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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
The Pulaski, was one of the most luxurious steamships of the time, in 1838. Now often referred to as the Titanic of the south, met its demise long before the Titanic did. It was the new way of travel, those with prestige and wealth were looking forward to now taking steamships to the north to summer houses, instead of having to travel three, four plus days by buggy. The Pulaski was supposed to be a one night journey only.
Whole families boarded this steamship headed north to get out of the reprieve of the hot summer months. There was no concern or worry when everyone boarded, then the unfathomable happened, the ship exploded late into the night and it was chaos. The whole ship shook, the starboard side was completely missing and everyone was disoriented, as it was the middle of the night and most had been jarred awake. This now turned into an event of survival and realization that there were not enough lifeboats to save everyone and two were already sinking when a group tried to send off.
History Professor Everly has been tasked with what seems an impossible project. She has been asked to guest curate a new museum event focusing on steamship Pulaski. She has always been fascinated by this steamship, and her grandfather often made up various stories about those who had boarded it. He’d sit and give a different outcome each time, and Everly and her sister would soak up his tales. They even had a painting of it, and now the wreckage had finally been found off the coast.
This project tests Everly in many ways, as it brings up her own past and forces her to journey into herself while journeying into the lives of those from the past. As often as she feels the excitement and drive again, she also hits roadblocks trying to find information for this exhibit. With the help from someone from her past, and the lead on the dive team she realizes this was meant for her to handle.
This was such an amazing novel. Told with the dual storylines, Patti does such an amazing job in her writing. I was both on the steamship with those families, and yet I was also helping Everly dig up the past of what happened to the those who boarded. It was such an amazing novel to read, and I had no idea of this shipwreck. Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the free book!
Whole families boarded this steamship headed north to get out of the reprieve of the hot summer months. There was no concern or worry when everyone boarded, then the unfathomable happened, the ship exploded late into the night and it was chaos. The whole ship shook, the starboard side was completely missing and everyone was disoriented, as it was the middle of the night and most had been jarred awake. This now turned into an event of survival and realization that there were not enough lifeboats to save everyone and two were already sinking when a group tried to send off.
History Professor Everly has been tasked with what seems an impossible project. She has been asked to guest curate a new museum event focusing on steamship Pulaski. She has always been fascinated by this steamship, and her grandfather often made up various stories about those who had boarded it. He’d sit and give a different outcome each time, and Everly and her sister would soak up his tales. They even had a painting of it, and now the wreckage had finally been found off the coast.
This project tests Everly in many ways, as it brings up her own past and forces her to journey into herself while journeying into the lives of those from the past. As often as she feels the excitement and drive again, she also hits roadblocks trying to find information for this exhibit. With the help from someone from her past, and the lead on the dive team she realizes this was meant for her to handle.
This was such an amazing novel. Told with the dual storylines, Patti does such an amazing job in her writing. I was both on the steamship with those families, and yet I was also helping Everly dig up the past of what happened to the those who boarded. It was such an amazing novel to read, and I had no idea of this shipwreck. Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the free book!
“How do you survive the surviving?”
This is a line in the book which describes so much of the story. A well-crafted story of how tragedy changes us and our choices matter. The setting of Savannah played a major part in the story as well.
The only thing that kept me from giving this 5 stars was the author’s worst trails of thought in the last quarter of the book. I found her thoughts distracting from the story. This is a minor thing compared to the beauty of a true story brought to life.
This is a line in the book which describes so much of the story. A well-crafted story of how tragedy changes us and our choices matter. The setting of Savannah played a major part in the story as well.
The only thing that kept me from giving this 5 stars was the author’s worst trails of thought in the last quarter of the book. I found her thoughts distracting from the story. This is a minor thing compared to the beauty of a true story brought to life.
Rating 3.5 stars.
In this novel, Everly and Oliver come together to discover and tell the stories of the passengers who boarded the steamship Pulaski in June 1838. As they learn about the losses and impact on families in Savannah, they cope with their own loss and survival.
Patti Callahan gives us the historical novel in alternating accounts between Everly and the passengers attempting to survive. She creates appropriate tension and the need to know what happens next. Her detailed research is evident. The author’s note clarifies facts and imagined aspects. The resources are extensive.
Callahan leads us (at times a bit heavy handed for my taste) to ask deep questions about what it means to survive the surviving, what it means to live, our tendency to ask why, and the choices available when given a second chance. I appreciated the questions and the times where she left them unanswered. It was interesting to hear about this part of the world and time in history.
Notable quotes:
“... metaphor for all of us. Nothing all virtuous. Nothing all wicked. This mixture that is life, that is human, that is brokenness and wholeness.“
“‘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.’ There was always a choice.”
“...if not for... but there is no use in lamenting what might have been, so we are here and there is a life after horror. There is tragedy behind, and it trails us and walks alongside us, but still there is the great mystery of life after.“
In this novel, Everly and Oliver come together to discover and tell the stories of the passengers who boarded the steamship Pulaski in June 1838. As they learn about the losses and impact on families in Savannah, they cope with their own loss and survival.
Patti Callahan gives us the historical novel in alternating accounts between Everly and the passengers attempting to survive. She creates appropriate tension and the need to know what happens next. Her detailed research is evident. The author’s note clarifies facts and imagined aspects. The resources are extensive.
Callahan leads us (at times a bit heavy handed for my taste) to ask deep questions about what it means to survive the surviving, what it means to live, our tendency to ask why, and the choices available when given a second chance. I appreciated the questions and the times where she left them unanswered. It was interesting to hear about this part of the world and time in history.
Notable quotes:
“... metaphor for all of us. Nothing all virtuous. Nothing all wicked. This mixture that is life, that is human, that is brokenness and wholeness.“
“‘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.’ There was always a choice.”
“...if not for... but there is no use in lamenting what might have been, so we are here and there is a life after horror. There is tragedy behind, and it trails us and walks alongside us, but still there is the great mystery of life after.“
“How do we survive the surviving? Who do we choose to become after tragedy?”
In this dual timeline historical fiction, the protagonists in both 1838 and the present day must answer these questions for themselves. Inspired by the real sinking of the Pulaski in 1838 and the recent discovery of the wreck. Fascinating story.
In this dual timeline historical fiction, the protagonists in both 1838 and the present day must answer these questions for themselves. Inspired by the real sinking of the Pulaski in 1838 and the recent discovery of the wreck. Fascinating story.
emotional
inspiring
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
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“Surviving Savannah,” by Patti Callahan is a wonderful book!! My favorite read this year so far. Very well researched and beautifully written, the book takes you to the night the steamship Pulaski blew up. It is based on true facts of that fateful night in 1838 and the ensuing story of those who battled to survive. That’s one timeline; the second is of a college history professor who is asked to curate an exhibit of the newly found Pulaski wreckage in the present day. “How do we survive the surviving?”
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated