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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Solid 4.5 stars ⭐️ loved the telling of this story. I will absolutely be reading more books by this author.
I had heard others recommend this book and I was not disappointed. Using an actual historical event as the basis, this book had me researching the actual disaster (the sinking of a ship known as the Titanic of the South) while I was still reading it. The author did a nice job moving from present day historian's research and personal challenges to the timeframe when the ship sank. Saved this one for vacation and could not put it down. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction, give this one a go.
This book was fascinating, I felt like I was aboard the ship, the raft, the bed after spending five days at sea. This book told a piece of history many like me were not aware of until reading it. This book asks questions of us as to how we would survive, what would we be like if we were a survivor, how do we deal with grief and trauma? This all rolled up into a compelling story. So well done, [a:Patti Callahan|17718525|Patti Callahan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1616160597p2/17718525.jpg].
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everly is curating a museum collection for "The Titanic of the South", steamship Pulaski. The marvelous steamship sank because a boiler exploded, and until the present day, it remained beneath the waves since that day in 1838. It's up to Everly to piece together the story of this ship, its crew, and its passengers, wherever it leads. She soon finds that of the passengers on board that day, two women from a large family faced monumental and unforgiving decisions as tragedy struck. One of them, Augusta Longstreet, survived. The other, her niece Lilly Forsyth, did not. What matters is how these women tried to survive the cataclysmic explosion, and what happened in the aftermath of the Pulaski's sinking.
I enjoyed this intriguing work of modern and historical fiction! Following Everly in the present day, and Augusta and Lilly in the past, the story wends the river of time following themes of cultural expectations, unexpected tragedy, and fighting for survival. Both Augusta and Lilly wanted to escape Savannah, Georgia for their own reasons, but an unlucky stroke of fate takes them from unfavorable circumstances at home into a maelstrom of terror. In the present, Everly pieces together Lilly's fight to stay alive, and what happened to Augusta after she did. By examining these lives long past, Everly is better able to deal with a tragedy from her own life.
I thought all of these characters were well-written, and I loved that these women were so strong in the face of adversity, even as we witness how fragile life can be. I liked the different points of view, and the aspects of historical culture that helped bring the city of Savannah and the waters of the Atlantic to life. If I could change one thing, I would have liked even more of the past storyline, with more detail about the lives of Augusta and Lilly. Surviving Savannah is a brilliant, heartfelt story about inescapable fate, living as a survivor, and perhaps some good that can happen after irrevocable tragedies. Highly recommended to those who have lost, or who may yet lose and wonder why they deserve to live.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free digital copy of this book.
I enjoyed this intriguing work of modern and historical fiction! Following Everly in the present day, and Augusta and Lilly in the past, the story wends the river of time following themes of cultural expectations, unexpected tragedy, and fighting for survival. Both Augusta and Lilly wanted to escape Savannah, Georgia for their own reasons, but an unlucky stroke of fate takes them from unfavorable circumstances at home into a maelstrom of terror. In the present, Everly pieces together Lilly's fight to stay alive, and what happened to Augusta after she did. By examining these lives long past, Everly is better able to deal with a tragedy from her own life.
I thought all of these characters were well-written, and I loved that these women were so strong in the face of adversity, even as we witness how fragile life can be. I liked the different points of view, and the aspects of historical culture that helped bring the city of Savannah and the waters of the Atlantic to life. If I could change one thing, I would have liked even more of the past storyline, with more detail about the lives of Augusta and Lilly. Surviving Savannah is a brilliant, heartfelt story about inescapable fate, living as a survivor, and perhaps some good that can happen after irrevocable tragedies. Highly recommended to those who have lost, or who may yet lose and wonder why they deserve to live.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free digital copy of this book.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Surviving Savannah blew me away. I must confess, I have a secret (well, not secret anymore) hatred for dual-timeline stories. I always find myself liking one storyline more than the other, or thinking that one is unnecessary to the book's overall impact. But that was not the case with this story.
In 1838, the “Pulaski” sank after a boiler explosion off the Atlantic coast with many of Savannah’s most wealthy citizens on board. Over time, the story has faded into legend, and the “Pulaski” is known as the Titanic of the South. Now, over 180 years later, the wreckage has finally been uncovered. Historian Everly Winthrop is hired to create an exhibit in a prominent Savannah museum to highlight the story of the “Pulaski” and the lives lost in the shipwreck.
But with a renewed interest in a story forgotten by time, Everly finds herself being pulled into mysteries that still surround the “Pulaski”, primarily what became of one family in particular. The alternate timeline takes us back to the night the “Pulaski” exploded and we witness the disaster through the eyes of Savannah socialite and survivor, Augusta Longstreet.
This story was very well done. It was heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time as it explored themes of guilt, survival, and ultimately, what women will do to protect their loved ones. If you’ve ever imagined solving a mystery from history, I think you will love this story!
Content Warnings: death, grief, death of a child, slavery, domestic abuse (discussion), and sexual assault (discussion).
Story of an 1800's ship wreck, the survivors, told by a current day historian which delved into documents and relics pulled from the sea by wrecking crew. Loved the back and forth in time.
adventurous
inspiring
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:
No