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meritm's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Racism, Classism, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, and Colonisation
e_freckles's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Colonisation, Racism, Animal death, War, and Violence
Minor: Blood and Ableism
saraverboom's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Slavery, Colonisation, Violence, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Gun violence, Murder, Animal death, and Death
ifeanart's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Racism, War, Body horror, Child death, Murder, and Xenophobia
crocus_and_clematis's review against another edition
4.25
Sailing into David Grann's The Wager was a departure from my usual reading preferences, but wow what a wild ride! This nonfiction masterpiece skillfully melds the gripping pace of a thriller with the scholarly depth expected in historical accounts. This is honestly the type of book I wouldn’t have read if it wasn’t for all the hype. The nonfiction I normally reach for tends to be memoirs or travelogues, so I was a little hesitant about going for a historical book. I was incredibly impressed—Wager reads like a thriller and more than once I caught myself audibly gasping and yelling at what was happening on the page.
Grann's writing prowess is commendable, as he maintains a dramatic narrative without sacrificing scholarly integrity. Having waded through my fair share of dry history books during college days, I was impressed by his ability to present facts, provide citations, and weave a compelling storyline simultaneously. While the story's trajectory may be somewhat predictable with the inevitable shipwreck of the Wager, the unfolding events read like a slow-motion disaster— you just can’t look away. The abundance of primary sources, especially the firsthand accounts of survivors, elevates the narrative, turning the men who chronicled their Wager experience into focal points. Grann's vivid descriptions instill a profound fear of the sea, dispelling any romanticized notions of maritime adventure (goodbye swinging around the rigging like Jack Sparrow, hello slowly wasting away to scurvy).
The Wager is a gorgeous historical thriller, and if you love (or have ever loved) true crime, adventure stories, or being on the ocean, I would recommend giving it a try. Its graphic portrayal of battles at sea, scurvy, starvation, and human resilience is not for the faint of heart, but weaves a story you won't be able to look away from. I was simultaneously horrified and entranced in the best possible way
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Murder, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Racism, Death, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
readhaileyread's review against another edition
5.0
Minor: Racism, Colonisation, Death, War, Cannibalism, Slavery, and Murder
sonygaystation's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: War, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and Vomit
srm's review
3.0
Graphic: Chronic illness and Death
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Murder, Cannibalism, and Gun violence
leahthebooklover's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Death
Moderate: Blood, Murder, Bullying, Physical abuse, and War
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Slavery
codymyre97's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, War, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Cannibalism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Grief
Minor: Racism