I was fortunate to snag an advance copy of Surviving Savannah. I waited a few months to read it because sometimes I just know when a book has to be savored. This is one of those books. Callahan has outdone herself by writing a tremendous story. I loved everything about it. But the absolute best part was all the rich history. I love that Everly is a history professor because that’s my profession. I dived into,the vast sea of history and refused to surface. I love the facts about the sinking, a story I had never heard. Callahan provides historical context at the end and a brief bibliography. I didn’t wan this book to end. It’s the best book I’ve read in a long time. In a time where history is being attacked, it reaffirmed my belief in the necessity of studying history and the role historical fiction plays in introducing readers to all the stories history has,

Patti Callahan does it again! A wonderful piece of historical fiction about a little-remembered shipwreck off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. The American Titanic, as the Pulaski wreck is called. Told in two different time periods-- now and the 1800's -- with winning protagonists in two eras, this story pulled me in from the get-go. I didn't know anything about this historical event, but Callahan's careful narrative filled in all the details with her usual style and substance. I love Surviving Savannah. Have already recommended on Satellite Sisters podcast.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read anything by Patti Callahan, but I saw an author interview for Becoming Mrs. Lewis and immediately bought the book. When this became available pre-publication on Netgalley, I jumped at it.

I read quite a bit of historical fiction, and I thought Callahan's research showed brightly within the story. So meticulous, yet it did not read like a textbook. I loved the dual storyline and Everly's current day process of uncovering the stories behind the sinking of the Pulaski for the museum, as well as Everly's and Oliver's connection to the theme of survival and how to survive emotionally after a tragedy. Callahan does a great job with building and releasing tension and crafting real, deep characters (including the city as a character). I also loved her focus on whose story does not normally get told. While I wanted more of Lilly's story after survival and of the Winthrop family's connection to the Pulaski, I was deeply impressed with what Callahan pulled off here, and I will definitely read more of her work.

I am making my way through my reading list for early 2021 and can already enthusiastically recommend this new historical fiction about the city of Savannah and the “Titanic of the South”:

In a dual timeline, Callahan tells the story of the doomed steam ship Pulaski, which set sail from Savannah in 1838. Many of the city’s most prestigious families were on board to sail to Baltimore for the summer. But during the second night, a boiler exploded, and the ship sank. Many perished and those who did survive waited several days for rescue in the open sea or faced a harrowing journey in a lifeboat. Families were broken, assets (many took their gold, silver, china with them) were at the bottom of the ocean; this tragedy affected Savannah for years to come. But until reading this book, I knew nothing of this disaster!

The present day timeline follows Everly who is curating a museum’s exhibit on the disaster while recovering from her own personal tragedy.

The narrative (and Everly’s exhibit) focuses on a key family of Savannah as they board the ship and attempt to survive both the shipwreck and the aftermath. Because those who do survive must still “survive the surviving” and start their lives over without family members, finding new purpose or succumbing to a darker alternative.

The book addresses topics of family, race, class, the meaning of life, finding purpose after tragedy, history, family history, I could go on. There is so much in this book, and I rarely give 5 starts to historical fiction (on goodreads) because I save that rating (generally) for something that is more literary (e.g. could win a Pulitzer)…but when I started to check the “4 stars” that just didn’t seem right considering how much I enjoyed this book for the genre it is.

And thanks to this book, I am adding Savannah to my travel list.

Thanks to NetGalley I was given advance access to this book in exchange for an honest review. It doesn’t come out until March so put your pre-orders and requests in now!

What fun to do research for a sunken ship.

The Pulaski was finally found after sinking in 1838.

Everly Winthrop was given the task of finding what really happened to The Pulaski.

We also meet Lilly who was on the sunken luxury ship.

SURVIVING SAVANNAH takes us back and forth in time as we learn about Lilly Longstreet’s privileged life and then the terror of trying to save herself, her nursemaid, and her baby. Many wealthy families were on board.

We then move to present day as Everly does the research and deals with issues of her own.

Ms. Callahan included very interesting information from her amazing, thorough research along with her marvelous writing and story line.

The story line flowed well from one time period to the next.

The characters were well developed and ones you will cheer on and love.

I loved learning about Savannah, and about this ship. I had never heard of this event.

SURVIVING SAVANNAH will pull you into the mystery of The Pulaski and have you wanting to know everything uncovered and everything about Savannah.

Historical fiction fans and fans of Savannah will enjoy this book.

A truly addictive read you won't want to put down. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this novel. Great writing and really brought the characters to life. Each chapter jumps from present day to the time period of the ship sailing. Callahan does a fantastic job of bringing history to life. This novel made me go and research the sinking of the Pulanski.

