Carrying Albert Home by Homer Hickam

Homer and Elsie are a quirky couple. Homer is happy with his life as a coal worker but Elsie dreams of other places. She has an alligator called Albert who she loves with all her heart, but isn’t Homer’s favourite at all. One day, after an unfortunate incident with Albert, Homer provides his wife with an ultimatum; it’s him or Albert. And so they begin their journey across America to take Albert home to Florida.
The journey is packed full of new experiences for the couple. They meet some interesting characters along the way, from bank robbers to film stars and famous authors. The Great Depression as a backdrop is offset by plenty of humour to make this a light hearted read. 
I was quite attached to the characters by the end and admired them in their own ways. Elsie is a strong woman for the time; she’s adventurous and determined. She knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to get stuck in. Homer is a a gentle character who needs a good hug. He adores Elsie but isn’t sure she cares much for him. He isn’t one to take on an adventure but would do anything for his wife. A loyal and trusty character, Homer develops dramatically through the book.