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The Lifeboat
The Lifeboat
Author: Charlotte Rogan
Grace Winter, 22, is both a newlywed and a widow. She is also on trial for her life. — In the summer of 1914, the elegant ocean liner carrying Grace and her husband Henry across the Atlantic suffers a mysterious explosion. Setting aside his own safety, Henry secures Grace a place in a lifeboat, which the survivors quickly realize has exceeded cap...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780316185912
ISBN-10: 0316185914
Publication Date: 1/8/2013
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 45

3.2 stars, based on 45 ratings
Publisher: Reagan Arthur / Back Bay Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

susieqmillsacoustics avatar reviewed The Lifeboat on + 1062 more book reviews
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.
c-squared avatar reviewed The Lifeboat on + 181 more book reviews
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.
junie avatar reviewed The Lifeboat on + 630 more book reviews
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.
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reviewed The Lifeboat on + 353 more book reviews
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.
Yoni avatar reviewed The Lifeboat on + 327 more book reviews
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.


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