"Powerful storyline"
Under fifty years old, Orphan Point, Maine lobsterman,
Lucas "Lucky" Lunt has major troubles caused by a weak
heart already requiring medical attention. Between his
medical bills and his inability to care for the heavy
lobster traps by himself, Lucky owes a fortune. His wife
Sarah seeing his weakness asserts her independence by
selling glass sculptures. Their son is a bigger loser than
Lucky while their daughter flees their abysmal home for
college. Lucky needs help and cannot obtain it from his
immediate family. He hires Ronette Hannaford, a wife
separated from a lobster buyer, to serve as his
sternwoman. The unhappy seafaring duo makes love and
Ronette becomes pregnant. Sarah leaves her cheating spouse
and Lucky loses his fishing license after a dispute turns
ugly. He moves in with Ronette and begins fish poaching
before a final confrontation with a whale. Rarely does a talent explode on the scene out of
nowhere, but that is the case here as THE WOODEN NICKEL is
a great character tale that will remind the audience of
Moby Dick or The old Man and the Sea. The story line digs
deep into the hard lifestyle of the Maine working class
fishermen and women as they struggle to eke out a living in
a world that has changed not often for the good. On the
surface the lead protagonist seems shallow, but in
actuality Lucky goes ocean deep as he cannot fathom what is
happening to his world. This parable of modern life is so
good that this reviewer plans to read William Carpenter's
first novel KEEPER OF SHEEP. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted March 16, 2002
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