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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
This book and author - big love. I love Patti Callahan Henry’s contemporary titles, as well as her newer historical fiction titles, and this is a book I’ve been looking forward to since I first heard about it. The Pulaski shipwreck was recently discovered off the North Carolina coast (also called the Graveyard of the Atlantic due to all its hard to navigate barrier islands). I spent my early life in a coastal community where a pier was built near an old steamer shipwreck (the pier was called The Iron Steamer), so this history has always fascinated me. In another life, I am an archaeological diver.
I enjoyed the historical aspect more than the modern parts of this one. Very interesting characters and story. Great book.
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Interesting.
I enjoyed the 2 time periods.
I loved the author's follow-up with information on what was true and what was constructive imagination for the "fiction" part of historical fiction.
Who knew there was a Southern Titanic years BEFORE the "original"!!
I enjoyed the 2 time periods.
I loved the author's follow-up with information on what was true and what was constructive imagination for the "fiction" part of historical fiction.
Who knew there was a Southern Titanic years BEFORE the "original"!!
I had never heard of the Pulaski but now that I have read Patti Callahan’s Surviving Savannah, I am curious to find out more. The dual timelines are perfect. They each tell the story of Pulaski with the real experience coming in the 1838 timeline and the present timeline tells of the research of the Pulaski.
The persistence of Everly and her research was wonderful. The lengths she went to and how that research was able to push her to start living her life again, a life that she had not been fully living since the loss of her best friend.
Lilly and Augusta are able to tell their story as the ship explodes, they are thrown into the cold waters, and are doing everything they can to just survive. I was in awe of their strength and their will to live. Their lives were at risk and their futures unknown, yet they never stopped hoping to find land and be saved.
Surviving Savannah will be one of the top historical fiction books of 2021 for me.
The persistence of Everly and her research was wonderful. The lengths she went to and how that research was able to push her to start living her life again, a life that she had not been fully living since the loss of her best friend.
Lilly and Augusta are able to tell their story as the ship explodes, they are thrown into the cold waters, and are doing everything they can to just survive. I was in awe of their strength and their will to live. Their lives were at risk and their futures unknown, yet they never stopped hoping to find land and be saved.
Surviving Savannah will be one of the top historical fiction books of 2021 for me.
I really enjoyed getting lost in this story and the history. I found it fascinating and compelling. Some of the shipwreck/floating parts were hard for me to picture in my head and therefore follow but overall it really was well done. I enjoyed the experience of reading this book!
I really loved this story. It was very informative (based on true events) and also very emotional. The duel storyline merged seamlessly, and kept me intrigued on every page!
Everly Winthrop had grown up hearing about the tragedy of the Pulaski, a steamship that sunk off the coast of North Carolina in 1838 killing most of its passengers. Most were members of Savannah’s most wealthy families. There were few survivors. To serve as a symbol of all who were lost, a statue was erected of Lily Forsyth, a woman believed to have perished. A painting of the ill-fated vessel still hangs in Everly’s childhood home. As a history teacher, Everly is thrilled when asked to curate an exhibit at the local maritime museum as the wreckage of the ship had been found. She seeks to learn more about the people behind the tragedy and the artifacts that have been buried under the sea set Everly on the road to uncovering their stories. This engaging book shifts from present day to 1838 when we find Lily and her family preparing for their journey. Also on board is Lily’s aunt Augusta Longstreet and her brother Lamar and his wife and children. Only hours after leaving port, the ship explodes. The struggle to survive in the cold waters is told with harrowing realism. There were only two working lifeboats and others tried to stay alive by floating on rafts made from parts of the ship.
The stories of those on the Pulaski make for a very interesting story including what happened to the survivors. The despicable reality of slavery is addressed and it is heartbreaking. But the story of Evelyn makes this book especially endearing. It is her story that moved me the most. This is a woman who had experienced her own tragedy and has been simply existing ever since. Working on this project helps her decide whether she too has the will to survive and live her life.
Now known as “The Titanic of the South,” the story of the Pulaski is true and author Patti Callahan did an excellent job using well-researched facts blended with a fictional story inspired by its history.
I had put this book on the back-burner as other books shouted, “Read me!” a little louder. I’m so glad I decided to finally read it. If you have been thinking about reading Surviving Savannah, wait no more. It is a captivating book you’re sure to enjoy, especially if historical fiction is your genre.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
The stories of those on the Pulaski make for a very interesting story including what happened to the survivors. The despicable reality of slavery is addressed and it is heartbreaking. But the story of Evelyn makes this book especially endearing. It is her story that moved me the most. This is a woman who had experienced her own tragedy and has been simply existing ever since. Working on this project helps her decide whether she too has the will to survive and live her life.
Now known as “The Titanic of the South,” the story of the Pulaski is true and author Patti Callahan did an excellent job using well-researched facts blended with a fictional story inspired by its history.
I had put this book on the back-burner as other books shouted, “Read me!” a little louder. I’m so glad I decided to finally read it. If you have been thinking about reading Surviving Savannah, wait no more. It is a captivating book you’re sure to enjoy, especially if historical fiction is your genre.
Rated 4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
1838 and the United States has a Titanic-like disaster. The ship Pulaski explodes on it's one-night voyage, as the wealthy families of Savannah try to escape the heat for their summer vacations up north.
Present Day Savannah, and historian Everly tries to piece together the unknown stories of the women and slaves of the disaster, who's harrowing tales did not appear in the newspapers of the day. All the while she curates a museum collection of artifacts and tales, she is trying to cope with her own survivors guilt. Could unraveling the stories left behind help Everly (and Maddox and Oliver) heal their own guilt and grief?
I quite enjoy "now and then" tales - especially as they weave together to a resolution. This one ticks all of the boxes, strong women's histories, intrigue, healing, a touch of romance, and enough tension to keep me turning pages. Outside of being a page turner, the one thing that will get me to give an historical fiction 5* is the sheer number of times I set the book down to Google more information, and then how much I care to read the authors notes. Let's just say, 5*. Well written, well done.
1838 and the United States has a Titanic-like disaster. The ship Pulaski explodes on it's one-night voyage, as the wealthy families of Savannah try to escape the heat for their summer vacations up north.
Present Day Savannah, and historian Everly tries to piece together the unknown stories of the women and slaves of the disaster, who's harrowing tales did not appear in the newspapers of the day. All the while she curates a museum collection of artifacts and tales, she is trying to cope with her own survivors guilt. Could unraveling the stories left behind help Everly (and Maddox and Oliver) heal their own guilt and grief?
I quite enjoy "now and then" tales - especially as they weave together to a resolution. This one ticks all of the boxes, strong women's histories, intrigue, healing, a touch of romance, and enough tension to keep me turning pages. Outside of being a page turner, the one thing that will get me to give an historical fiction 5* is the sheer number of times I set the book down to Google more information, and then how much I care to read the authors notes. Let's just say, 5*. Well written, well done.
3.75***
Perhaps it’s unfair to compare Callahan’s other books to this one but oh well, I truly feel like this book was missing that special spark that is present in her other books. This one, while still good, was somewhat dull at times and slow. The amount of research and history that went into this book was impressive though, and I enjoyed the different perspectives.
Perhaps it’s unfair to compare Callahan’s other books to this one but oh well, I truly feel like this book was missing that special spark that is present in her other books. This one, while still good, was somewhat dull at times and slow. The amount of research and history that went into this book was impressive though, and I enjoyed the different perspectives.