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cdbaker's review
4.0
This was my first time reading David McCollough -- I thought this book was an excellent account of the Johnstown flood and the economic and social context of that era.
chuxsox's review
4.0
Again, David McCullough has written a well-researched, engaging book. I have difficulty determining a criteria for awarding stars, so for the benefit of the reader, I will explain that if I read a book and I love it, I'll generally award it five stars. If I just liked it, I'll award it four. If I read a book and hate it, I'll likely not finish it, and if I read a book because it's part of our book club and I have to force myself to finish it, I'll give it one star. I'm not sure what to do with the stars in between one and four. If I award them, it's arbitrary. As far as this one goes, it is an interesting subject in a genre that I prefer - biography/history - and I liked it. I have been to Johnstown and all of the museums/locations regarding the flood. My fourth Great-Grandfather is buried in one of the main cemeteries in Johnstown, but the flood removed all of the headstones, so no one knows where his body lies, but there is a memorial at the flagpole that shows that he was buried there. If you go to Johnstown, y0u will discover that most of the informational placards give you the same general information about the time, the amount of water, the number of the dead, etc. But if you want to have a better understanding of the event, you should read this book. You won't regret it.
charlibirb's review
3.0
5 stars for McCullough's writing style, he's the best! Definitely finished the book because it was him.
2 stars for the subject matter. I mean, I'll read anything by McCullough, but I kept expecting some sort of "this flood is important to American history because of ...." and it really didn't seem to be that important. I literally just read about a flood for 3 days. And there wasn't really an overarching story with protagonists, etc, because...it was a flood.
I also hate natural disaster movies, so I'm not sure what I expected.
2 stars for the subject matter. I mean, I'll read anything by McCullough, but I kept expecting some sort of "this flood is important to American history because of ...." and it really didn't seem to be that important. I literally just read about a flood for 3 days. And there wasn't really an overarching story with protagonists, etc, because...it was a flood.
I also hate natural disaster movies, so I'm not sure what I expected.
annebennett1957's review
5.0
(Updating my records to review books I read before blogging and my activity here on Goodreads. Taken from reading notes. 7/22/21)
This is my second book by McCullough and now I want to read everything he is written and I want to listen to him narrate his own audiobooks. What a voice! He is a master of bringing history alive. This book tells the account of the horrific flood of Johnstown, PA in 1889 and the events that led to it. Fascinating.
This is my second book by McCullough and now I want to read everything he is written and I want to listen to him narrate his own audiobooks. What a voice! He is a master of bringing history alive. This book tells the account of the horrific flood of Johnstown, PA in 1889 and the events that led to it. Fascinating.
sirius_feanor's review against another edition
informative
3.5
Thoroughly researched and well written story, with lots of personal accounts. Very well paced and for a nonfiction keeps you very interested.
Would have been 4 starts of not for the use of n-word quite a few times. I understand the book is from the 60-s, but the first time it really shocked me.Â
Would have been 4 starts of not for the use of n-word quite a few times. I understand the book is from the 60-s, but the first time it really shocked me.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Classism, and Child death
danchrist's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible story about an amazing chapter of our history. I spent a week one night in Johnstown and got very interested in what took place there on May 31, 1889.