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120 reviews for:
The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue
Michael J. Tougias
3.58 AVERAGE
120 reviews for:
The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue
Michael J. Tougias
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
sad
slow-paced
Decent in between book. Moving story, especially when so many were lost.
informative
slow-paced
I found this to be an enjoyable read. It details the events surrounding the rescue of two crews of two ships that broke apart during a terrible winter storm. It gives some view of what Coast Guardsmen encounter, other than chasing down drug smugglers and boats that have ran out of gas. I think people do not always think about what all being a Coast Guardsmen entails, and I found it really enlightening. Also, the construction of these ships and the problems that they glossed over to cause these wrecks caused several shipwrecks and oil spills.
If I can jump back in time again to 1952 for The Finest Hours: The True Story of a Heroic Sea Rescue when two oil tankers were split in half during a terrible storm you can read about a classic survival story. This book is once again an adaption from the larger volume of this same story. This book tells the story about how two oil tankers were out at sea, split in half, and while the freezing waters, major snowstorm, and other elements were making life a near death experience, there were brave people willing to sacrifice their lives to save these people lost at sea. I found the stories a bit difficult to follow at first because basically there were four sections that needed rescuing, but once I was able to track names and boats I was hooked.
Remember this is a time where technology is not amazing and material and clothing for freezing temperatures was nothing more than blankets, sweatshirts, and rubber boots and gloves. The part that showcases how cold it was a was when one person stated,
“At one point, my head felt so numb I rubbed my hand over it and felt something. It was a big clump of ice, and when I pulled on it, a big patch of my hair came with it. But it was so cold I didn’t even feel it.”
Survival and sacrifice were demonstrated on almost every page. The heroic rescue and the terrible visuals of saving some, but not all. I am not sure what would be worse – jumping to your death in the 70 foot waves or watching it happen knowing you were so close to saving them.
Remember this is a time where technology is not amazing and material and clothing for freezing temperatures was nothing more than blankets, sweatshirts, and rubber boots and gloves. The part that showcases how cold it was a was when one person stated,
“At one point, my head felt so numb I rubbed my hand over it and felt something. It was a big clump of ice, and when I pulled on it, a big patch of my hair came with it. But it was so cold I didn’t even feel it.”
Survival and sacrifice were demonstrated on almost every page. The heroic rescue and the terrible visuals of saving some, but not all. I am not sure what would be worse – jumping to your death in the 70 foot waves or watching it happen knowing you were so close to saving them.
Would you risk your life battling sixty foot waves to save crew members of an T2 oil tanker off the Atlantic Ocean, in winter, knowing that your chances of surviving your mission were nearly impossible? This true story draws the reader into the very emotions of Bernie Webber and his crew as they risk everything to save the crew members of the Pendleton. The thoughts and actions of those on the Pendleton waiting hours for maybe the hope that someone would rescue them is captured with such honesty. This book is for anyone who loves true stories, that capture the human spirit of grit, courage and strength. It opens the readers eyes to the Coast Guard and how vitally important they are and how true they are to their motto Semper Paratus, always ready. The added illustrations and photos at the end of the book help in engaging the reader.
3.5
Great story of survival, of the amazing story of the Rescue of the sailors trapped on the Oil Tanker Pendleton which literally broke in half during a winter storm.
3rd, 4th and 5th grade readers who enjoy nonfiction, adventure, or survival stories will eat this up! Great addition to Elementary Library!
Thank you to Macmillan for the DRC. Available Dec 8, 2020
Great story of survival, of the amazing story of the Rescue of the sailors trapped on the Oil Tanker Pendleton which literally broke in half during a winter storm.
3rd, 4th and 5th grade readers who enjoy nonfiction, adventure, or survival stories will eat this up! Great addition to Elementary Library!
Thank you to Macmillan for the DRC. Available Dec 8, 2020
This book probably would have been much better as a magazine article or an essay. There was just way too much extraneous info and padding that had little to do with the rescue mission.
