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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Dyer’s story of a journalist chasing down the truth of The Californian is certainly interesting. By now, I think just about everyone who has ever read anything about the Titanic disaster, knew of the ship that was closer than the Carpathia but did not answer any distress calls. To see the story from an outsiders perspective made it all the more intriguing though I didn’t like the fictional character of John Steadman much. His introduction with the death of his son and the odd relationship he maintained with his wife was off putting for me. But reading the story he wrote about the Sages at the end redeemed him for the most part.
I watched Titanic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and I have watched some document varies but there is still a lot that I didn't know. I honestly didn't know that there was ship that close to the Titanic and that survivors saw it from the ship and from their lifeboats. What I want to know is why the Captain of the Californian never even came to the bridge to see the flares. Thus kind of story baffles me and apparently I am not alone. I can't imagine such an able captain to show such negligence but clearly he didn't seem to think the flares, which were clearly white and nit company signals, would refuse to do anything to help. This unique perspective about the Titanic from the viewpoint of the Californian's crew and a news reporter was well told and interesting. I really need to learn more about this incident and plan to read more about. Recommended to people interested in the tragedy of the Titanic!
I didn't really know way to expect when I started reading this novel but I found it to be a fascinating and at times heartbreaking read. John Steadman is a journalist. His personal life is a mess but he finds solace in becoming a champion of the ones who have been failed. When he suspects that something is not quite right with the accounts of those onboard the SS Californian he becomes obsessed with learning and revealing the truth.
It was hard to warm to most onboard the SS Californian. Herbert Stern wasn't supported by his captain when he notified him about what he was seeing from the stricken Titanic but for some reason remained loyal to him throughout the investigation. It seemed like he was the only one who mourned any loss of life. Some of others were just concerned about selling their accounts.
The final section of the novel, about the Sage family was devastating to read. A fictionalised account of a family who were actually onboard and all perished. I could just imagine the fear that they felt when along with so many others they watched lifeboats sail away half empty.
I very much enjoyed this novel and would like to thank the publisher for the copy received.
4.5 Stars!!
I’ve had an odd fascination with the titanic since I was a small child. Idk what it is about the disaster that truly speaks to me but when I found this book it was an automatic need to read.
This book is historical fiction and it’s based around the Californian, the ship that was close enough to the titanic to watch it sink. After the Titanic sank they had 2 big court cases to figure out what happened on the ship (one in NY and the other in London)... this story tell, with as much truth as the author could, what happened on the Californian and afterward at the 2 trials.
It was a very interesting read that I bet much enjoyed. I spent time looking up facts so I could read more about some of the events and characters in the story. And I think anyone who has ever had a fascination with this sinking should read this to get new information that I for one didn’t know.
I’ve had an odd fascination with the titanic since I was a small child. Idk what it is about the disaster that truly speaks to me but when I found this book it was an automatic need to read.
This book is historical fiction and it’s based around the Californian, the ship that was close enough to the titanic to watch it sink. After the Titanic sank they had 2 big court cases to figure out what happened on the ship (one in NY and the other in London)... this story tell, with as much truth as the author could, what happened on the Californian and afterward at the 2 trials.
It was a very interesting read that I bet much enjoyed. I spent time looking up facts so I could read more about some of the events and characters in the story. And I think anyone who has ever had a fascination with this sinking should read this to get new information that I for one didn’t know.
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book a lot. I wanted to LOVE it, and I didn't. But it wasn't bad. It just moved a bit slow for a book about The Titanic. I enjoyed the parts told from the perspective of Herbert Stone of the Californian, but the journalistic aspect moved a bit slower than I expected.
However, I didn't even know of the existence of the Californian before reading this book. I didn't know that Titanic survivors had seen a ship close by, or that there were any ships closer than the Carpathia that may have been able to help save lives. I didn't know about Captain Stanley Lord and his unexplainable actions on the night of April 14-15, 1912. I didn't know they sent ships to recover frozen bodies from the icy water when there no more survivors. I didn't realize how many well known people had been aboard the Titanic when she sunk to the bottom of the sea, including a personal friend of President Taft.
So I must say that while I found myself a bit bored a few times while Mr. Steadman walked us through the motions, I learned a surprising bit of new information about something that happened over 100 years ago. I'm glad I read this book, as it re-sparked an interest I already had in this tragedy and made me want to read more about the Titanic, as well as her passengers and crew.
