Carry Me Home: A Novel

Fantastic. I'm certainly impressed by this author. The pov of the young man with brain damage is minor compared to what he sees, and what he learns. He's not 'slow' despite what people think, but limited in just some cognitive abilities. What happens in his community is tragic, funny, frightening, joyous..., and well worth your time to read about.

Sandra Kring is one of my favorite authors, and every story that she writes I fall in love with. Carry Me Home was no exception. It is a heart-felt story about Earl "Earwig" Gunderman, who suffered from a severe fever as a child causing him to become "simpleminded". This character is incredibly special; we all should be lucky enough to know someone "simple-minded" like Earwig.

Earl is loved and protected by his parents, brother, friends and the townspeople, as a whole, and in return, he loves and protects them just as fiercely. Earwig's relationship with his brother, Jimmy, takes your breath away, and it is this relationship that is at the core of the novel. Jimmy who always took care of and included Earwig, now is the one requiring the show more nurturing after returning from World War II damaged and scarred from all that he has lived through.

Secondary characters such as Eileen and Hank Gunderman, Eddie, Eva Leigh, Ruby Leigh, Floyd, John, Louie and even the Pritchards add to this charming story.

Earwig's kindness, his simple truths about living life and treating others (which he learned much of from his father) and his exquisite honesty was just so beautiful. There is no better way to describe it.

There were many hardships in this story, and yet it was incredibly uplifting.

I highly recommend reading this book. Also read by Sandra Kring, How High the Moon, The Book of Bright Ideas and A Life of Bright Ideas. All were excellent. show less

What a wonderfully crafted story by Sandra Kring. The story of Earwig, an allegedly simple minded young man. However, he may be the most insightful, realistic person in the whole story. He experiences challenges and accomplishments during the story that make the reader at times want to cry and other times laugh. It is a wonderfully written story and I highly recommend it.

This story is told through the eyes of younger brother, Earl (Earwig), who describes himself as simple minded. Yet, his inability to think abstractly allows him to offer solid, concrete kindness to those he loves as the novel progresses. He is closest to his older brother and protector, Jimmy, who leaves for WWII. While Jimmy is gone, Earwig grows up enough to protect Jimmy when he returns. A lovely book.

I love Sandra Kring books! This book brings home the realities of life during WWII. It's the kind of book that you never want to end and you feel sad when it's over.

This is just one of those books that feels good to read--enjoyable, moving, characters you fall in love with. Perfect for the beach or curled up on the couch with a cup of tea!

I thought wthis book was going to be "one I just couldn't finish ". The fault was mine. I agree with all the other readers who loved this book.