I honestly haven't read a good book in a while... But that changed over the past few days, greatly. I also haven't read much Titanic-related, or TitanI honestly haven't read a good book in a while... But that changed over the past few days, greatly. I also haven't read much Titanic-related, or Titanic literature in a while - I think I might need to make a change of this pattern.
Written by Helen Behr Sanford, the granddaughter of Karl and Helen Behr, and based on her grandfather's unfinished, near 150-paged memoir, "Starboard at Midnight" is in the form of a novel, but reads so wonderfully. You get sucked into the story immediately, and it's just that good. I didn't even know about Helen's book until I found it through a review by Randy Bigham on Encyclopedia Titanica.
So many books have been published on the subject, a lot of them wonderful, technical analyses. Some, wonderful fiction, others are cold-pressed facts of the night she sank. And some, are garbage with little research actually done. It's entirely something else when you have a book that is written by a descendant of a Titanic survivor and/or victim. Yes, Karl and Helen were survivors, along with her parents and the Kimballs - and so many others who managed to get off the ship alive. But even a survivor can be a victim. Though "Starboard at Midnight" isn't entirely about the Titanic - the connection is woven through-out it. The way Helen depicts the grandfather (whom she never met), and the grandmother who she knew and was a neighbour to for 15 years... It's just so beautiful and poignant.
In our recent correspondence, Helen told me in that her grandmother's depiction in the book was more so herself than her grandmother. But she shared with me little details here and there that match.
Another thing that I want to mention is her sensitivity to History. The depiction of the anti-German hysteria which frothed angrily during the Great War was powerful. I knew that it was bad, but I didn't know how bad until I had read this book. Some of the characters were of course created by her, but when you are reading - they seem as real as Karl and Helen were. It's amazing how writing can just pull you in like that.
So, before this gets too long... I cannot give enough praise for her work. I highly recommend Helen's book to anyone who is interested in Karl Behr and Helen Newsom's story. And also, to anyone who just loves Titanic-related literature. She's been hurt, immeasurably by Titanic: The Tennis Story, and still feels the pain of that criminal theft even after so many years. How a book like the one I mentioned above could have been published, with literal plagiarism of her sensitive and carefully-written book is beyond me. She deserves so much better than what she was dealt, as do her grandparents, and Richard N. Williams who were horribly maligned and degraded in this other book.
Please, don't read Titanic: The Tennis Story. Please, give "Starboard at Midnight" a fighting chance....more
I really have enjoyed the synopsis of Ms. Mcneal's wonderful book. I hope soon to actually get my hands on the book. She makes many good points and stI really have enjoyed the synopsis of Ms. Mcneal's wonderful book. I hope soon to actually get my hands on the book. She makes many good points and statements that do suggest that in no way is the story and mystery of the Summer of 1918 finished......more
What to make of Greg King & Penny Wilson's co-authouring of Fate of the Romanovs...
Well it's one of the most detailed and historically accurate/inaccuWhat to make of Greg King & Penny Wilson's co-authouring of Fate of the Romanovs...
Well it's one of the most detailed and historically accurate/inaccurate depictions of the Romanov Family, Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra and their five children. King and Wilson, basically write what so many people already know about, the Murder account specifically is very brutal and gory, and I recommend if someone who reads this book doesn't have a strong stomach, do not read that chapter or the book really.. I like the pictures, and some things King & Wilson said.. but mostly was appalled by the way they characterised Nicholas and his family.
Still it's a good read.. for all Romanov fans...more
The ever romantic story of the Romanovs, the fall of Imperial Russia and the quest to prove those bones so badly contaminated are the actual remains oThe ever romantic story of the Romanovs, the fall of Imperial Russia and the quest to prove those bones so badly contaminated are the actual remains of Russia's last ruling family. Peter Kurth, writes of course what all historians know of the Imperial Family. The photographs throughout the large tome, are some rare and many seen before. Showing the family's way of life, and how wrong the public and government were, how they characterise Nicholas and his dear wife Alexandra... so many inaccurate things were said about the family, and about the two star-crossed lovers who supposedly ended the 300-year ruling Dynasty. I recommend this book, for people who have a strong liking and fascination with the Romanovs, though most of the things, are what have been passed about through history, the rumors, the horrid claims of the Bolsheviks, and how they boasted of the family's demise in July of 1918.
A recommended Romanov book for all fans of the Mystery of the fall of Imperial Russia, that ended so abruptly in a little cellar room in faraway Ekaterinburg...
**spoiler alert** The Harry Potter series is truly magical and casts a spell on anyone who reads it! The magical beasts, the Forbidden Forest, the man**spoiler alert** The Harry Potter series is truly magical and casts a spell on anyone who reads it! The magical beasts, the Forbidden Forest, the many secrets of Hogwarts School, all enveloped into one series... Each of the books show each stage of Harry's life, and what happens in each book brings him closer and closer to defeating the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. We meet classic, heart-warming characters, and then down right horrible, scrutinising characters, but that is what makes the books so wonderful, you need good and bad things, you need secret doors opening to solid walls, and steps that you have to hop over where there is no step. J.K. Rowling has done what few authours have been capable of doing. She has encompassed the entire world with her books, everyone from young to old can read them, the books themselves emitting the magical aura of everything that J.K. Rowling has put in them to make one of the (in my honest opinion) Greatest series of a novel in literary history. Of course.. one shouldn't forget J.R. Tolkien, and his eye-catching series, and other novel series that have encompassed people's hearts for ages... Harry Potter is just one of those! :)...more
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