This book started out well with the story of a little known ship explosion that occurs on a one-night voyage carrying Savannah's elite. The story divides between a present-day story of Everly, who is a curator who has been asked to work on identifying artifacts discovered from the explosion, and the story of a passenger, Lilly and her family, who are trying to survive the explosion. The story was interesting, although it doesn't delve too much into the voyage before the explosion, but rather the attempts at surviving the explosion. I found the storyline with Everly growing stale by the middle of the book - Everly has her own tragedy to deal with, and it seems as if this was written in because otherwise this part of the story would become boring. However, it just didn't flow for me and just becomes too much. Although the story starts out well, it quickly becomes a little mundane and I found myself not that interested in finishing it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new Patti Callahan novel , a dual timeline story detailing the “Southern Titanic” tragedy. This was an unknown story to me, and occurred off the Carolina coast in 1830’s. Switching back and forth from first and third person narratives is no easy feat, but works seamlessly as a distinction between present day characters and those from the past.

In the story, a current museum curator is hired to fill in the blanks of the history of the wreck as its artifacts are discovered and catalogued. As the treasure is unveiled, local family secrets and her own unresolved conflicts also rise to the surface.

“Those bits and pieces of myself, of everyone, could be retrieved and examined; their stories could be told. If I took the time, if I looked closely enough, if I dove deep enough, I could find my own wreckage and honor it.”

This is a well written novel of survivor challenges, family loyalty and forgiveness. The city of Savannah provides a gorgeous backdrop in both the past and present and had this reader pining for travel to the area.

ARC was provided by Berkley/Penguin Random House via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The event in this book was one I had never heard of despite having lived right outside of Savannah once upon a time. Callahan then couples a forgotten calamity with heartwarming memories of a grandfather telling stories and I was hooked. Honestly, when grandpa tells a story what else is one supposed to do but listen. The story of the sinking of the steamboat Pulaski and the creative way that Callahan provided perspective on the individuals involved in the wreck was brilliant. Every aspect of humanity can be found in the pages of this book. I enjoyed the investigative compulsion of Everly and enjoyed following along as she went down the various rabbit holes of research. Everly experienced a lot of self-reflection due to her own losses. While it ties into the overall storyline I did find that it slowed down the pace tremendously. This book takes you to the streets of Savannah and beyond. Bonaventure Cemetery is exactly as portrayed. Callahan needs to continue writing historical fiction because she delivers!

Surviving Savannah was clearly well-researched. The 1838 timeline was my favourite, as the account of the shipwreck felt both detailed and personal. Callahan writes in a way that allows readers to feel the weight and devastation that shrouds this event. The chapters touch upon heartache and loss in an authentic and thought-provoking manner, and I really enjoyed the characters Augusta and Lilly.

As much as I loved the historical timeline, the modern-day story did feel a little repetitive, I appreciated the honest look into grief and the discussion surrounding surviving well, but it just didn't captivate me in the same way that Augusta and Lilly's perspectives did.

All in all though, an enjoyable historical read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up.

Set in beautiful Savannah, Georgia in two separate times, this lovely story explores the past and present through the shipwreck of the Pulaski. The story in the past follows Lamar Longstreet and his family as they journey north on the doomed ship. The story in the present follows Everly on her quest to unearth the secrets of the mysterious shipwreck of the Pulaski and come to terms with her own recent tragedy. The repercussions of the shipwreck of the Pulaski echo through time and have had an influence on the history of Savannah. Strong characters in both the present and the past drive this story with a compelling, interwoven plot that will prove that “one thing leads to another”, leaving readers to ask themselves “what’s next” in their own journey through life.

I have to say that I did not expect to enjoy this book - I am not a fan of disaster books or movies and they sometimes upset me. However, I found that the dual timeline of this story really helped to keep it going and not get too bogged down in the details. I had never heard of the steamship Pulaski or the sinking but the author really has a way of pulling you in to the story and caring for the characters. The story focuses mainly on one family that was on the ship the night of the disaster and how each of the individuals dealt with their fate. In current time a young woman dealing with her own personal tragedy is working to set up an exhibit of the artifacts found at the site of the Pulaski disaster. Everything comes together in the end. Thank you to Netgalley for the the e- ARC!

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan is a historical fiction tale about a shipwreck in 1838 and how it affects today. Everly Winthrop is hired to create an exhibit on the steamship Pulaski at the local museum. What she doesn't know is that it will change her life.

Everly Winthrop grew up on stories about the beloved Pulaski; then the wreckage is found 180 years later. She was every intention of diving deep to unlock its secrets.

As the secrets come to the surface, Everly works with diver Maddox and her childhood friend, Oliver, on creating a museum collection that follows the passengers' lives. Follow their story of five precarious days at sea. There were brave men, women, and children who had to survive the surviving.

I enjoyed this story. I lived in Savannah in my 20s, so I know the town. I loved following the current Everly narrative and learning about the events of the Pulaski in the 1800s. The writing was appropriate and respectful as far as dealing with slavery and circumstances of the time.

I loved this novel so much and the ending made me teary. BUT. Now I am devastated I never visited the maritime museum or (especially) The Sentient Bean the one time I was in Savannah! Talk about bookworm problems. But more importantly: the compelling story, and alternating timelines, made me relish the precious glimpse at a previously untold historical event, while contemplating the implications for my life in the here-and-now. And it took me away to a place I wish I could visit, though it is impossible right now, which made the on-the-page tourism all the more precious. Well done, Patti, and I look forward to reading more of your works in the future.

