The Smoke Jumper [Hardcover]

Nicholas Evans (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Delacorte Press; First edition, first printing. edition (2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754075478
• ISBN-13: 978-0754075479
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,818,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nicholas Evans studied law at Oxford University after serving in Africa with Voluntary Service Overseas. He then worked as a newspaper reporter, TV producer, and screenwriter before writing four bestselling novels. His first book, The Horse Whisperer was made into a movie directed by Robert Redford. He lives in Devon with his wife, singer/songwriter Charlotte Gordon Cumming.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Evans "Jumps" to a New High!, August 23, 2001

By 

cocoproducer "cocoproducer" (Castle Rock, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Smoke Jumper (Hardcover)

Nicholas Evans' first two books were unique in their drama. His third book The Smoke Jumper has all but established him as one of the best storytellers around. The spine tingling path of three people in this new episode will leave you wanting more. Evans has a wonderful way of painting pictures with his words and places you in the middle. The Smoke Jumper is a must-read for its story of those who dream of more and don't always get it. It's a beautiful rendition of a love story gone awry...

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Than Meets the Eye, August 26, 2001

By 

Haley Parnham (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Smoke Jumper (Hardcover)

Nicholas Evans takes us through a decade of the lives of photographer Connor Ford, musician Ed Tully, and artist Julia Bishop. This is more than a story about a smoke jumper, more than a story about love. This is a story about friendship, spirituality, and courage. It's about abandonment and individuality. It's about sadness and it's about hope. The author is a good storyteller and even though the course of the story is diverse and unusual, he never loses the reader as he goes from one person to the next, from one continent to another, painting pictures of their lives through his words. While Connor is off photographing pictures across the ocean, Julia and Ed are living a quiet, "normal" life in Montana. But each of them is creating a mosaic of his or her life with the pieces that were left scattered behind them as they moved along. Life is a series of events, some connected, some not. Evans tells about the events in the lives of Connor, Ed, & Julia and pulls it all together into something that will stay with you for a long time.

31 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful...A page-turner, August 22, 2001

By 

Nick G - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Smoke Jumper (Hardcover)

Julia Bishop, trying to live a peaceful life, is court ordered to take a group of troubled teenagers to a mountain top retreat to discover themselves, and come to terms with their dark pasts. As the time passes on, and the teens begin opening up to Julia, a horrible fire rages through the mountain canyons, destined to claim lives, but from the sky comes photographer, and part-time smoke jumper, Connor Ford.

Like an angel, Connor comes from the sky to rescue Julia, the woman he loves, except braving the flames won't be enough, for Julia is involved with his best friend Ed, and even though Julia cares for both men, the tragedy that strikes on the mountain will force her to make a decision, one that will pull them apart, and change all of their lives...forever.

Trying to get past what happened on that fateful mountain, Connor decides to give up smoke jumping and focus on his photography career. Touring the country taking pictures of the world's worst wars, and disasters will be bring him fame, but never happiness, so feeling he has nothing to live for, Connor will dare death to take him-once again-when another fire strikes, and he must walk through the flames once more.

Combining the exciting elements of photo journalism, and ferocious fires, 'The Smoke Jumper' explores how far we will go to get happiness in our lives, and the price that is paid when we finally have it. With it's strong narrative, fleshed out characters, and fast pacing, the novel keeps the drama level high, without being sappy, giving readers a powerful tale of guilt, honor, and love.

Nicholas Evans has written a compelling novel that is as good as his best-selling novel 'The Horse Whisperer', maybe even better. A strong contender for a late summer blockbuster, 'The Smoke Jumper' will satisfy his many fans, and win him many more.

Nick Gonnella