Titanic: Voices from the Disaster
By: Deborah Hopkinson
1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum? A mix - combines highly narrative with some periods of fact based prose.
2. What is the subject of the book? Story of the Titanic from beginning to end told by the surviving passengers.
3. What type of book is it? Reads like a biography of the survivors and witnesses
4. Articulate appeal
- What is the pacing of the book? This book is a quick and easy read.
- Describe the characters of the book? This book contains many accounts from survivors and witnesses. There is nine year old Frankie Goldsmith, Violet Jessop who is a young stewardess, well to do Colonel Archibold Gracie, William Murdoch a brave seaman, Charlotte Collyer a young mother on her way to start a new life, and many, many others.
- How does the story feel? The story reads mostly like fiction with historical facts mixed-in. Although the sinking is sad, this book is interesting from beginning to end.
- What is the intent of the author? To re-tell the story of the Titanic from a narrative perspective using recollections from survivors and witnesses of the sinking.
- What is the focus of the story? The sinking of the Titanic
- Does the language matter? Yes, language is used to help readers experience the emotions of the passengers and witnesses.
- Is the setting important and well described? Yes - I felt like I was there with the passengers and crew members on the ship.
- Are there details and, if so, of what? Lots of details: from the details about the ship to the details of the rescue.
- Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? Yes - there were many pictures throughout this book and even a diagram of the Titanic.
- Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? Definitely experience. As you are reading, you are experiencing the same events that these survivors and witnesses went through.
5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?
- Detail - the author uses so much detail that the reader is fully engaged in the story and it almost feels like you are there in 1912 with the passengers and crew.
- Characterization - we get to know these survivors and witnesses through the authors use of characterization.
- Writing Style - This is a fast and easy read
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteGreat description of the book. I don't really like to read that much nonfiction but this one sounds good. I have read probably about ten nonfiction books in my life (from cover to cover). I do see a lot of nonfiction books getting checked out a lot and all the time. We have actually had community reads where the title book is a nonfiction book.