The Smoke Jumper

Connor and Ed have been close ever since they were rookies. Few things will form a bond like jumping into a fire shouting "Hearts of Flame" together. But this fire was different, because they knew Julia was somewhere down in that brush. Connor has harbored feelings for Julia for quite some time and he thinks that she feels the same. The only problem is that she's Ed's girlfriend and neither of them would ever betray Ed. Landing through the smoke Connor manages to locate Julia and Ed, well, Ed finds the fire. All three are pulled from the forest alive but the turmoil continues to burn them through and through.

I generally do not have a problem picking someone to cheer for in a love triangle. Usually the two men will act out against each show more other, becoming either churlish or weak, and I end up clearly on one side. But not this time. Evans really elicited an emotional response from me. I didn't cry but there was definitely some sniffling action going on. Yes really. It's one of those love stories that just tears at you. This was my first literary encounter with Evans, (although I think I've viewed sections of The Horse Whisperer movie) and I might be up for another round, after I lick these wounds a little bit... show less

She has brought them here by court order on a youth program to help them find themselves. But one among them will be lost forever. For soon the cocoon of fire will hatch to engulf the entire mountain and exact its deadly toll. And into this inferno will come ...The Smoke Jumper.
Smoke jumpers are used in many states such as what recently plagued California to fight almost impossible infernos. They are dropped by parachute into the mouth of Hell. These two smoke jumpers were the epiphany of unlikely friends...Connor Ford, a cowboy and photographer, and Ed Tully, a musician and son of a wealthy family, pair off on a regular basis to be dropped into the hot spot. The heart of a raging fire...every summer.

One day Ed meets Julia, a counselor show more for troubled teen-agers, and he falls in love. She thinks she loves him. too, that is until she meets Connor. If this sounds like a romance novel, it is, but there’s more to it than that. The author has given us another heart-pounding adventure and a slightly different take on the usual search for happiness.

A terrifying mountain fire results in them having to make terrible choices. The result of those choices sends Connor into war-torn Bosnia. He also spends time wandering through Europe, Asia and Africa, while taking award-winning photographs and searching for his peace of mind. The ending is somewhat contrived, but satisfying; this is easy summer reading, after all.

Nicholas Evans has a gift for descriptions and good dialogue that made this story a pleasure to read. The story felt especially significant after the rea-life raging fires that took place this year in California. Noone wants to view any this in reality, but it would make a fantastic movie. Oh...what happens with the 3 main characters...Julia, Connor and Ed??? You'll just have to read it to find out...or wait for the movie:) show less

Three friends are connected by one summer’s events on a Montana mountain. Ed Tully and Connor Ford are smoke jumpers who both love the same woman. Julia is a social worker who is taking a group of “at risk” teens on a several day hike in the wilderness in an effort to rehabilitate them. When the draught-stricken forest is hit by lightning, the smoke jumpers have to come to the rescue.

You know where this is headed, don’t you? There will be tragedy, lots of guilt, miscommunication, silent (but very meaningful) looks. People behave stupidly and take unnecessary risks … not just with their own lives but with children’s lives. And of course, true love will win out.

Just unbelievable claptrap.

Actually I was pretty interested in show more the beginning and wish that Evans had found a way to explore the smoke jumpers, and the at-risk kids. But that ends on page 166 and then parts two and three get progressively more soap opera ridiculous. I rolled my eyes so much I made myself dizzy. show less

OK... Ammetto che, in parte questa è una storia d'amore e, dato che io proprio non le sopporto avrei dovuto "dare fuoco" al libro non appena mi è finito tra le mani.
Invece, però, mi sono convinta a leggerlo e ho scoperto che ha veramente poco delle storie d'amore che conosciamo tutto e che, dietro alle apparenze si nasconde qualcosa di veramente prezioso.
Ho letto questo libro un'infinità di volte (va beh, non proprio un'infinità ma saranno state almeno cinque o sei...!) e sento nuovamente il bisogno di prenderlo fra le mani e immergermi nuovamente nel mondo di Nicholas Evans, a volte, forse, un po' troppo dolce ma pieno di entusiasmo e di colpi di scena indimenticabili... ;)

Mixed response. The first section was interesting, because I learned about firefighting and each of the main characters had work they were passionate about. The romantic triangle was obvious, however. The second section was more staid, full of guilt and noble responsibility. The third section, mainly in Africa, was stretching plausibility quite a bit as the characters go through adventure to realize what has true value in their lives, and reunite. I did briefly enjoy the interchange of Connor with the Bantu guide, as it brought back memories of Laurens Van der Post's novels of the bushmen (and which may have been the inspiration for Evans here).
Running the Rift gave a more gut-level knowledge of an intertribal genocidal war in show more Africa.
Nothing in the book to motivate me to give it shelf space, but I'm not sorry I read it. show less

I purposefully read this before Horse Whisperer (which I saved till last), to get a sense of progression. Having now read all of his books, except the one that was out of character, I'd say this was my favourite.

Very strong character development, how they dealt with (or even more interesting, failed to deal with) the curve balls life threw at them.

So in a sense reading his best first, defeated the whole aim of saving Horse Whisperer. However 4 out of 5 amazing books all in all, one of the highest hit ratios among my favourite authors.

Almost identical to a photo in Nick Evans, Smokejumper Published today in NY Times

https://www.librarything.com/pic/10297176

7/10
Interesting characters who experience some very traumatic events. Not quite a page turner but Evans is a good storyteller. Enough lightness to balance the heavy parts.