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41 reviews for:
The Stowaway: A Young Man's Extraordinary Adventure to Antarctica
Laurie Gwen Shapiro
3.42 AVERAGE
41 reviews for:
The Stowaway: A Young Man's Extraordinary Adventure to Antarctica
Laurie Gwen Shapiro
3.42 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Ahoy there me mateys! Though this log’s focus is on sci-fi, fantasy, and young adult, this Captain does have broader reading tastes. So occasionally I will share some novels that I enjoyed that are off the charts (a non sci-fi, fantasy, or young adult novel), as it were. I received this non-fiction eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
This novel was recommended by stephanie @ adventuresofabibliophile. The title and cover immediately captured me fancy. Stowaways and a ship! Arrr! It takes place in the 1920s which is a bonus. Also me adventurous ma is currently on a ship heading for Antarctica and penguins and cold! So it seemed appropriate to read about previous Antarctic explorers.
While I prefer sunnier climes, I have always had a fascination for exploration stories of all kinds be it mountain climbin', island hoppin', or south pole ice scramblin'. As a younger lass I read about Shackleton, Darwin, and Cook's true life adventures. National Geographic magazine was a much loved publication. Equally beloved were the fictional survival stories like White Fang, Robinson Crusoe, and the Count of Monte Cristo. I continue to love these types of stories like recent reads castle of water and feel me fall (highly recommended).
So I began to read this book about Billy Gawronski who was so obsessed with being a member of Byrd's crew that he was a stowaway on Byrd's ships not once but three times! His tenaciousness and pure grit to make it to Antarctica was endearing and fun. He wasn't the only one trying to secure a place on this expedition. Byrd was a crafty man and had thousands of candidates trying to obtain a non-paying berth on the voyage attempting to make American history.
Overall I found this to be a more a story about the facts surrounding getting to and from Antarctica rather than what happened on Antarctica. It is a seemingly well-researched book. Much like in real life, Byrd really is the center of the story with Billy's portions as the more humanistic filler. The beginning of the book up until the establishment of Little America is the best part of the book though the story loses steam after that. In any case I found many of the tangential facts to be fascinating. Like how President Coolidge had a pancake breakfast with actresses in an attempt to bolster his election campaign. This book was a quick read that I enjoyed even if I thought it would be more about Billy's adventures in Antarctica.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Simon & Schuster!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
This novel was recommended by stephanie @ adventuresofabibliophile. The title and cover immediately captured me fancy. Stowaways and a ship! Arrr! It takes place in the 1920s which is a bonus. Also me adventurous ma is currently on a ship heading for Antarctica and penguins and cold! So it seemed appropriate to read about previous Antarctic explorers.
While I prefer sunnier climes, I have always had a fascination for exploration stories of all kinds be it mountain climbin', island hoppin', or south pole ice scramblin'. As a younger lass I read about Shackleton, Darwin, and Cook's true life adventures. National Geographic magazine was a much loved publication. Equally beloved were the fictional survival stories like White Fang, Robinson Crusoe, and the Count of Monte Cristo. I continue to love these types of stories like recent reads castle of water and feel me fall (highly recommended).
So I began to read this book about Billy Gawronski who was so obsessed with being a member of Byrd's crew that he was a stowaway on Byrd's ships not once but three times! His tenaciousness and pure grit to make it to Antarctica was endearing and fun. He wasn't the only one trying to secure a place on this expedition. Byrd was a crafty man and had thousands of candidates trying to obtain a non-paying berth on the voyage attempting to make American history.
Overall I found this to be a more a story about the facts surrounding getting to and from Antarctica rather than what happened on Antarctica. It is a seemingly well-researched book. Much like in real life, Byrd really is the center of the story with Billy's portions as the more humanistic filler. The beginning of the book up until the establishment of Little America is the best part of the book though the story loses steam after that. In any case I found many of the tangential facts to be fascinating. Like how President Coolidge had a pancake breakfast with actresses in an attempt to bolster his election campaign. This book was a quick read that I enjoyed even if I thought it would be more about Billy's adventures in Antarctica.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Simon & Schuster!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
This book was a really slow starter. I actually seriously considered giving it up, but I am so glad I stuck with it. I became really attached to the subject and was actually sad when it finished. Amazing piece of nonfiction!
A great historical tale of adventure by the most unlikely (and nearly forgotten) of heroes. I loved Shapiro"s style that mixed real letters, and newspaper clippings with narrative in between to glue it all together. Billy's adventure is truly remarkable and the details of what it means to have been on what of these historical explorations before today's technology was fascinating.
❄️ 4 adventurous, Antarctic stars to The Stowaway ❄️
I enjoy reading nonfiction, and it’s a delight when I read nonfiction that feels like fiction. I would say this particular book feels mostly like fiction, but it is a bit on the detailed side. This worked perfectly for me, but I wanted to mention it for fiction fans who might be considering this book.
What fascinated me from the start is I was yet again reading about the 1920s in the United States! I’ve read several books lately set during that interesting time. Billy Gawronski was a captivating figure. How exactly does an 18 year old manage to be a stowaway on one of the most famous expeditions? What will his parents think? Wait until you read the story of his endearing parents.
Admiral Byrd, the leader of the expedition, was another absorbing character, as were the other captains of the ships. Also covered were past expeditions by Byrd and others, as well as the controversy surrounding them (i.e., did they really go to these places, or did they lie about their coordinates for the fame?).
