in his life,despite the odds. You don't have to read OCTOBER SKY or THE COALWOOD WAY in order to understand and enjoy this book, but why you wouldn't want to read them anyway would be hard to understand. SKY OF STONE is a wonderful memoir, and a heartfelt tribute to his family, to life in a hardworking small town and the people that help him weave the strong fabric of his life.

And that's it, plain and true. Homer Hickam writes wonderfully rich books filled with prose worthy of Harper Lee or Mark Twain. He's the new Mark Twain in my opinion. They'll be studying him the college a hundred years from now. I'm just glad we have him with us in these days. Sky of Stone kept me awake until I finished it. I love his characters. I love especially his honorable and amazing father. You can tell Mr. Hickam still loves him so much. And Johnny Basso, Jake Mosby, Rita Walicki... these are characters that people will talk about for a very long time. Proud to know you, Homer, if only through your books.

just think how many more wonderful literary masterpieces we would have today if he'd focused on writing instead!

I picked this book up at the library after I happened upon some good reviews here. I must say, I am very much impressed with Homer Hickam. The writing is fluid and very well developed. The story is wholesome and reminiscent of simpler times, and the plot is superb.

I am definitely going to be reading more of Mr. Hickam's works, which, if you notice, all receive 4-5 stars here. America, I think the writing of Homer Hickam will continue to do us proud!