Grace's review
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
by Nathaniel Philbrick
Grace's review
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
Grace's review
rating:
bookshelves:
age-of-sail,
non-fiction
recommended for: Becca B - and everyone else
This book is fascinating! It's the true story of a whaling ship destroyed by a whale, and the survival (or death) of the crew. The event was the partial inspiration for Moby Dick. The book starts off a bit slow, and even a little bit condescending at times about nautical terminology, as the ship prepares for the voyage and leaves Nantucket. But once the trouble begins, it's totally gripping. I actually finished reading it as I was *walking* through an airport to visit a friend, and I was actually hoping she would be late to meet me so I'd have time to finish reading. (And I did.) One of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.
Parts of it are a bit sickening, though, not so much because the crew has to resort to cannibalism, but because death by dehydration is described in such graphic detail. If I'm ever stranded in an open boat, I hope someone will shoot and eat me rather than let me die that way. Ick.
Parts of it are a bit sickening, though, not so much because the crew has to resort to cannibalism, but because death by dehydration is described in such graphic detail. If I'm ever stranded in an open boat, I hope someone will shoot and eat me rather than let me die that way. Ick.
