Memphis Reads Archive

Nonfiction/History

Cathy reviews TITANIC SINKS! by Barry Denenberg (Viking, 2011).

“Experience the Titanic’s Doomed Voyage in this Unique Presentation of Fact and Fiction”

While this book is published as juvenile literature, it is also an interesting read for adults or teens as well.

Excerpts from fictional Modern Times Magazine articles appear in a timeline sequence, beginning with the year 1908. The first article is about the naming of the new luxury liner. While the competition of the day advertise as being the fastest and finest passenger ships, the Titanic’s goal is “luxury and comfort, not speed.” There are also excellent period photographs and illustrations in the book.

There is a journal account by the chief correspondent of Modern Times, S.F. Vanni, dated April 11-15, 1912, and published in its unedited form. He was pulled from the water suffering from severe hypothermia with his journal wrapped in plastic and taped to him. He didn’t survive, but the journal of his time spent on the Titanic was saved.

This book will be excellent choice for school reports, and for those wanting to learn more information about the Titanic.

Cathy Brooks, Bartlett Library

The Costa Concordia cruise ship accident in Italy and the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the Titanic disaster have opened doors of curiosity about similar events.

Browse the library catalog for more books about: Titanic and shipwrecks

Labels: History, Nonfiction