Overall, what do you think of Surviving Savannah? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

Overall, what do you think of Surviving Savannah? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

I went into “Surviving Savannah” expecting to love this book as historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and the premise of this book sounded fascinating. Unfortunately, I found the book just fair - a bit underwhelming. I liked the parallels and the intersections of the two story lines - 1838 and current day.. I especially enjoyed learning more about historic Savannah, the USS Pulaski shipwreck and the impact on the survivors. Where the book fell a bit flat for me was in the pace. The story, especially the modern day sections, felt too slow and drawn out. As a result, the book didn’t hold my attention and I kept setting it aside.

It took a little while to warm up to the story. I was enthralled with the Shipwreck and associated 1838 events, but found the current day interactions less authentic in nature, and a little predictable. I fully appreciated the excellent descriptive writing. Being a visual thinker with art as a hobby, I was motivated to create a painting that represented some of the visual depictions generated at the near end of the book. I did enjoy the read enough to recommend it to others.

I enjoyed this book so very much. I liked the writer's style and the way it switched back and forth between past and present. It held my attention since I had never heard about this historic shipwreck. I am disappointed it is an ebook because I would love to be able to easily share it with friends.

I do love historical fiction and this book affirmed my love. I had never heard of the SteamBoat Pulaski disaster and learned much. That is most of the reason I read HF: to learn. I also love to do background research on what I am reading and this book presented plenty of opportunities. The supporting story of Everly contributed to the book's appeal. I hope to visit Savannah again some day to stop by The Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum.

I enjoyed the book on several levels. I had not ever heard of this shipwreck and thought the author did a good job of tying the historical facts into the factionalized story. I felt the author also did a good job with the character development. I experienced this harrowing event right along with the characters.

I loved the book, and could not put it down once I started it! Part of my fascination for the story may have been my love of Savannah, but I found the story of Everly and her recovery from grief interesting. Some of the final connecting threads were a bit "facile" to me, but overall I thoroughly enjoy the read.

I had trouble "getting into" this book and found the modern day story a little weak. Mora just seemed to appear in the story, taking the place of Everly's sister, who was important in the first chapter. Maybe I just like my characters to make sense?

I loved reading this book! As I mentioned above, I visited Savannah a few years ago with a mind toward seeing and experiencing its history after reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I was not disappointed - loved the city and its history! This book beautifully described Savannah and all its glory, and I really enjoyed reading it.

I enjoyed the book. I live in Savannah but hadn't been aware of the Pulaski incident and found the historical sections quite interesting. The modern-day parts were slightly weaker, but all in all the book held my interest enough to be able to recommend it to others.

I liked the book. Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I was excited to read about a story I was not familiar with.

I found myself completely engrossed in the story of the Pulaski. I was only mildly interested in the modern day plot. The romance, history, and tragedy of the ship and it's passengers had me hooked from the beginning.

I was completely absorbed by the book. I’d never heard of the Pulaski. I thought the two timelines worked really well when in general I find it overused. I love the setting and rich history of Savannah. It felt like traveling in time. It was difficult knowing the outcome to read without some dread for the fate that awaited the passagers.

I really enjoyed this book. I love anything historical and especially Southern History.I found it fascinating to learn about the steamboats from that era, I am sure there were many more tragedies involving those boats that we just don't hear about. Mostly,we hear about the large ocean liners. I think that the author did a great job in her research when writing this book. Look forward to more from this author.

I enjoyed learning the history of the shipwreck. I found that part of the book fascinating. I did find the modern day story to be a bit contrived.

I feel so lucky. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in 3 days. It transported me to Savannah now and before and to an event I know nothing of. A great treat !

I enjoyed parts of this book, but overall I felt there were sections-especially the modern-day ones that were a little weak and hard to engage in. I loved the historical stories and the descriptions of Savannah.

I enjoyed this book and especially liked learning about Savannah and the sinking of the Pulaski.

Even before I finished this novel, I was eagerly sharing it with friends and family. I love historical fiction that teaches me something new. My husband was a diver and has a fascination with treasure hunting and wreck diving. I immediately was sharing the Pulaski information with him and deep diving for more info on the internet. The author's involvement with this real story was fascinating...wonderful serendipity. I do understand the previous comments about the story strength of the two different historical eras not being equal. However, I believe this almost always happens with this very popular structure now being used by so many authors writing historical fiction. The past has the value of hindsight and deep layers of research that the present cannot compete with yet. We are still working our way through our present. That said, I still really enjoyed this novel. Thank you Patti Callahan!

I loved the book! I became so interested in the book I bought from Audible.com as well as the copy available online. At times I felt the description of those on the boat after it capsized were almost too graphic, but I hung in there. It was a good breather to read about Everly and then back to Lila. I would give this book 5 stars. I also listened on YouTube to a few of the author's book reviews that were available to listen too, as well as checking out historical accounts that were available.

I enjoyed the book very much! Didn’t know anything about the story going into it. I thought the author did a nice job weaving the stories together though I agree with others who said the modern day end was a bit contrived. The survival aspect was very interesting, though it too felt long and drawn out at times. I also enjoyed the wrap-up at the end of the novel as well as an explanation of what was “real” vs “created”. A nice work of historical fiction!

I enjoyed the book and think the author did a good job of blending past and present storylines. I like historical fiction, especially when it's something I wasn't familiar with like the Pulaski disaster. It was easy to fall into the story and escape for a bit which is one of my favorite things about reading.

I really liked the book - I knew nothing about the Pulaski and wanted to read it because Savannah is a place I definitely want to visit and was intrigued about a shipwreck that I never heard about. The story was well done and I especially liked the back and forth in time....am glad to have had the opportunity to read the book. Will definitely check out the museum when I finally make it to Savannah.

I enjoyed the book tremendously and even did research on my own to learn more about the Pulaski. The book was balanced between both story lines and great care was taken in writing the book with historical detail and accuracy.

I really enjoyed this one. I like historical fiction and this one fit the bill for me! I hadn't heard of this tragedy. I was reminded of the Titanic a bit. I liked both storylines.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Surviving Savannah! I never heard of the shipwreck prior to reading about it and was surprised---and pleased--- by the "depth" of information concerning its recovery. Patti Callahan weaves together fact and fiction so satisfactorily in presenting believable characters, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly, that I'm looking forward to reading her other novels.

I thought it was well researched and so interesting.

I often lean toward historical fiction when looking for a good next book to read. A balanced novel of well-researched facts and talented fictional writing is pure delight.
Ms. Callahan presents both of these talents but leaves the story lacking. A good editor would have, perhaps, made the book more compelling but, instead, although filled with exclamation marks and cliff-hangers at the end of chapters, the book became tedious with repetitions of the same high-octane emotions and plot points. The novel read as a YA entry and not as a novel I found satisfying.

I enjoyed the book, but I thought there were too many coincidences. Especially the ones found in the water.
I loved the special relationship between Lily and Priscilla.

I loved the book. It kept me interested in what would happen next. I also like it in historical fiction when the author tells me at the end what is fact.

I enjoyed the book. I like reading about ocean treasures and this one had a very good tie in with what was happening to the people who were preparing the museum display. It was nice to see how they could take what they were learning from the history they uncovered and apply the healing portions to their own lives.

loved this book - I am partial to historical fiction especially southern fiction - the was a well told story that I zipped through in a few days. Look forward to Patti Callahan's next book.