Reviews with content warning for Slavery - Surviving Savannah

Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

13 reviews

ktbeth143's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The story premise and writing in this novel is beautiful.

And while some critique the author’s choice to try to link the tragedy of real ship wreck and real people to a fictional character’s personal tragedy, I think this angle gives the story a compelling and unique layer. I do however, think it was wrong of editors and publishers to position this as a book a book mainly about the Pulaski survivors. While you follow Augusta’s and parts of Lily’s story, the story is mainly about Everly, the modern-day fictional character working through the grief of losing her best friend.

While it contains a story about a historical event that has, in a lot of ways, been lost to history, this novel is actually a novel about a grief journey. It explores the questions of, “can we make sense out of tragedy?” and “should we even try?” Any one who has experience grief will find this book relatable, although if your grief stems from a traumatic event, I might suggest you approach this boom with caution and concern for your own mental and emotional well-being.

This novel also explores themes of both survivor’s guilt and privilege guilt. Slavery existed during the time of the Pulaski and women didn’t have as many rights as they do today, and the author explores what that meant when it came trying to piece together the history.

Over, it’s a story with captivating writing that fans of historical fiction will enjoy.

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thatchickengirl23's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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debimorton's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Shipwreck, Pulaski, salvage of wreck, museum exhibit. Everly, Augusta Longstreet, Lily Forsyth, Longstreet family, Charles Longstreet (Noble Boy, Red Devil)

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sarahbiegelsen's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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laheath's review

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Interesting dual timeline historical fiction looking at the sinking of the steamship Pulaski in 1838. In the present, Everly, a Savannah history professor is asked to guest-curate an exhibit when the wreckage is discovered. The reimagined stories of the ship's survivors, focused mainly on the women, was obviously well-researched and I appreciated the author's note. Everly's story focused on how, through her research into these stories, she learned to appreciate surviving in the wake of her best friend's death a year earlier. I think I'm oversimplifying this, but I don't want to say too much. It easily held my interest on a long car ride.

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