I have a confession. I have never seen the move Titanic. I’ve seen clips of it, but I’ve never seen the whole film. Obviously I’m very aware historically of what happened with the great ship Titanic, however I’m kind of glad I was not familiar with the intimate details before reading this book. I think it made the images more real and the emotions more poignant, then again with Rebecca’s writing it probably would have been that way regardless.
“Shortly after midnight on April 15, 1912, the captain of the Carpathia, Arthur Rostron, is awakened by a distress signal from the RMS Titanic, which has struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Though information is scarce, Rostron leaps into action, determined to answer the call for help. But the Carpathia is more than four hours away, and there are more questions than answers: Will his ship hold together if pushed to never-before-tested speeds? What if he also strikes an iceberg? And with the freezing temperatures, will there be any survivors by the time the Carpathia arrives?
Kate Connolly is excited to join her sister in America and proud to be traveling on the grand Titanic. As a third-class passenger, she is among the last to receive instruction and help after Titanic hits an iceberg. Despite the chaos of abandoning ship, Kate is able to reach the upper decks and manages to board a lifeboat, though after seeing the Titanic sink into the abyss and hearing the cries from the hundreds of people still in the water, she wonders if any rescue is even possible.
Told in alternating chapters from both Captain Rostron on the Carpathia and Kate Connolly on the Titanic, this historical novel is a compelling, heart-pounding account of two eyewitnesses to an epic disaster. Rostron’s heroic and compassionate leadership, his methodical preparations for rescue, and his grit and determination to act honorably and selflessly to save lives and care for the survivors, sets the course for this awe-inspiring story.”
We are happy to tell anyone that will listen of our love of Rebecca Connolly‘s writing. She is an expert at swoony moments and witty banter. This book isn’t a romance. However, Rebecca is also an master story teller and that fact shone through this book.
The writing was incredibly well researched and impressively empathetic. I loved how the focus was more on the ramifications of the disaster, than it was on the disaster itself.
As a work of historical fiction, Rebecca has stated that all the names are real, and she does an amazing job of helping you feel like them as people and not just names on a page. She uses her amazing story telling to give them fictional moments, but those fictional moments just make the experience as a whole seem that much more real. Your heart breaks and stutters and heals as theirs does.
Her story did what historical fictions ought to do. It made me want to know more; more about the people, more about their moments and more about the rest of their lives.
This book was so hauntingly spectacular while also being a stunning message of hope. The dual perspectives was genius. It allowed the story to represent both the tragedy of the Titanic, told with detail and precision until you think your heart just can’t take it anymore. And the sacrifice and goodness of those on the Carpathia that came to their rescue.
I closed the book thinking, this is why we tell stories. So that people like this, and moments like this, can be remembered and honored. Thank you Rebecca for telling their story in such a beautiful way that it will linger with us and we won’t forget the heartache and the compassion you brought to life.
***** Low Language, Low Romance, Low Violence (Though Rebecca is detailed in the story, I would still put it here. Her descriptions are never gory and they’re a result of a natural disaster not physical force intended to harm), Lowish Religion (Captain Rostron was a religious man and his introspective thoughts are sometimes portrayed in a spiritual in nature. Rebecca uses it in a fabulous way in the novel that feels natural and in line with the captain’s character.)
