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A review by awesomebrandi
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan
3.0
This is a dual timeline historical fiction novel about a historian (modern) and a historical, real life shipwreck from the early 1800s. This is my second Patti Callahan (Henry) novel, and I feel basically the same about this one as I did the other one that I read.
The good:
-I appreciate the author worked to be sensitive to the topic of slavery and enslaved people, since this is set within that era. Some of it still felt a little too romanticized, but that goes along with her heavy handed style. But, I do truly feel she made an effort to be respectful to the history of the era.
-The historical elements based on truth were interesting. I would love to read a non-fiction book based on the Pulaski disaster. The authors notes were interesting, and she talked about how her interest in the Pulaski and the real life retrieval of it happened at the same time.
-There are some good quotes in here. A few.
The bad:
This author is so, so heavy handed. There is zero subtlety. It's like everything is constantly knocking you upside the head. It's cliche, predictable, and cheesy in so many ways. I honestly almost rated it two stars because I just got so exhausted trodding through the heavy handed, overly romanticized prose. I could not wait for the book to be over, honestly. Good idea, not my personal taste when it comes to execution.
Basically, a two star book, but she gets an extra star for being respectful and mindful of the history of enslaved people.
The good:
-I appreciate the author worked to be sensitive to the topic of slavery and enslaved people, since this is set within that era. Some of it still felt a little too romanticized, but that goes along with her heavy handed style. But, I do truly feel she made an effort to be respectful to the history of the era.
-The historical elements based on truth were interesting. I would love to read a non-fiction book based on the Pulaski disaster. The authors notes were interesting, and she talked about how her interest in the Pulaski and the real life retrieval of it happened at the same time.
-There are some good quotes in here. A few.
The bad:
This author is so, so heavy handed. There is zero subtlety. It's like everything is constantly knocking you upside the head. It's cliche, predictable, and cheesy in so many ways. I honestly almost rated it two stars because I just got so exhausted trodding through the heavy handed, overly romanticized prose. I could not wait for the book to be over, honestly. Good idea, not my personal taste when it comes to execution.
Basically, a two star book, but she gets an extra star for being respectful and mindful of the history of enslaved people.