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Historical fiction is something I enjoy, adding a different time and perspective to a story makes for a great spin on things. It makes it especially interesting when the historical element is based in fact. And that, dear reader, is just what ‘Surviving Savannah’ by Patti Callahan is. Thank you to @berittalksbooks @thephddivabooks for hosting another amazing buddy read and thanks to @berkleypub for the advanced copy of the book.
The story is told in two timeframes, set in the picturesque town of Savannah. Everly is our modern timeline, she is struggling to cope with the death of her best friend, Mora. She’s tuned her back on her old life. However, the arrival of Oliver, Mora’s fiancé, entices her back into her beloved world of history. The wreckage of the steamship Pulaski has been found 180 years after an explosion on board saw in sink. Lilly and Augusta are our historical timeline. They are boarding the fated ship in 1838, Lilly with her brutish husband, beloved child and nursemaid and Augusta with her brother and his extensive family. The story follows them as they negotiate the explosion, some heart-breaking decisions and the actions they take to try and survive. All three women’s tales speak of the human spirit and their strength to endure.
The historical aspect of this story was interesting, the additional notes that were included about the Pulaski were a particular highlight. Although I found the story dragged in places and felt repetitive in some of the descriptions, I mostly enjoyed the book. I liked Lilly and Augusta and was routing for, not just their survival but their happiness. I found Everly to be a little over dramatic in her grief. What I found particularly interesting about this book was the constant question of what it is to survive. It’s obviously the act of making it through a situation but this story explores the idea of what comes after. These women not only have to ‘live’ but find a way to accept their decisions and forge a ‘life’ that brings them contentment.
The story is told in two timeframes, set in the picturesque town of Savannah. Everly is our modern timeline, she is struggling to cope with the death of her best friend, Mora. She’s tuned her back on her old life. However, the arrival of Oliver, Mora’s fiancé, entices her back into her beloved world of history. The wreckage of the steamship Pulaski has been found 180 years after an explosion on board saw in sink. Lilly and Augusta are our historical timeline. They are boarding the fated ship in 1838, Lilly with her brutish husband, beloved child and nursemaid and Augusta with her brother and his extensive family. The story follows them as they negotiate the explosion, some heart-breaking decisions and the actions they take to try and survive. All three women’s tales speak of the human spirit and their strength to endure.
The historical aspect of this story was interesting, the additional notes that were included about the Pulaski were a particular highlight. Although I found the story dragged in places and felt repetitive in some of the descriptions, I mostly enjoyed the book. I liked Lilly and Augusta and was routing for, not just their survival but their happiness. I found Everly to be a little over dramatic in her grief. What I found particularly interesting about this book was the constant question of what it is to survive. It’s obviously the act of making it through a situation but this story explores the idea of what comes after. These women not only have to ‘live’ but find a way to accept their decisions and forge a ‘life’ that brings them contentment.
I learned so much about Savannah and the 19th century shipwreck of The Pulaski! Thank you @pattichenry for such an interesting, well researched piece of historical fiction!
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The story takes a present day story and weaves it together with a family who was actually on The Pulaski.
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Through the unfolding of both stories we learn about the ship and those who were on it - and so much more.
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I appreciate the extensive author’s note at the end - explaining the fact and fiction of the story. The research done on this book is impressive.
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I think it’s time to make another visit to Savannah!
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I highly recommend this book - coming out March 2021. Four stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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The story takes a present day story and weaves it together with a family who was actually on The Pulaski.
⠀
Through the unfolding of both stories we learn about the ship and those who were on it - and so much more.
⠀
I appreciate the extensive author’s note at the end - explaining the fact and fiction of the story. The research done on this book is impressive.
⠀
I think it’s time to make another visit to Savannah!
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I highly recommend this book - coming out March 2021. Four stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
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:
No
I absolutely loved this book. Historical fiction has always been one of my favorite genres. Living on the Lowcountry of SC I especially love books that take place in the south. I found myself multiple times during the story looking up information about the Pulaski and the lives that were lost or changed by one night. I've always been a fan of Patti Callahan and I can't wait for her future novels.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I received a gifted galley of SURVIVING SAVANNAH by Patti Callahan for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
SURVIVING SAVANNAH is historical fiction based on the real life sinking of the luxury steamship Pulaski in 1838. The submerged wreck was only recently found with divers bringing up the relics. This fictional account follows Everly in the present day as she is brought in by a Savannah museum to pull together the story of the Pulaski into a major exhibit. She has always been intrigued by the ship’s story and the mysteries left by spotty records. Though trying to overcome tragedies in her own life, she is easily wrapped up in the stories of those who experienced the trauma of the ship’s sinking.
The novel also follows two points of view in 1838. Lilly is a young wife and mother traveling with her abusive husband, her baby and her Black nursemaid. Lilly’s aunt Augusta is the second POV on board the Pulaski. They are traveling with their family of 12 and their story is one of the key areas of Everly’s research in the present as well.
I really enjoyed this one and knowing that it was based on actual events made it even more powerful to read. The author did an amazing job of putting the sinking of the ship in the reader’s mind. The ship was amazingly unprepared for a problem at sea, lacking the life boats and equipment that could have saved so many lives. You know going into this that many lives were lost and families were broken apart along with the ship, but the images the author gives us really drive the heartbreak home.