However, I didn't even know of the existence of the Californian before reading this book. I didn't know that Titanic survivors had seen a ship close by, or that there were any ships closer than the Carpathia that may have been able to help save lives. I didn't know about Captain Stanley Lord and his unexplainable actions on the night of April 14-15, 1912. I didn't know they sent ships to recover frozen bodies from the icy water when there no more survivors. I didn't realize how many well known people had been aboard the Titanic when she sunk to the bottom of the sea, including a personal friend of President Taft.
So I must say that while I found myself a bit bored a few times while Mr. Steadman walked us through the motions, I learned a surprising bit of new information about something that happened over 100 years ago. I'm glad I read this book, as it re-sparked an interest I already had in this tragedy and made me want to read more about the Titanic, as well as her passengers and crew.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A longer version of this review was published on Lost in a Good Book
As soon as I saw this book was being published I put it on my list because I love things about the Titanic and this story sounded incredible. The small decisions and indecisions and multitude of factors that contributed to the Titanic disaster is amazing and this book shows how a series of events outside of the Titanic’s control also contributed to the rescue effort and the aftermath.
Dyer does an absolutely fantastic job placing us there on the night with the SS Californian. We get the perspectives of multiple people on multiple ships, those in charge and those in board and honestly the fictional story Dyer has woven about these people’s lives and their hopes, dreams, and families is incredible. I became invested with these passengers and their experiences, I was there with Stone as he reports what he sees and the doubt, anger and injustices of the events in the time afterwards. The alternating points of view, even if brief, give another sliver of detail and evidence about what happened that night and seeing it play out as you read, when you know the outcome, is actually quite hard because seeing the failures, even in a piece of fiction, is heartbreaking.
The research Dyer has done is evident and even the fictionalised passengers felt like they came from a real place. They were alive on the page which honestly made reading their story even more heartbreaking because essentially these were real people. These are their stories and the stories of the hundreds of others who perished on that night.
The exploration of human nature, the flaws, the failings and the clear evidence that when put in a corner humans can often be their own worst selves if it means survival and self-preservation will captivate and anger you as you read. I was fascinated and ashamed and amazed by every page and every moment and Dyer has gone into such detail that I believed and mourned for their characters and their circumstances whether they were on the ship or not.
There is so much more to the story of Titanic and this is another brilliant tale about those on the outside looking in and how it isn’t just those on the Titanic that are responsible, but those around her as well. This story is a fascinating look at the aftermath as well as the night itself in how the press, public and those involved reacted and coped after the fact and the quest for finding justice for the lives lost that night.
As soon as I saw this book was being published I put it on my list because I love things about the Titanic and this story sounded incredible. The small decisions and indecisions and multitude of factors that contributed to the Titanic disaster is amazing and this book shows how a series of events outside of the Titanic’s control also contributed to the rescue effort and the aftermath.
Dyer does an absolutely fantastic job placing us there on the night with the SS Californian. We get the perspectives of multiple people on multiple ships, those in charge and those in board and honestly the fictional story Dyer has woven about these people’s lives and their hopes, dreams, and families is incredible. I became invested with these passengers and their experiences, I was there with Stone as he reports what he sees and the doubt, anger and injustices of the events in the time afterwards. The alternating points of view, even if brief, give another sliver of detail and evidence about what happened that night and seeing it play out as you read, when you know the outcome, is actually quite hard because seeing the failures, even in a piece of fiction, is heartbreaking.
The research Dyer has done is evident and even the fictionalised passengers felt like they came from a real place. They were alive on the page which honestly made reading their story even more heartbreaking because essentially these were real people. These are their stories and the stories of the hundreds of others who perished on that night.
The exploration of human nature, the flaws, the failings and the clear evidence that when put in a corner humans can often be their own worst selves if it means survival and self-preservation will captivate and anger you as you read. I was fascinated and ashamed and amazed by every page and every moment and Dyer has gone into such detail that I believed and mourned for their characters and their circumstances whether they were on the ship or not.
There is so much more to the story of Titanic and this is another brilliant tale about those on the outside looking in and how it isn’t just those on the Titanic that are responsible, but those around her as well. This story is a fascinating look at the aftermath as well as the night itself in how the press, public and those involved reacted and coped after the fact and the quest for finding justice for the lives lost that night.