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jfaw89's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sonygaystation's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Medical content, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, and War
srm's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Chronic illness and Death
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Gun violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
barkerjm's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
koboldmartian's review against another edition
5.0
I do not really have any good experience reading non-fiction so forgive me if this review is not as eloquent, but this was the most gripping and fascinating non-fiction story I have ever read. David Grann's writing is so immersive and clear and painted such a vivid picture of the turmoil, and horrors that these men were put through.
The book is structured beautifully, it flowed well, I was angry at people, I sympathized with people, I was disgusted by what they did or what they had to do, I was all the proper emotions needed to read this book.
This book was so educating and the life that people had to live back then on the ocean is just absolutely terrible. The entire time, I felt pulled by both "parties" involved in this stories and I don't think you can really blame anyone of the decisions made in this situation; it really makes you think about what you would do put in these men's shoes.
I will be picking up Grann's other works to read and this book has opened the floodgates for non-fiction for me. I hope to read more especially if they are this engaging.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
cait's review against another edition
3.5
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
marietheo's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Slavery, Torture, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
abicaro17's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bibliomania_express's review against another edition
5.0
The story of the Wager is heartbreaking and amazing, with falliable human ingenuity and the unrelenting power of hope coming up against the forces of nature, disease, delerium, and himan depravity.
I really enjoyed Grann's writing. He made the story feel engaging as a living narrative rather than a historical account. I also appreciated how he took the time to call out the intrisic racism and imperialist motives of the venture. He made space for the indigenous peoples of South America, the African slave trade, and even class divides amongst the British.
I was mainly surprised by how the court martial ended, and I appreciated Grann's discussion of why it went the way it did.
Overall, a fantastic book.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Slavery, and Cannibalism
alisonvh's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cannibalism