Yeah, It's Another Titanic Book...Obsession Is Completely Admitted

I admit it--I read all things Titanic, whether for adults or children. This book caught my eye in a store display last week and the added bonus of an interactive CD sealed the deal for purchase. And what a great little resource it is! It doesn't go very deeply into the entire story, instead focusing mostly on the actual ship itself--the construction, the areas of the ship, and the ship's final moments. There are anecdotes from crew and passengers, with vintage photographs and artists' representations making it gloriously eye-catching. I especially appreciated the fold-out pages that made it easier to see the layout of the ship; all of the pages are high quality and filled with information. The CD is a 360 degree tour of various areas of the ship, including deck areas, the swimming pool, and the first class dining area. I would have liked to have been taken inside a cabin but overall I cannot complain with the sharpness of the CD and the way it makes one feel as though you're standing aboard the ship. In a sea of Titanica, this book is one to be savored by both children and adults.


~taminator40

Titanic Lite

The book The Titanic for Dummies can be summed up in its title, which is not to say that anyone who picks this book up is, indeed, a dummy; no, it simply means that this book is chock full of facts, figures, and fates, but it mostly gives just the bare minimum, enough to familiarize the unfamiliar with the infamous ship. And that's not a bad thing at all.







The author suggests that this is a book not to be read at one sitting, and I highly concur. It's best if sampled a bit at a time, since there are a ton of facts and it could become overwhelming otherwise. It's also a good book to pick up when you have a spare minute here or there and are just wanting something interesting to read without getting overly involved. While it covers pretty much the basics, highlighting the famous people and the known facts, it also throws in some tidbits of speculation and adds in new information that has come to light in the recent past. I haven't learned anything new from this book, but that hasn't stopped it from being a good resource for Titanic buffs such as myself. With the 100th anniversary of the sinking rapidly approaching, this is a winner if you're wondering what all the fuss is about.
 
~taminator40

The Watch That Ends the Night

I actually read The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf a few months ago for the Historical Novel Society. Since the review has been published now, I'm safe to post it here...and I must say that this is one book NOT TO BE MISSED. It is beyond awesome, told in verse, and one to savor.  Below is the actual review:

Simply put, The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf is one of the best books I've read all year. Written in verse, it is the story of the Titanic from its launch to its sinking, told in twenty four different voices, including those of third class passengers, first class passengers, crew, and even the iceberg. We learn of the hopes of young third class teens, the desperation of a second class father, the con artist in first class, the valiant musicians, and the new Marconi wireman, plus many more; with the exception of only one, all were real passengers aboard the ship, and all were changed forever when destiny met a silent, waiting iceberg in the dark of the ocean.

Creative and captivating, Mr. Wolf keeps the action steady as the stories of the passengers race toward a struggle with life and death. I was equally enthralled with young Frankie Goldsmith's ice dragon adventures as I was with Captain Smith's realization that this final voyage would not be to his anticipated retirement. Wolf's research is detectable in all his details, and this Titanic buff was pleased to read his illuminating author's note in the final pages. I could easily have inhaled this novel in one long breath, but I made myself savor each word, right down to the lines falling off the pages as Thomas Andrews takes his final plunge with the ship. As 2012 is the centenary of the sinking of the great ship, there will doubtless be lots of information and many books available, but this one should definitely be the one literature and history lovers should seek out. Highly, highly recommended.

Thanks to the Historical Novel Society for providing me with a copy of this wonderful novel.


~taminator40

Snuck in a Titanic Book

Iceberg Right Ahead! may be aimed mostly at children (specifically ages 8-12), but it is a wonderful addition to any Titanic buff's collection. Author Stephanie Sammartino McPherson follows the story of the creation of the great ship right through its most recent developments and what a journey it is! Illustrated beautifully throughout with photographs and recreations of drawings and paintings, the doomed liner is brought to life through detailed accounts of survivors and careful research. Ms. McPherson adds lots of facts about how debate has arisen over the exact way the Titanic sank, and she doesn't shy away from the less savory aspects and people (including how J. Bruce Ismay was derided for leaving the dying ship). I particularly enjoyed the stories of what happened to some of the survivors, including many of the officers.

There really isn't anything too terribly revealing or new in Iceberg Right Ahead! and yet it's incredibly absorbing. At just over 100 pages, it is chock full of anecdotes and trivia and interviews, written in such a way that a younger reader will get the essence of what happened and yet still engage any older reader (like me) who loves to read anything and everything Titanic. It's fairly comprehensive in its telling, and even describes the debate about the retrieved artifacts. For those looking to learn as much as possible as the centenary of the sinking approaches, this gem is a good place to add to their knowledge. Recommended.


~taminator40

Titanic Eyewitness Book...Not Just For Kids!

I'm a Titanic buff, but it had been a while since I'd picked up a book on the subject. When I saw this one in our school's library, I decided just to flip through it to see what information it held. Imagine my surprise and delight when I realized that it was chock full of photos, information, and fun facts; I immediately checked it out and brought it home to peruse at a more leisurely pace and I'm so glad I did.

There is really nothing terribly new in the pages of this Eyewitness book, but it presents the story of the Titanic from its inception to its rediscovery with lots of detail so that anyone wanting to know more about the tragedy would come away enlightened. I absolutely loved the photos (a few of which I didn't recall having ever seen before), and I loved how many of the people so well known (and even unknown) were brought to life in these pages. Every piece of information I read had its basis in fact, and I was pleased to see that there was even mention of the debate over whether or not the debris field should be disturbed. This book gives a good overall look at the great ship and its demise without shying away from the hard stuff (descriptions even include the recovery of bodies), and it reads in such a way that people of all ages should be able to glean information in a very entertaining way. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.

~taminator40

Echoes in the Night Review

I'm a Titanic buff. I admit it. I'm sure it was spurred by the film, but once I got into learning more about the real disaster, my interest was piqued and I began collecting volumes of work on the subject. I don't always read as much as I'd like about the disaster, but I do check into Encyclopedia-Titanica frequently to see what's new and I try to catch all documentaries I can whenever they're on tv.

I picked up this slim volume written by Frank Goldsmith almost a year ago and decided it would make a good, quick summer-time read. While learning nothing new, I did find it interesting to read the impressions of the then 9 year old Goldsmith as he made it onto the last lifeboat launched. Mr. Goldsmith was not an author, but he did do a credible account of giving his tale, and a bonus for me was the included correspondence between his mother and some of her fellow survivors that showed the sort of aid received from many organizations but not the White Star line. I also liked reading about Goldsmith's attempts to correct the seemingly erroneous assumption that the captain of the Californian, a ship known to be in the area, deliberately chose not to go to the aid of the Titanic, thus ensuring the great loss of life. This is recommended reading for all who are still, nearly 100 years on, fascinated with this ship and its demise.

Here's the link to my amazon review: http://tinyurl.com/38opn7

~taminator40