Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A-Z Wednesday: One Foot in the Black by Kurt L. Kamm



Title: One Foot in the Black
Author: Kurt L. Kamm
ISBN: 9781435706262/2007
Pages: 241

This book is a story of a wildland firefighter. Greg has some major issues with his father, a Saginaw city firefighter. He craves for love and acceptance from him. But his father is unconcerned about his own family. Greg's mother loves him but she too is abused by Greg's father. After a while she too leaves her children to their own devices. Greg is no longer close to his younger sister, Vicky.

Greg decides to join the fire department to prove something to his father. However, his father is only too pleased to see him leave home and does not want anything to do with him. Greg goes o California to become a seasonal firefighter with CDF. From there he goes on to LACoFD Helitak-Attack training academy. When his crew is trapped on a mountainside in an explosive wildfire in which his captain TB dies, he suffers from major trauma. Meantime, his father too dies in a fire in Saginaw, the night before this. Greg accepts his mentor's death but he has problem coping with his father's death, whom he had hated all his life. He feels that his father deliberately deserted him by dying before he could prove himself to him. Greg finally finds peace within his family of firefighters.

I had not read about anything on firefighting before this. It opened my eyes to the dangers of fire. And to the fact that firefighters endanger their own lives to control it. This has been well researched. And makes a real good read. One does not wish for it to end. Wildland fire is one of most dangerous of fires. Kamm has written a good book which is both enjoyable as well as informative. It has a good pace and finishes very fast. I liked the ending too. I say, go for it!

14 comments:

Brittanie said...

I have this on my TBR Shelf. It sounds interesting and I read some reviews earlier in the year so I got it off paperbackswap.:)

Paula Krapf said...

Thank you for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the book.

CJ said...

Fire fighting is crazy.

Wildfire fire fighting is insane.

It sounds like a good book. Thanks for the review.

cjh

Beth F said...

Firefighting is crazy dangerous.

Kristen said...

Wow! Sounds like a tough read emotionally. Firefighting intrigues me but the danger is completely insane.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I've read anything about firefighters before. Sounds like a good one, though.

Zia said...

Sounds like a great book. I might have to pick it up.

Book Dragon said...

My brother is a retired firefighter and my BIL is part of the CDF! Thanks for bringing the book to my attention...going shopping now....



oh, thanks for the comment on my "O" book. I loved the whole trilogy but I did read them in April so I'm sure I'm not remembering any bad spots.

Sherrie said...

Hi!
Sounds like a great book! I'll have to check this one out. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day!

Sherrie
Just Books

Anonymous said...

How sad about his father and sister!!! Sounds very interesting though.

Thanks for playing!

Nise' said...

I have family members that are fire fighters. Sounds like a great read.

Beth said...

This sounds like a very interesting and intense story.

Bryan R. Terry said...

Looks interesting.

My O Book is HERE

Veens said...

You are right, I too have never read anything on firefighters! This one sounds interesting!