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m_klevenberg's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of the best Nonfiction books I’ve read. I’m definitely looking forward to watching the film again. I can’t believe what those men went through to survive.
hadeanstars's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating story, and all the more so for its being true. I enjoy these nautical accounts, and Caroline Alexander's scholarly examination of the notorious events aboard the ill fated Bounty have stayed with me for many years, so I was intrigued when I first picked this up, and must say I wasn't disappointed. There's no getting away from the brutality of this though, the Nantucket whale trade was as close to organised barbarity as it's probably possible to be, but there is nonetheless a tenuous thread of humanity that holds together these tragic survivors who endured dreadful calamities and unimaginable hardships on their epic voyage to salvation.
Do read this if you enjoy Orcan epics of survival and hardship. Don't read this if you're very sensitive or squeamish. It can be brutal.
Do read this if you enjoy Orcan epics of survival and hardship. Don't read this if you're very sensitive or squeamish. It can be brutal.
bchace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.75
katthoward's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
ninithechild's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
secondhandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Excellently told, amazing how the author was able to get together so many accounts and weave them into the best understanding of this event were likely to have. Secondarily, I think maybe we should stop thinking of Nantucket and America's whaling history as a heartwarming story of human triumph, and more like a dark stain on human history. These men should not be respected or hailed as heroes for the work they were doing when tragedy struck them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Cannibalism
possiblyro's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
nantucketer? i hardly know ‘er!