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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall i really enjoyed this. It's ambitious but it focuses a lot on grief-it's experience and surviving it. I feel like there were a lot of platitudes and the character dialog didn't seem that believable to me. I love books that offer perspectives from multiple characters so this really worked for me, but i would have lived if they centered Priscilla/Chike, Lilly's enslaved nursemaid, more. Rather, the story is told from the perspective of three women from wealthy southern families.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
Such a unique historical fiction read about a ship wreck I had never heard about. Great character development and tie in to present day.
This was an interesting book to read. I liked the dual timelines. I've read several books with this structure recently and I think this one was really well done. I thought the characters were well-drawn and I was invested in their stories. I wasn't thrilled with Everly's arc, but I can't put my finger on what bothered me about it.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.
I really, really wanted to love this book. The premise sounds exactly like the sort of books I adore: antebellum fiction, shipwreck, underwater archaeology, dual-period timeline. So I am really disappointed that this whole book fell flat for me.
What did I like: the characters in the novel felt like real people. I found myself rooting for them. I felt their suffering through the narrative. I could see myself meeting these people in real life. The whole context of learning about the tragedy of the steamship Pulaski while curating a museum display about the passengers on board provided a great framework for this novel. I was so intrigued by the way the author wove historical fact and characters throughout the novel. And the fact that this is based on a little-known historical fact makes it all the most interesting.
What I didn't like: the book was just too long. There were several bits of the story that seem to have been added with no real purpose. Though I really love underwater archaeology, this whole story line could have been cut without losing anything from the novel. I realize that the actual Pulaski shipwreck was found off the coast of North Carolina while the author was writing the book, but it really does seem to just be shoved in there around all the other parts of the story. In addition, the historical narrative similarly dragged. The sinking of the ship happens right at the beginning of the novel and then the rest of the timeline is people waiting to be rescued. There was very little to keep me engaged during these portions of the story. Finally, I understand that the author uses Everly's personal tragedy to link her to Lily and Augusta's experience, but this also felt unnecessary to the story. Everly's interest in the story of the Pulaski made just as much sense without having to link it to the loss she recently experienced.
Overall, I found this book a little lacklustre. All the pieces of an excellent historical novel are there, they just get lost amongst all the extraneous scenes and details. I liked the characters and I loved learning about a tragic voyage about which I previously knew little but, ultimately, my enjoyment was overshadowed by the slow pacing of the book.
I really, really wanted to love this book. The premise sounds exactly like the sort of books I adore: antebellum fiction, shipwreck, underwater archaeology, dual-period timeline. So I am really disappointed that this whole book fell flat for me.
What did I like: the characters in the novel felt like real people. I found myself rooting for them. I felt their suffering through the narrative. I could see myself meeting these people in real life. The whole context of learning about the tragedy of the steamship Pulaski while curating a museum display about the passengers on board provided a great framework for this novel. I was so intrigued by the way the author wove historical fact and characters throughout the novel. And the fact that this is based on a little-known historical fact makes it all the most interesting.
What I didn't like: the book was just too long. There were several bits of the story that seem to have been added with no real purpose. Though I really love underwater archaeology, this whole story line could have been cut without losing anything from the novel. I realize that the actual Pulaski shipwreck was found off the coast of North Carolina while the author was writing the book, but it really does seem to just be shoved in there around all the other parts of the story. In addition, the historical narrative similarly dragged. The sinking of the ship happens right at the beginning of the novel and then the rest of the timeline is people waiting to be rescued. There was very little to keep me engaged during these portions of the story. Finally, I understand that the author uses Everly's personal tragedy to link her to Lily and Augusta's experience, but this also felt unnecessary to the story. Everly's interest in the story of the Pulaski made just as much sense without having to link it to the loss she recently experienced.
Overall, I found this book a little lacklustre. All the pieces of an excellent historical novel are there, they just get lost amongst all the extraneous scenes and details. I liked the characters and I loved learning about a tragic voyage about which I previously knew little but, ultimately, my enjoyment was overshadowed by the slow pacing of the book.
Absolutely loved the main plot but the romance ruined it for me and felt like it ruined the entire ending
“not everyone who survives trauma becomes a better person. The idea that surviving brings everyone to a new and better place is a lie told by people who need the world to make sense.”
One hundred and eighty years ago, the Pulaski Steamship exploded and sank in forty five minutes and dubbed the "Southern Titanic." Now the wreckage has finally been discovered and, historian Everly Winthrop has been tasked with finding out what happened on that fateful night. Who survived, how they survived and ultimately how that night shaped their future. With the help of diver Maddox and her long time friend Oliver. The trio set out to find the truth and delve into a very dark period of history.
This book was such an enthralling, captivating, extremely well written and poignant read. Though not my preferred genre I found myself incapable of putting this one down. I love how the story is told and how the book jumps between modern living to a much more harrowing way of life in the 1800s. The characters were well constructed well and really brought the book to life for me.
I was really pulled into this story and fed off the emotions of these characters. Their pain and loss was raw and could be felt pulsating through the pages of this book. I love how the book dives deep into trauma and how it ultimately shapes the person we become in the end. A perfect example of this is Charles and if you've read this book then you know.
The author also handles the subject of Slavery with tact and doesn't shy away from it. Can I I just say here, as a woman of colour I really appreciate the fact that she didn't use the dreaded N word. That was a breath of fresh air for me and deeply appreciated.
The journey that the author took us on with Everly, in search of the truth was an exciting one for the most part. I say for the most part because I did struggle to connect with her character at first. I found her to be a little self-absorbed at times. However, her character development was refreshing and made up for it in the end. There were also parts of this book that seemed to drag a little but, other than that it was a really good read. Very quotable and the author really did this real life tragedy justice with this book.
One hundred and eighty years ago, the Pulaski Steamship exploded and sank in forty five minutes and dubbed the "Southern Titanic." Now the wreckage has finally been discovered and, historian Everly Winthrop has been tasked with finding out what happened on that fateful night. Who survived, how they survived and ultimately how that night shaped their future. With the help of diver Maddox and her long time friend Oliver. The trio set out to find the truth and delve into a very dark period of history.
This book was such an enthralling, captivating, extremely well written and poignant read. Though not my preferred genre I found myself incapable of putting this one down. I love how the story is told and how the book jumps between modern living to a much more harrowing way of life in the 1800s. The characters were well constructed well and really brought the book to life for me.
I was really pulled into this story and fed off the emotions of these characters. Their pain and loss was raw and could be felt pulsating through the pages of this book. I love how the book dives deep into trauma and how it ultimately shapes the person we become in the end. A perfect example of this is Charles and if you've read this book then you know.
The author also handles the subject of Slavery with tact and doesn't shy away from it. Can I I just say here, as a woman of colour I really appreciate the fact that she didn't use the dreaded N word. That was a breath of fresh air for me and deeply appreciated.
The journey that the author took us on with Everly, in search of the truth was an exciting one for the most part. I say for the most part because I did struggle to connect with her character at first. I found her to be a little self-absorbed at times. However, her character development was refreshing and made up for it in the end. There were also parts of this book that seemed to drag a little but, other than that it was a really good read. Very quotable and the author really did this real life tragedy justice with this book.