Recent ARC Reads

I've recently gotten back into using Netgalley to review ARCS, or Advanced Reader Copies, of new or soon to be released books. In today's post, I'm sharing three titles I've read and enjoyed recently, Why the Titanic was Doomed, a non-fiction, Looking for Leroy, an uncharacteristic contemporary romance read and Out of the Dark, a memoir about the author's struggles with depression.   

Why The Titanic was Doomed by Brian Jackson

 The author shares his aim in the preface of this book, writing:

“...one perspective always seemed to be missing–the many circumstances, large and small, that came together to doom the ship that many had considered unsinkable” (p. viii)

While most people would attribute the sinking of the Titanic to the iceberg that it collided with, this book aims to show the series of events that led to its destruction prior to it even setting off on its maiden voyage. Despite all of the careful planning and an astonishing budget of 7.5 million dollars, so much was overlooked throughout the process that led to the departure of the ship. Jackson looks at 14 different circumstances, one in each of the main chapters, to illustrate how this series of unfortunate events led to the well-known disaster. 

     The sinking of the ship, which occurred 110 years ago as of then posting of this review, seemed to be impossible. Not only was this due to the way the ship was advertised; but its sister ship, the Olympic, survived what would have been a fatal collision with another boat if not for its size and the skill of the crew involved. Ultimately, however, this sister ship would heavily contribute to the tragedy of the Titanic, as it not only took parts off the now infamous ship, but also delayed its departure by a month. This seemingly insignificant time period, unfortunately, may be the reason why the ship even encountered an iceberg. This level of detailed insight continues throughout the book, providing a fantastic snapshot of the demise of the ship on its inaugural voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. 

    There was speculation that perhaps the commander of the ill-fated ship, Captain Edward Smith, it’s owner, Mr. Ismay of the company White Star, and other crew were warned about the location of the massive icebergs. While there exist credible witnesses in the 705 survivors (about a third of those onboard), this leads to a curious train of thought about both the hubris and the carelessness of those in charge of the different facets of operation of the famed vessel. 

    Ultimately, the picture painted by Jackson is one of a perfect storm, where the culmination of the events outlined all likely played a key role in the eventual outcome of the Titanic. Told from an abundance of factual evidence about the ship and it’s plight, Jackson illustrates how all of these coincidental events contributed to the catastrophe. He even includes snippets of transcripts from both the British Inquiry and the US Senate hearing on the disaster, outlining some of the circumstances that contributed to the sinking of the reputed “unsinkable” ship. Another interesting source, of the many included, is the report entitled Metallurgy of the RMS Titanic, which details yet another overlooked flaw in the ship’s construction. 

    The final section of the book features timelines, statistics and thorough information about both the survivors and what happened immediately after the Titanic sank. This timeline and data served to give more perspective to the magnitude of the death toll, while the details of what came next were just as fascinating as the various reasons cited for the sinking within the book’s main chapters. These final sections also served to show the differences in the ship’s three classes, demonstrating the social hierarchy during the era. Of this appendix section, I was most interested by the improvements made to both the Olympia and other ships following the disaster. If there was to be one bright spot amidst the tragedy, it was the White Star company's understanding of the necessity of ensuring their ships were operating safely, and with enough lifeboats, going forward. 

    From the aforementioned design flaws, to weather conditions, to the lunar cycle, to incompetence, lack of preparedness, and/or carelessness of members of the crew at practically every level, there were several causes of the eventual fate of the Titanic. While its collision with the fatal iceberg is common knowledge, this book dives into the realities for those involved with the creation, oversight and even for the passengers aboard. Jackson clearly spent a great deal of time researching the information shared, and is clearly fascinated by the subject in a way that is contagious while reading. If you’re at all curious about maritime history and the evolution of regulations for sea vessels, or this particular disaster, this is definitely a book that will satisfy your quest for answers. 

 Thank you to the publisher, Pen & Sword, for providing an e-ARC for review via Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

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Looking for Leroy by Melody Carlson

    Contemporary romance is not a genre I typically enjoy reading, but I discovered Melody Carlson this past Christmas and quickly binged through 10+ of her holiday novellas. The way she writes characters is so realistic and I love the faith elements she brings into her stories. All of the characters were vulnerable and flawed, allowing me to truly root for their happiness.

    Brynna Phillips is a divorced third grade teacher living in Oregon. After discovering her cheating ex-husband and his new wife are now expecting the baby he never wanted with her, Brynna has an identity crisis of sorts. Her friend Jan convinces her to go on a camping trip for the summer. On one of their excursions, Brynna fondly recalls meeting Leroy Sorrentino at the same location a lifetime ago. 

    Leroy operates a family vineyard with his three daughters after the death of his wife nine years prior. His youngest daughter, Gina, finds old correspondence between he and Brynna. Full of complicated family dynamics, Leroy and Brynna find themselves back in each other's lives, giving them a second chance at their first love.

Thank you to the publisher, Revell, for providing an e-ARC for review via Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

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Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God's Joy by Mandisa 

  

  I enjoy Mandisa’s music and admired her stage presence and love for Jesus when I had the opportunity to see her in concert a few years ago. I also struggle with depression, so I immediately snagged an E-ARC of this book when I saw it was available. This book is best summarized by Mandisa herself in the final chapter: “It’s not a story about Mandisa, really. It’s a story about a big God who has changed one woman’s life in unbelievable ways”.

    The book opens as Mandisa shares the story of her friend Kisha, who lost her battle with breast cancer shortly after giving birth to her second child. It’s this loss that compounds upon her struggles with depression and leaves her questioning why God allows suffering; a question I’m sure we’ve all wrestled with in our own lives. I so appreciated how vulnerably and candidly Mandisa shares different things she has struggled with throughout her life, yet always returns to Scripture to encourage both herself and the reader. Each chapter is titled after one of Mandisa’s songs, and begins with a snippet of the lyrics to set the tone for the chapter ahead. “Getting Real” questions at the end of each chapter help the reader connect to Mandisa’s experiences by encouraging them to think about similar experiences or feelings in their own lives. 

    However, I was disappointed in the content about false teachers, including Beth Moore, Lysa TerKuerst and Kristi McLelland. All of these women have preached to mixed congregations despite God’s Word in Timothy, among other issues. 

Thank you to the publishers, Dexterity and K-Love, for providing an e-ARC for review via Netgalley; all opinions are my own.