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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
medium-paced
Nothing wrong with the book but what I really wanted was a book about Bird’s expedition. Oh Well.
Fridtjof Nansen nods: 2 i think
Fridtjof Nansen nods: 2 i think
I might have enjoyed this more if it were billed as fiction, but the emotional speculation struck an odd chord with me. I also listened as an audiobook and was desperate for footnotes and citations. Presenting the emotional state of a historical biography subject is tricky.
Although an interesting premise for a book, and an exciting first few chapters (despite the long, drawn out history of the stowaway’s parents and their backgrounds), I could not get into this book. The author’s writing style was so difficult for me to read, and the sentences and paragraphs did not flow. It read more like a stitched together Wikipedia article. It seemed as though they grabbed every tidbit of information available around this era - whether it was relevant to the topic or not - and threw it into the book. There were also a lot of “...perhaps he may have met this person...” or “...perhaps he thought this during this moment...”, which I found so strange to read in a non-fiction book. Overall, the writing style ruined this book for me.
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
slow-paced
In 1928, Admiral Richard Byrd decided to explore the unknown..the Antarctica. At that time going to Antarctica was the last frontier to conquer on earth and just the idea of his attempting this voyage was the stuff of legends. Thousands of men and women wanted to be a part of Byrd's adventure, and even members of the Rockefeller and Vanderbilt family begged to be allowed to come along.
Then you meet Billy Gawronski, a 17 year old from New York who was so desperate to be a part of that he jumped into the river and swam to the boat to be a stowaway. Did he make it? This is one rollicking read that brings to life the past in ways that will leave you flabbergasted. It's written in the same manner as Unbroken by author Hillenbrand in that you have a hard time believing that it is all true. Every word.
I read an advance copy and was not compensated for it.
Then you meet Billy Gawronski, a 17 year old from New York who was so desperate to be a part of that he jumped into the river and swam to the boat to be a stowaway. Did he make it? This is one rollicking read that brings to life the past in ways that will leave you flabbergasted. It's written in the same manner as Unbroken by author Hillenbrand in that you have a hard time believing that it is all true. Every word.
I read an advance copy and was not compensated for it.
Billy Gawronski had one interesting life. This story isn't just about his adventure to Antarctica, it's a biography, but it's also a trip back in time. Laurie Gwen Shapiro gives us a wonderful look at what life was like in New York City as the son of an immigrant in the 1920s and into the Great Depression. These glimpses were the parts of the story that interested me the most, though his exploits to stow away, his seafaring trips, and his time in Antarctica with the famous Commander Byrd were entertaining as well. One of the most intriguing episodes in this tale was after he stowed away, he was caught and sent back to his parents. I though to myself, this can't be right, how did he make it to Antarctica if he was caught? Turns out, he tried it again. And again! It wasn't until he was caught the third time that he actually was welcomed aboard one of the expedition vessels as part of the crew, and only after his father had given permission. And so his legitimate, and highly publicized, adventure to Antarctica begins. A wonderful unknown story of an ordinary, young man from New York who led a remarkably extraordinary life.
I love books about Antarctica. This one is no exception. One of those nonfiction books where you’re like “Wow!” every few pages, and you close your book and tell Hannah the fact you just learned.
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced