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Showing posts with label Allan Wolf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allan Wolf. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: A Thanksgiving S.O.S.
1:36 PM
I love Thanksgiving, so I always make a point not to decorate for Christmas or even listen to carols until after the turkey's been eaten. While I was taking my Sunday nap the other day, however, my husband set up our Christmas tree (ostensibly to see if the new lights he bought for it looked good or if he needed to return them—uh huh). With the tree up and lit, I've had to succumb(ish) to the start of the Christmas crazy (I do love Christmas, just not too early), so I'm officially changing over to the holiday Top Ten Tuesday banner. It's festive and fun, so there you go.
Today's TTT topic—Books to Read If You Love/Loved X (X can be a genre, specific book, author, movie/TV show, etc.)—is one I've been looking forward to, even though it's had me wracking my brain for the perfect topic. The one I came up with is a little...grim, especially considering we're in the season of gratitude, merrymaking, comfort, joy, and so on. Still, it's one that always appeals to me for some strange reason. Call me morbid, but I'm going to go with Top Ten Books to Read If You Love Stories About Maritime Disasters. Honestly, I don't know why I'm so fascinated with this subject. Something about catastrophe striking in the middle of the sea and people trying to survive in such desperate circumstances just intrigues me.
Before we get to that, though, I encourage you to join the TTT party. It's a fun way to spread some love across the book blogosphere, discover new sites, and—of course—get some great reading recs. Click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the info.
Top Ten Books to Read If You Love Stories About Maritime Disasters
1. The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf—Of the many books I've read about the Titanic, this is the one that stands out most in my mind. It's a haunting novel-in-verse that's engrossing and memorable.
2. Dead Wake by Erik Larson—One of my favorite reads of 2021, this non-fiction account tells the story of the Lusitania from the perspectives of not just its passengers and crew but also from that of the operators of the U-boat which torpedoed the ocean liner.
3. Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood—I recently reviewed this middle-grade book, also a verse novel, which is about the S.S. City of Benares, a luxury ship that was torpedoed while ferrying young WWII evacuees out of London.
4. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys—I'd never heard of the M.S. Wilhelm Gustloff—a re-purposed German pleasure cruiser that was packed with civilian war refugees from East Prussia when it was attacked by a Soviet sub in 1945—until I read this gripping YA novel.
5. The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White—This dual-timeline novel features three intriguing narrators, two of whom are passengers on the Lusitania when it sinks. It's an engrossing, twisty, and absorbing read.
6. On a Cold, Dark Sea by Elizabeth Blackwell—Told from the alternating perspectives of three women who are huddled together on Lifeboat 21 watching Titanic sink, this novel is more about their lives before and after the disaster. Still, it tells an intriguing tale.
7. My Last Continent by Midge Raymond—When a marine biologist doing research in Antarctica receives a distress signal from the boat carrying the man she loves, she launches a rescue mission that will require her to risk everything in order to save him.
8. Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan—Although I didn't love this novel, I did find it interesting. It concerns Pulaski, a luxury steamship that runs into trouble when an onboard explosion interrupts its journey from South Carolina to Maryland. I'd never heard of this 1838 disaster before, so the book made for interesting reading.
9. The Midnight Watch by David Dyer—Another Titanic story, this novel focuses on the Californian, which was positioned only a few miles south of Titanic when she went down. Although crew members saw the doomed ship's distress rockets and subsequently woke their captain assuming he would order them to go to her aid, the man simply returned to bed. Could he have saved hundreds of lives if only he had acted instead of going back to sleep?
10. Endurance by Alfred Lansing—Okay, this is a cheat since I haven't actually finished Endurance. Yet. I started listening to it on audio, but soon realized it was so detail-filled that I wanted to read it instead of listening so that I wouldn't miss anything. I'm hoping to tackle it soon as I find the story of the Endurance, which became trapped in polar ice in 1915 stranding its crew in deadly circumstances, absolutely fascinating.
There you have it, ten (well, nine) books about maritime disasters that I enjoyed and highly recommend. How about you? Do you enjoy reading these kinds of books? Which would you suggest I check out next? What's on your TTT list today? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: I Will Survive!
12:09 PM
I love a beautiful nature scene, even if I'm more of an indoorsy person than an outdoorsy one. Book covers often feature lovely landscapes, showcasing sparkling seas, vibrant flowers, lush forests, and so on, but I still couldn't come up with enough to make a decent list for today's TTT prompt, Top Ten Books With Nature on the Cover. Even though I'm pretty wimpy, especially when it comes to nature-y things like hiking and camping, I do love me a tense, gripping survival story. (Hu)man vs. nature tales, especially true ones, always captivate and inspire me. So, for today's list I'm going to feature Top Ten (Hu)man vs. Nature Survival Books. I'm going to start with five favorites (in no particular order), then five I am looking forward to reading.
If you want to join in the Top Ten Tuesday fun (and you do!), just hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the details.
Top Ten (Hu)man vs. Nature Survival Books
1. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer—This popular account chronicles the author's climbing of Mt. Everest in 1996 during a terrible storm that led to the deaths of five climbers. He uses his own harrowing experience as a framework to discuss the history of mountain climbing, famous climbers, what it takes to scale Everest, survival techniques, and so on. It's an epic, unparalleled book that is can't-look-away compelling.
2. My Last Continent by Midge Raymond—In this slow burn of a novel, a marine biologist is in Antarctica studying penguins. Her boyfriend, whom she only sees on these annual expeditions, has not arrived as expected. When she learns he is on a nearby ship that is sending out a frantic distress signal, she panics. How can she save the man she loves in such a harsh, unforgiving landscape?
3. The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf—I've read tons of books about the Titanic tragedy, but this one is the most unique and memorable. Told in verse, the novel is lyrical and haunting.
4. I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall—This YA novel concerns a teenage girl who's living with her estranged survivalist father in Canada after her mother's death. When he's shot by intruders, she runs into the wilderness, where she's forced to both hide and survive.
5. The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling—Another novel in verse, this middle-grade offering revolves around a grieving father and daughter who go for a rock climbing adventure in the Arizona desert. Things go awry, the two get separated, and a young girl is left alone to save both herself and her dad. It's a riveting, fast-paced read.
6. To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey—This historical novel stars Colonel Allan Forrester, who's charged with leading an expedition into the uncharted wilderness of Alaska Territory in the winter of 1885. He keeps a journal of his adventure that he hopes will reach his pregnant wife in the likely event that he does not return.
7. A Map for Wrecked Girls by Jessica Taylor—Also a YA novel, this one is about a trio of troubled teenagers who get stuck on a deserted island. It's been on my radar for awhile, I just haven't gotten around to reading it. Yet.
8. Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood—Based on a true, Titanic-like event, this middle-grade novel tells the story of the doomed SS City of Benares, a ship full of children being evacuated from England to Canada during World War II.
9. Avalanche by Melinda Braun—This YA offering features two sets of teenagers. One group is trapped in a remote cabin during a snowstorm. The other is their only hope of rescue.
10. Instructions for the End of the World by Jamie Kain—Yet another teen book, this one is about Nicole, a girl whose prepper father moves his family to a remote area in the Sierra Foothills. When living like a pioneer becomes too much for Nicole's mother, she leaves, prompting Nicole's father to chase after her. When neither one returns, Nicole is left to figure out how she and her younger sister will survive in the wilderness.
There you go, ten books about surviving in the wild in the wake of disaster. Have you read any of these? Which books in the genre would you recommend? Which nature covers did you choose for your list today? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
TTT: It's a Genre Thing
8:26 AM
It's time again for my favorite weekly meme, Top Ten Tuesday. If you're up for some bookish fun this morning, join in. Click on over to The Broke and the Bookish for more information, then make your own list, and bop around the blogosphere to get some great reading recommendations. Easy peasy.
I feel like I'm always talking about the same beloved authors and genres around here, so I decided to change things up a little for Top Ten Tuesday. Today's topic is: Top Ten Favorite Books in X Genre. Not gonna lie—I considered dystopian, British crime lit, family secrets novels, etc. In the end, though, I decided to talk about a genre that I enjoy but don't actually read that often. So, here's my list of my Top Ten Favorite Books-in-Verse:
1. Death Coming Up the Hill by Chris Crowe—This award-winning haiku novel about the Vietnam War is set here in Arizona. It touched me deeply.
2. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson—I'm a big fan of Woodson's YA and MG books, so I was excited to read this memoir-in-verse. It's a lovely, National Book Award-winning contemplation on race, identity, and discovering one's voice.
3. The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf—This haunting, evocative novel is about the Titanic tragedy, a subject I find endlessly fascinating.
4. Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill—The Salem Witch Trials are another historical topic that is always interesting to read about. Hemphill manages to tell a very rich story despite the limits of a verse structure.
5. Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate—Applegate's novels always seem to hit me right in the feels. It's been a while since I read this one, but in my review I called it a "quick, touching story."
6. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse—I read this impactful, atmospheric novel about the Dust Bowl recently and it has definitely stayed with me.
7. Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham—This one isn't based on historical or world events, but it is a compelling novel that tells an interesting Soul Surfer-ish story.
8. Crank; Glass; Fallout; and other novels by Ellen Hopkins—Hopkins' YA novels in verse are so graphic and raw that I have a hard time labeling them "favorites." Still, they're powerful in their unflinching examination of contemporary issues like illegal drug use, prostitution, sexual abuse, etc.
Okay, I'm going to cheat on the last two (actually, three) and share a couple novels-in-verse that are on my TBR pile mountain mountain chain:
9. Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling by Lucy Frank—This novel about two very different girls who share an illness and a hospital room sounds intriguing.
10. Witness by Karen Hesse—After Out of the Dust, I'm definitely up for another Hesse book. This one is about a small town in Vermont and how it changes when the Ku Klux Klan moves in. Set in 1924, it's another historical novel-in-verse, a subgenre I usually enjoy.
11. Sonya Sones—I have several of this author's novels-in-verse on my TBR list. I'm intrigued by Saving Red; One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies; and Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy.
There you have it. What do you think of my list? Have you read any of these? What are your favorite books-in-verse? Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Lyrical and Haunting, Titanic Novel-in-Verse Not to Be Missed
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)In a review I posted a week or so ago, I said so many books have been written about the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic that creating an original account of it may be impossibile. Well, that was before I read The Watch That Ends the Night by poet and storyteller Allan Wolf. Because guess what? This novel-in-verse actually does the impossible - it brings something new to Titanic's famous story. Not only that, but it does it in a way that's riveting, impactful and memorable. Kind of like the great ship itself.
Many of Wolf's characters are familiar - Thomas Andrews (Titanic's builder), E.J. Smith (her captain), Bruce Ismay (managing director of White Star Line), John Jacob Astor (the American millionaire), Margaret "Molly" Brown (the unsinkable socialite), etc. - yet still intriguing. Others are less notorious, but similarily fascinating. Wolff even lets a lowly ship rat and an ancient, mighty iceberg have their say. This kind of anthropomorphism usually comes off as cheesy at best, completely irritating at worst. Not so in Wolff's brilliant novel. Here, it works. So, does the poetic format, which manages to be both lyrical and engaging, while giving distinct voice to each of the novel's characters. Heavy with haunting irony, the verses are shivery, striking and utterly spellbinding.
Although the story of the great Titanic does not - cannot - change, Wolff makes it new again. Of all the books I've read about the greatest maritime disaster in recent memory, The Watch That Ends the Night is, by far and wide, the best. It's a must-read that should be getting a whole lot more attention. Don't miss it.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of other Titanic novels, like Dear America: Voyage on the Great Titanic by Ellen Emerson White; I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic by Lauren Tarshis, and Gordon Korman's Titanic trilogy [Unsinkable; Collision Course; S.O.S.])
Grade: A
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild language, intense situations and graphic depictions of death/suffering
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Watch That Ends the Night from the generous folks at Candlewick Press. Thank you!
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