Reviews

What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley by Kim Cross, Rick Bragg

brendaclay's review

3.0

Kim Cross's What Stands in a Storm: Three Days in the Worst Superstorm to Hit the South's Tornado Alley is a chronological retelling of the largest tornado outbreak in recorded history through the eyes of the people who lived it. Cross follows legendary Birmingham weatherman James Spann and his staff; a group of University of Alabama students and roommates in Tuscaloosa, and their families and friends; and multiple witnesses and first responders. Her research is thorough, her interviews are compassionate, and she explains the technical weathery details in a very understandable way. At times, the writing felt excessively dramatic to me... but so was the event itself. Plus, describing a tornado's destruction poetically in 20 different ways must be no small feat.

Although sad, What Stands in a Storm is a fascinating, suspenseful read that gave me perspective on what the people of Alabama endured that crazy day. I hope this tornado outbreak stands alone in history for a very long time.

I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

abookishwonderer's review against another edition

emotional informative sad

5.0

ladyreading365's review

emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Very interesting,  well wrote and kept my attention throughout.  I definitely recommend reading this book as it will definitely give you an insight into how devastating tornadoes are.

midwestbookster's review

4.0

3.75; a sad read, but well done recap for a tough topic.

mehsi's review

3.0

Hit and miss book, so I am giving it 3 stars for now. This due to various things. Be warned, the latter parts might make you cry.

roksyreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

5.0

An incredibly powerful and emotional account. 

greenldydragon's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

halberdbooks's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

3.75

Listening to this account of the worst tornado outbreak of this century felt quite different after the windstorms that struck my city last month. It was riveting, informative, and heartshattering. By the end, I was in tears.

numinousspirit's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.75

quelynn_doge's review against another edition

5.0

I have never cried so much reading a book. I remember watching news coverage on TV, states away, never knowing such intimate tragedies existed. A must read.