I wonder if I lived near the sea or even had spent much time on a boat if I could feel the terror the author was so desperately trying to portray. At our bookclub, a native of Cape Cod was talking about how this true story had moved her to stopping during a particularly intense passage to call her daughter so she could calm down bit. I experienced none of that. So I fear I do not have the schema to realize the true horror these Coast Guard professionals went through during these daring rescues off Cape Cod. I was incensed that the tankers were sent to sea with shoddy welds and were not repaired when weaknesses were discovered. I was saddened when some died. Yet as hard as the author tried to describe the biting icy Atlantic, the Bermuda Trianglesque Cape bar, the driving sleet and snow over the sea or a Nor'Easter of this magnitude, I have never experienced any of that. So sadly, I was not moved by the true story even though I sincerely tried to be. Another reviewer wrote that this book would probably be good for a bookstore for travelers or residents of Cape Cod or the surrounding area. I agree. Should I be immersed in the setting, I am certain the novel would have held more promise for me.
I haven't read many non-fiction books and so I don't know how to really critique them. Of the two that I have read that have been about maritime rescues or ordeals, I've noticed that there have been added elements to the stories. There tends to be added anecdotes about other shipwrecks or rescues throughout the books. I'm okay with that because I'm sure the writer feels they need to add more to the book, but I would sometimes prefer to read about what the book is titled for. That being said, I didn't find this one being to overbearing on added details from other wrecks in Coast Guard history.
I found that the two writers wrote well and were engaging enough that I didn't feel bored as I was reading. I find it difficult to read non-fiction because I find it boring, so when I find a book like this one I'm very happy.
I had seen the movie before I read the book and so I couldn't help but compare, something else I am okay with. While the movie was fantastic I wish they paid more attention to the facts. Bernie and Miriam were married in real life and not engaged when he went out on the CG36500. She was bedridden with the flu and didn't go to the Station house to beg for him to be called back. In the movie, the Fort Mercer is talked about but from what I remember they said they only rescued 4 off the boat and not the close to 10 or more they really rescued in reality. Also, those stuck on the Pendleton didn't run the ship aground, the sea did that for them. There was no talk about the one man taking charge and cutting free the lifeboats. In fact the use of lifeboats seemed to only be talked about on the Mercer and not the Pendleton. There was no talk about the rudder being disabled and a makeshift 'guide' (I have no idea what they are called) being made to help guide the ship. Also, in the movie, the hull of the Pendleton lost power but according to the book, they still have power when the CG36500 showed up.
All in all, while the movie was excellent for entertainment, it didn't do justice to what really happened. I'm thankful though that I did see the movie first because it made imagining the storm easier.
I found that the two writers wrote well and were engaging enough that I didn't feel bored as I was reading. I find it difficult to read non-fiction because I find it boring, so when I find a book like this one I'm very happy.
I had seen the movie before I read the book and so I couldn't help but compare, something else I am okay with. While the movie was fantastic I wish they paid more attention to the facts. Bernie and Miriam were married in real life and not engaged when he went out on the CG36500. She was bedridden with the flu and didn't go to the Station house to beg for him to be called back. In the movie, the Fort Mercer is talked about but from what I remember they said they only rescued 4 off the boat and not the close to 10 or more they really rescued in reality. Also, those stuck on the Pendleton didn't run the ship aground, the sea did that for them. There was no talk about the one man taking charge and cutting free the lifeboats. In fact the use of lifeboats seemed to only be talked about on the Mercer and not the Pendleton. There was no talk about the rudder being disabled and a makeshift 'guide' (I have no idea what they are called) being made to help guide the ship. Also, in the movie, the hull of the Pendleton lost power but according to the book, they still have power when the CG36500 showed up.
All in all, while the movie was excellent for entertainment, it didn't do justice to what really happened. I'm thankful though that I did see the movie first because it made imagining the storm easier.
adventurous
informative
sad
slow-paced
medium-paced