Jill S. (brainybibliophile) -
Everyone knows the basics of Titanic: its maiden voyage, its so-called unsinkability, the iceberg, the 1912 tragedy. Many could even list some of her most famous passengers.
I experienced Wolf's novel-in-verse as an audiobook, which brought several of those Titanic personalities to life.
Included are the expected voices from an account of the doomed liner: sassy socialite Margaret Brown (otherwise known as the "Unsinkable Molly Brown," millionaire John Jacob Astor, and captain Edward J. "EJ" Smith. But other creative voices are heard, too, including a hungry rat's ("Follow the food," he repeats frenetically), the iceberg's (ironically, a calm, grandmotherly tone), young Frankie Goldsmith the Dragon-hunter's (with refreshing optimism and childish glee), and the undertaker's post-sinking. Taking turns, they describe their experience on the grandest ship in the world.
The story ends with Wolf describing his researching and writing processes, comparing all to creating a soup; he asks that readers/listeners and especially "Titaniacs" enjoy it without being distracted by missing "ingredients"; (facts lost to history or slightly altered research). Then Wolf provides biographical details and fates of many of the Titanic voices, a nice touch with any piece of historical fiction.
While targeted to young adults, Wolf's vision is entrancing for anyone interested in pondering what it must have been like to be aboard, then ejected from, that luxurious liner into the bitterly cold Atlantic waters.
I experienced Wolf's novel-in-verse as an audiobook, which brought several of those Titanic personalities to life.
Included are the expected voices from an account of the doomed liner: sassy socialite Margaret Brown (otherwise known as the "Unsinkable Molly Brown," millionaire John Jacob Astor, and captain Edward J. "EJ" Smith. But other creative voices are heard, too, including a hungry rat's ("Follow the food," he repeats frenetically), the iceberg's (ironically, a calm, grandmotherly tone), young Frankie Goldsmith the Dragon-hunter's (with refreshing optimism and childish glee), and the undertaker's post-sinking. Taking turns, they describe their experience on the grandest ship in the world.
The story ends with Wolf describing his researching and writing processes, comparing all to creating a soup; he asks that readers/listeners and especially "Titaniacs" enjoy it without being distracted by missing "ingredients"; (facts lost to history or slightly altered research). Then Wolf provides biographical details and fates of many of the Titanic voices, a nice touch with any piece of historical fiction.
While targeted to young adults, Wolf's vision is entrancing for anyone interested in pondering what it must have been like to be aboard, then ejected from, that luxurious liner into the bitterly cold Atlantic waters.