I really enjoyed the research portions of the present day narrative as well. It was interesting (and disturbing) to hear about the stumbling blocks in the research process because women weren’t named on the list of those on board apart from being their husband’s wife. Even worse, Black individuals on board were counted an entirely separate category after the count of people and children.
This was a fascinating read about an event I knew nothing about going in and the author’s notes at the end about her research and how the real people on the ship tied into her narrative were fascinating. This is a book about survival and surviving that survival and one I’d recommend! Surviving Savannah is out on 3/9/2021!
SURVIVING SAVANNAH is historical fiction based on the real life sinking of the luxury steamship Pulaski in 1838. The submerged wreck was only recently found with divers bringing up the relics. This fictional account follows Everly in the present day as she is brought in by a Savannah museum to pull together the story of the Pulaski into a major exhibit. She has always been intrigued by the ship’s story and the mysteries left by spotty records. Though trying to overcome tragedies in her own life, she is easily wrapped up in the stories of those who experienced the trauma of the ship’s sinking.
The novel also follows two points of view in 1838. Lilly is a young wife and mother traveling with her abusive husband, her baby and her Black nursemaid. Lilly’s aunt Augusta is the second POV on board the Pulaski. They are traveling with their family of 12 and their story is one of the key areas of Everly’s research in the present as well.
I really enjoyed this one and knowing that it was based on actual events made it even more powerful to read. The author did an amazing job of putting the sinking of the ship in the reader’s mind. The ship was amazingly unprepared for a problem at sea, lacking the life boats and equipment that could have saved so many lives. You know going into this that many lives were lost and families were broken apart along with the ship, but the images the author gives us really drive the heartbreak home.
I really enjoyed the research portions of the present day narrative as well. It was interesting (and disturbing) to hear about the stumbling blocks in the research process because women weren’t named on the list of those on board apart from being their husband’s wife. Even worse, Black individuals on board were counted an entirely separate category after the count of people and children.
This was a fascinating read about an event I knew nothing about going in and the author’s notes at the end about her research and how the real people on the ship tied into her narrative were fascinating. This is a book about survival and surviving that survival and one I’d recommend! Surviving Savannah is out on 3/9/2021!
3.5 stars. Story about the luxury steamboat Pulaski that was considered "The Titanic of the South" that also sank in 1838 with many families onboard. The story is told in dual timelines with present day Everly, a history professor, who is curating an exhibit on this event and finds some personal connection with it. Alas, I was really pulled into the historical timeline but the present day did not hold my interest as much. Too many things were conveniently found out and I'd rather have seen Everly just research the crap out of the event (like the author clearly did). Kudos to Callahan for such a well researched story that brought me back to 1838. I just wish it had been a straight historical fiction novel - it was fascinating on its own.
When I read a book and I am still thinking about it weeks later, I know it is an incredible book!!!
This is a dual timeline treasure of a book. The Pulaski leaves Savannah to take the wealthy people of Savannah North to escape the hot summer. After picking up more passengers in Charleston, there is an explosion and the ship sinks...who will survive...how will they survive. The present day timeline weaves well with the past as the museum is working on an exhibition.
The beautifully written words by Callahan make this book a real joy to read. You are transported to Savannah and can see this beautiful city!! You are taken aboard The Pulaski and you imagine being right there on the deck.
Patti Callahan is one of my go to writers and she has produced an exceptionally written book!!!
This is a dual timeline treasure of a book. The Pulaski leaves Savannah to take the wealthy people of Savannah North to escape the hot summer. After picking up more passengers in Charleston, there is an explosion and the ship sinks...who will survive...how will they survive. The present day timeline weaves well with the past as the museum is working on an exhibition.
The beautifully written words by Callahan make this book a real joy to read. You are transported to Savannah and can see this beautiful city!! You are taken aboard The Pulaski and you imagine being right there on the deck.
Patti Callahan is one of my go to writers and she has produced an exceptionally written book!!!
Savannah, shipwreck, historical fiction? YES PLEASE!!! Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for the #giftedcopy of Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan. This book is out on Tuesday, 3/9/21!
With dual timelines and alternating POVs, Surviving Savannah tells the story of the Pulaski, a steamship that sank in 1838. Everly is a history professor in Savannah and is asked to curate an exhibit on the Pulaski, whose wreck has just been discovered 180 years after it sank. She pieces together the story of the fateful night it sank, told to the reader by two women passengers.
I really enjoyed this book and reading about the tragic sinking. The decisions the passengers had to make were heart wrenching and reading it made me wary to travel by sea again. I had no idea the Pulaski existed, so of course I went and researched after I finished reading. The author does give a lot of additional information about the ship and passengers at the end, which was interesting. The last couple chapters were a tad repetitive but overall, I would recommend this book to historical fiction readers!
With dual timelines and alternating POVs, Surviving Savannah tells the story of the Pulaski, a steamship that sank in 1838. Everly is a history professor in Savannah and is asked to curate an exhibit on the Pulaski, whose wreck has just been discovered 180 years after it sank. She pieces together the story of the fateful night it sank, told to the reader by two women passengers.
I really enjoyed this book and reading about the tragic sinking. The decisions the passengers had to make were heart wrenching and reading it made me wary to travel by sea again. I had no idea the Pulaski existed, so of course I went and researched after I finished reading. The author does give a lot of additional information about the ship and passengers at the end, which was interesting. The last couple chapters were a tad repetitive but overall, I would recommend this book to historical fiction readers!