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andimontgomery 's review for:
Surviving Savannah
by Patti Callahan
I was glad that Surviving Savannah was chosen for my book club to learn more about the 1838 sinking of the luxury steamship Pulaski (referred to as the “Titanic of the South”), and the discovery of the wreckage in 2018.
From what is known about the incident, there were fewer than 200 passengers and crewmembers on board the steamship headed from Savannah to Baltimore. After a disastrous explosion which originated in the boiler room, only 59 survivors were found. The wreckage was not discovered until 180 years later, 40+ miles off the coast of North Carolina.
The story is told in dual timelines, one from current day where Everly is asked to curate a collection of items from the wreckage, and one from the ship’s voyage which follows two related women on the journey — Augusta and her niece, Lilly. Everly’s story was the least interesting of the three. The use of her past trauma was a tiresome plot device that detracted from the story of the shipwreck, but she did grow on me over time.
I felt the actual story is likely more interesting than this “dramatization.” I really enjoyed Once Upon a Wardrobe, but the writing in Surviving Savannah was just so flat. Coupled with my dislike for Everly, this wasn’t Patti Callaghan’s best work.
NOTE: If you’d like to read more about the discovery of the Pulaski shipwreck, watch Expedition Unknown — season 9, episode 6. Patti Callahan even makes an appearance!
From what is known about the incident, there were fewer than 200 passengers and crewmembers on board the steamship headed from Savannah to Baltimore. After a disastrous explosion which originated in the boiler room, only 59 survivors were found. The wreckage was not discovered until 180 years later, 40+ miles off the coast of North Carolina.
The story is told in dual timelines, one from current day where Everly is asked to curate a collection of items from the wreckage, and one from the ship’s voyage which follows two related women on the journey — Augusta and her niece, Lilly. Everly’s story was the least interesting of the three. The use of her past trauma was a tiresome plot device that detracted from the story of the shipwreck, but she did grow on me over time.
I felt the actual story is likely more interesting than this “dramatization.” I really enjoyed Once Upon a Wardrobe, but the writing in Surviving Savannah was just so flat. Coupled with my dislike for Everly, this wasn’t Patti Callaghan’s best work.
NOTE: If you’d like to read more about the discovery of the Pulaski shipwreck, watch Expedition Unknown — season 9, episode 6. Patti Callahan even makes an appearance!