Polish culture, the struggles of the time for different races, the Great Depression, and many other important issues were covered revealing the context of what was happening around Billy.
Billy was intelligent, resourceful, and persistent in making his enormous dream come true, and I absolutely loved him; however, his second wife and their story 💕 ended up stealing the show for me towards the end of the book. The Author’s Note that ties into that story is not to be missed!
These days, instead of giant multi-ship expeditions, people take cruises to Antarctica. I admit I’ve thought about it. We love a cruise and a big adventure. 🚢 Luckily, there’s still much about Antarctica that’s left untouched and undiscovered. That’s special and so is this book. The Stowaway met my expectations for a thrilling adventure!
Thank you to Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Simon & Schuster, and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC to review.
The Stowaway will be published on January 16, 2018.
I enjoy reading nonfiction, and it’s a delight when I read nonfiction that feels like fiction. I would say this particular book feels mostly like fiction, but it is a bit on the detailed side. This worked perfectly for me, but I wanted to mention it for fiction fans who might be considering this book.
What fascinated me from the start is I was yet again reading about the 1920s in the United States! I’ve read several books lately set during that interesting time. Billy Gawronski was a captivating figure. How exactly does an 18 year old manage to be a stowaway on one of the most famous expeditions? What will his parents think? Wait until you read the story of his endearing parents.
Admiral Byrd, the leader of the expedition, was another absorbing character, as were the other captains of the ships. Also covered were past expeditions by Byrd and others, as well as the controversy surrounding them (i.e., did they really go to these places, or did they lie about their coordinates for the fame?).
Polish culture, the struggles of the time for different races, the Great Depression, and many other important issues were covered revealing the context of what was happening around Billy.
Billy was intelligent, resourceful, and persistent in making his enormous dream come true, and I absolutely loved him; however, his second wife and their story 💕 ended up stealing the show for me towards the end of the book. The Author’s Note that ties into that story is not to be missed!
These days, instead of giant multi-ship expeditions, people take cruises to Antarctica. I admit I’ve thought about it. We love a cruise and a big adventure. 🚢 Luckily, there’s still much about Antarctica that’s left untouched and undiscovered. That’s special and so is this book. The Stowaway met my expectations for a thrilling adventure!
Thank you to Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Simon & Schuster, and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC to review.
The Stowaway will be published on January 16, 2018.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Different from the other books about Polar/Antarctic Explorers that I have read, however I still really enjoyed the book. It had rather little content about Antarctica but focused on Billy, who's own life story was more than Antarctica. I really enjoy the book, and would recommend with appropriate expectations.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Though the subtitle is “A Young Man’s Extraordinary Adventure to Antarctica,” there is very little about Antarctica in the story. The focus is on Billy Gawronski’s fantastic life, of which, his short trip to Antarctica was a catalyst to further adventures.
A fairly quick and easy read. My main issues with this were somewhat minor. At times the writing style felt more fiction-like where at others it was more non-fiction. The switch back and forth was a bit annoying. Also there was a lot of unnecessary explanations/definitions of words, especially at the beginning. Some of it was because I knew what the words meant, but also why use the word hawser if you’re just going to define it? Why not just say mooring line?
But besides that the reason I got this was because it was about exploring Antarctica (and being on a boat) and Billy was Polish. So a perfect combination. I would’ve liked a little more details, but I get that as a non-fiction book you can’t always find all the information you want. But hey, it’s still a book about exploring Antarctica and that’s all I really wanted.
But besides that the reason I got this was because it was about exploring Antarctica (and being on a boat) and Billy was Polish. So a perfect combination. I would’ve liked a little more details, but I get that as a non-fiction book you can’t always find all the information you want. But hey, it’s still a book about exploring Antarctica and that’s all I really wanted.
adventurous
slow-paced
This was my first non-fiction read of the year. It's all about the tenacious Polish boy, Billy Gawronski, who was determined to be part of Byrd's Antarctic Expedition even if it meant getting caught and kicked off the ship multiple times!
It has a pretty slow start but once it picked up I was eager to keep reading. I learned about Billy, his family, Byrd and what he had to do to fund the expedition, Byrd's loss to Linberg (first non-stop flight from NYC to Paris), the Boy Scout Paul Siple that was chosen to go on the expedition (and became an explorer in his own right), Amundsen, sled dogs, the depression, and that stowaways were not just daring, young dreamers; even a hopeful old, silver-haired New Zealand explorer attempted to join the expedition, albeit unsuccessfully.
I even learned who coined the term "windchill factor"! 💨❄😨
There is a ton of fascinating history inside this little book that I often find myself thinking about. I'm definitely glad I read it!
It has a pretty slow start but once it picked up I was eager to keep reading. I learned about Billy, his family, Byrd and what he had to do to fund the expedition, Byrd's loss to Linberg (first non-stop flight from NYC to Paris), the Boy Scout Paul Siple that was chosen to go on the expedition (and became an explorer in his own right), Amundsen, sled dogs, the depression, and that stowaways were not just daring, young dreamers; even a hopeful old, silver-haired New Zealand explorer attempted to join the expedition, albeit unsuccessfully.
I even learned who coined the term "windchill factor"! 💨❄😨
There is a ton of fascinating history inside this little book that I often find myself thinking about. I'm definitely glad I read it!