Helpful Score: 10
I had not read this author before and the story was well written and interesting. However, I found myself nearly loathing the main character (who is accurately described at one point in the book as "weak willed and suggestible") before it was over. I would also add selfish and manipulative, but she was young, so maybe she didn't know any better. In all fairness, few of the characters were likable, and maybe the point is we do not know what we are capable of until we experience the worst scenario. This is a story of survival at any cost.
Helpful Score: 7
This is a "what if" book*:
What if another ocean liner mysteriously sank a few years after The Titanic?
What if several lifeboats full of people escaped and remained unrescued for weeks?
What if three of the women threw another survivor overboard and were tried for murder upon their return to civilization?
Grace Winters is one of those women, newly married and subsequently widowed. She's a tricky one...an unreliable narrator relaying the events of her time in the lifeboat and her trial. She admits to earlier manipulations (or at least omissions of truth) and claims to not remember some of the events on the boat (which is understandable, considering the conditions). She looks out for herself in a time when women had few legal rights.
While Grace does raise some interesting questions about faith, justice, and memory, this isn't a life-changing read. It's not particularly deep or exceptionally suspenseful, but it was an enjoyable read.
*I shelved this book as "historical" in the sense that it takes place during a specific period of history, not that the events portrayed actually happened.
What if another ocean liner mysteriously sank a few years after The Titanic?
What if several lifeboats full of people escaped and remained unrescued for weeks?
What if three of the women threw another survivor overboard and were tried for murder upon their return to civilization?
Grace Winters is one of those women, newly married and subsequently widowed. She's a tricky one...an unreliable narrator relaying the events of her time in the lifeboat and her trial. She admits to earlier manipulations (or at least omissions of truth) and claims to not remember some of the events on the boat (which is understandable, considering the conditions). She looks out for herself in a time when women had few legal rights.
While Grace does raise some interesting questions about faith, justice, and memory, this isn't a life-changing read. It's not particularly deep or exceptionally suspenseful, but it was an enjoyable read.
*I shelved this book as "historical" in the sense that it takes place during a specific period of history, not that the events portrayed actually happened.
Helpful Score: 5
This book grabbed me from the start and I finished it almost non stop reading! It was riveting and hard to put down, but the ending left me with "huh",... like the author rushed to give closure to the story.
*****SPOILER ALERT**** I was waiting for Grace to finally meet her mother-in-law, who after all paid for all attorney fees, but that never happened. Also, all of a sudden she is going to marry her attorney....what???.... a totally unsatisfactory ending!
Thus 4 stars instead of 5.
*****SPOILER ALERT**** I was waiting for Grace to finally meet her mother-in-law, who after all paid for all attorney fees, but that never happened. Also, all of a sudden she is going to marry her attorney....what???.... a totally unsatisfactory ending!
Thus 4 stars instead of 5.
I liked the book as a read, but did not like most of the characters. Then again what would you do if your life depended on it. Ended fast with lots of questions.
This book was riveting. Good character development; as time goes on we see the protagonist for the selfish manipulator that she really is. Quick read, highly recommend.
I loathed this book. I got it based on the mostly 4 stars. It was a drudge to read. I really don't know why I finished it. Most of the characters were unlikable, especially the main character. Do yourself a favor, pass on this book.
So I read THE LIFEBOAT for the January 2015 pick in my neighborhood book club.
While it does have an interesting premiseexploring the lengths stranded people will go to in order to surviveI feel this storyline suffers from 1) being in the overwhelming shadow of the Titanic (I mean, why even bother setting a stranded passengers story in the middle of the ocean in 1914? A mere two years after the Titanic?) and 2) a rather dull and lifeless narrative.
Grace Winter narrates, and her recounting of this harrowing experience manages to feel tedious and plodding even though the book only has 273 pages! Days and days became weeks and weeks drifting in the lifeboat, and at one point I just wanted to reach in and toss everyone out the boat myself just to have it over with!
The fact that Grace was on trial for murder should've sweetened the pot, but it only made me slightly more curious to reach the end and find out how her trial would turn out, which incidentally wasn't really worth the wait.
I give it a C.
While it does have an interesting premiseexploring the lengths stranded people will go to in order to surviveI feel this storyline suffers from 1) being in the overwhelming shadow of the Titanic (I mean, why even bother setting a stranded passengers story in the middle of the ocean in 1914? A mere two years after the Titanic?) and 2) a rather dull and lifeless narrative.
Grace Winter narrates, and her recounting of this harrowing experience manages to feel tedious and plodding even though the book only has 273 pages! Days and days became weeks and weeks drifting in the lifeboat, and at one point I just wanted to reach in and toss everyone out the boat myself just to have it over with!
The fact that Grace was on trial for murder should've sweetened the pot, but it only made me slightly more curious to reach the end and find out how her trial would turn out, which incidentally wasn't really worth the wait.
I give it a C.
Good read, interesting concept. I'd recommend it!
Not the page turner, stay up all night, read it in one sitting that other reviews have been said about this book. But, it is a good read and the story line is interesting and the character development is pretty good as the thoughts and actions of the main characters change over the time they are adrift. The only downsides are the seemingly rushed ending and the non-closure on some issues.
The book was boring. I had to make myself finish it