This was an unforgettable story of the sinking of the 1838 steamboat Pulaski off the coast of Georgia. The author expertly takes us through the actual events while weaving a story combining the horrific disaster with those who perished and those who survived. The characters are well developed as we experience their journeys before, during and after their voyage. There is also a dual story with a present day museum curator who is putting together an exhibit of the sinking ship along with the stories of the passengers. The author delves into the psyches of the characters in both timelines as they struggle to make sense of life and survival. Well researched and documented! #SurvivingSavannah #PattiCallahan #NetGalley

Surviving Savannah is an extraordinary historical fiction novel. It was written by an author who has a history of writing books that a reader doesn’t want to close. The dual timeline masterfully tells the tale of the real Steamship Pulaski and its passengers, along with the modern story of the woman determined to never let those passengers be forgotten.

The historical character details provide an in-depth look at the multi-faceted personalities and lives of those who were aboard the steamship, as well as a glimpse into life in Savannah and the South during the time period.. This angle would be a wonderful story by itself, however Surviving Savannah is made even more compelling by including the viewpoints of the modern day characters who are researching the steamship, diving to the depths of the sea, and creating a way to honor those who were aboard.

Anyone who enjoys a story of drama, peril, history, mystery, and love will adore this book. I have recommended it to many types of adult readers. If you are in love with the South, American history, Southern fiction, or Savannah itself as I am, you will love it even more! This book was a must-read for me and it did not disappoint.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting novel about a shipwreck and its elite group of passengers. I love the story lines and the historical information.

I predict this will be a best seller in 2021 and on the bracket boards for Goodreads best Historical Fiction. This book takes us back to the 1830's when the Pulaski, known as the Titanic of the South, sank with Savannah's elite onboard. Patti Callahan's unparalleled writing style alternates between present day and 1838. Wonderful character development and a plot that explores loss of a loved one, the shamefulness of slavery, domestic abuse, wealth, treasure hunting, love and history. I could not put down this book! I wanted to call into work sick just to finish it. The only thing I wish was different, was more time spent during 1830s and Lilly's story more than Everly's story. I really enjoyed this book and I appreciate the opportunity to read it! Thank you. Now I am off to find other books written by Patti Callahan as she is a new author for me.

SURVIVING SAVANNAH
Review by Glenda Harris

“…I believe that the past echoes into our present time if only we turn our ear toward its stories.” - Patti Callahan

History gives us some amazing stories, quite often more amazing than we could ever make up. Certainly, it is true of the story told in this book, “Surviving Savannah”, which is Patti Callahan’s second historical fiction novel, following her critically acclaimed “Becoming Mrs. Lewis”, published in 2018.

This is an impressively detailed account of the explosion and sinking of the S.S. Pulaski off the coast of North Carolina in 1838 and a heartbreaking story of both the tragic loss of lives and the survival of roughly half of the passengers aboard.

Sailing from Charleston, destined for Baltimore and full of wealthy Savannahians, the steamship was lost to the ocean on June 14, 1838, when (it is believed) copper boilers exploded and tore the ship apart. Often referred to as “the Titanic of the South”, the Pulaski was built with great pride, advertised as solid and sea worthy. It was hoped the Pulaski would help restore confidence for seafaring travelers after the steam packet “Home” wrecked on Ocracoke Island in 1837.

The novel primarily follows the Longstreets, a prominent family, part of the elite Savannah Society and in particular, Augusta Longstreet and her niece, Lilly Forsyth. The sinking of the Pulaski was, of course, a huge news event when it occurred, affecting almost every person living in Savannah at the time, either directly or indirectly. Interestingly, the Pulaski "surfaced" as a major news story again with the 2018 discovery of the remains of the ship including jewelry, gold coins and cherished keepsakes some 200 feet below the ocean’s surface off the coast of North Carolina.

Alternating the narrative between the time period of the accident and present day, we meet Everly Winthrop, a history professor in Savannah who takes on the job of curating a collection of the artifacts discovered 180 years later. The two stories take you from the horror and desperation of a shipwreck to modern-day Savannah as Everly works to put together an exhibit that will honor the lost and tell their incredible story. The result is a historical fiction story greater than the sum of the two parts.

This book was so difficult to set down. There is mystery, i.e.,“What happened to Lilly Forsyth after she survived the shipwreck?” There is palpable tension and emotion as you read personal accounts of the nightmare of days and nights at sea. And there is an abundance of courage, selflessness and amazing grace, demonstrating the best of humankind amidst the worst of times.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves this author’s work, for historical fiction and mystery fans as well as those who love or have a connection to the city of Savannah.

I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley.

I was not familiar with the story of The Titanic of the South about a steamship exploding overnight and quickly sinking. This story goes back and forth between the time of the Pulaski and present day when the wreckage has been found 180 years later. What a mystery to figure out in terms of what happened to the ship's passengers who were rescued. An interesting read.