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Lifeboat No. 8: An Untold Tale of Love, Loss, and Surviving the Titanic
As the Titanic was sinking, who would make it off alive? The two cousins who had been so eager to see their first iceberg? The maid who desperately tried to escape with the baby in her care? The young newlyweds who'd booked passage despite warnings? Now, more than one hundred years after that disastrous and emblematic voyage, Elizabeth Kaye reveals the extraordinary, little-known story of the people who left the doomed ship on Lifeboat No. 8. A Second Edition of the New York Times and Kindle Singles #1 bestseller, it has been freshly edited and expanded by the author with new material. Told in real time and in the actual voices of survivors, Kaye's poignant, pulse-pounding narrative includes the story of the kindly and elegant Countess of Rothes. It was the Countess who took charge of the tiller of Lifeboat No. 8, steering the small boat through the dark, icy waters as others took turns rowing, an unlikely and determined vision in her ermine coat and pearls. In the words of one of the Titanic's crew, the Countess was "more of a man than any we have on board." At the heart of Kaye's tale is a budding romance between the Countess's ladies maid, Roberta Maioni, and the Titanic's valiant wireless operator, Jack Phillips. Roberta made it safely onto Lifeboat No. 8, taking with her nothing but a photo of Jack, who would send out one of the world’s first SOS signals. But would he be saved? Surviving that fateful night in the North Atlantic was not the end of the saga. As Kaye reveals, those aboard Lifeboat No 8. would never cease to be haunted by the catastrophe of the sinking. More than a century later, we’re still captivated by the Titanic and its passengers. With its skillful use of survivors’ letters, diaries, and testimonies, Lifeboat No. 8 adds a dramatic new chapter to the ongoing story. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Elizabeth Kaye is the award-winning author of the New York Times #1 bestselling e-book Lifeboat No. 8: An Untold Tale of Love, Loss and Surviving the Titanic which was also #1 on Amazon Singles for a record two months. A recipient of the prestigious Alicia Patterson Fellowship, she has been a contributing editor to Esquire, Rolling Stone, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, John Kennedy’s George magazine, and a frequent contributor to the Arts pages of The New York Times. She is the author of six books whose subjects include American Ballet Theatre, the Los Angeles Lakers, and two memoirs, Seven Memories of an Unconventional Love Life and Notes from the Halfway Mark. She lives at the beach in Los Angeles with her man and their cat.
66 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2012
144 people are currently reading
1360 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
April 23, 2018
Here's the thing; this book lacked emotions. The writing didn't allow one to think that the people on the ship were in any sort of danger- that they were actually dying. It was more like 'oh oops we hit an iceberg gotta go now oh and btw women and children first. kay'. So yeah, not good.
April 19, 2012
Ugh. The subtitle for this is "an untold tale yadda yadda". This particular version of the tale may have been technically untold but it's the same story with the same story beats as every other Titanic tale in the last 40 years.
Only bother with it if you want to read
--random details about the ship (it had a squash court)
--random details about the amount of food
(100,000+lbs of butter!)
--random details about the cargo (live chickens and opium!)
--some gossip about a very rich person
--some detail about a person in steerage
--some person having a portent of doom
--wives staying on board with their husbands
--cowardly White Star employees
--gallant White Star employees
--long details about the wireless operator
--at least one mention of St. Thomas Andrews
Seriously. Every Titanic story is the same now.
It is literally "heard em all" time.
The thing that persuaded me to buy this was that it purported to tell of life after the sinking for the people of boat 8. Nope. Well, kinda. The author was kind enough to look up a couple of them on Wikipedia and tell us that they died childless in Arizona or some such factoid.
Only bother with it if you want to read
--random details about the ship (it had a squash court)
--random details about the amount of food
(100,000+lbs of butter!)
--random details about the cargo (live chickens and opium!)
--some gossip about a very rich person
--some detail about a person in steerage
--some person having a portent of doom
--wives staying on board with their husbands
--cowardly White Star employees
--gallant White Star employees
--long details about the wireless operator
--at least one mention of St. Thomas Andrews
Seriously. Every Titanic story is the same now.
It is literally "heard em all" time.
The thing that persuaded me to buy this was that it purported to tell of life after the sinking for the people of boat 8. Nope. Well, kinda. The author was kind enough to look up a couple of them on Wikipedia and tell us that they died childless in Arizona or some such factoid.
April 17, 2012
I really enjoyed this short read. The lives of the passengers on the Titanic amaze me. I would live to go back in time & see the Titanic in all it's glory & feel the energy aboard the boat as it set sail. I'd get off the ship on day three though. ;)
May 5, 2012
Here's a close look at who were there, what happened before and after she sank, what happened to the passengers even years after...Focusing on a select group of passengers - those who found their way in Lifeboat No. 8 - the author did a great job, obviously going through an extensive research, citing several references in an almost four-page bibliography. However, it isn't merely reportage; it is story-telling with a heart.
In the fictional Titanic novel I recently read, I marveled at the author's creativity to play out her version of the events based on known facts. Now in this true account, I was awed by the real people who felt real feelings, who made real decisions. I was inspired by their actions in the face of an unimaginable catastrophe. I couldn't help but allow myself to wonder about the what if's.
The Titanic might be in its last stages of decay in the depths of the Atlantic, but even after another hundred years and beyond, and no matter how many hundred or more stories get told about it, I believe its magnanimity and mystery will live on and on.
In the fictional Titanic novel I recently read, I marveled at the author's creativity to play out her version of the events based on known facts. Now in this true account, I was awed by the real people who felt real feelings, who made real decisions. I was inspired by their actions in the face of an unimaginable catastrophe. I couldn't help but allow myself to wonder about the what if's.
The Titanic might be in its last stages of decay in the depths of the Atlantic, but even after another hundred years and beyond, and no matter how many hundred or more stories get told about it, I believe its magnanimity and mystery will live on and on.
March 8, 2021
Lifeboat No. 8 is a short book that paints the picture of what happened just before and after the Titanic started sinking. It tells the story of survivers, specifically of a selected group of people who ended up in boat no.8. According to the author it's not a fictional tale but the actual voices of survivors, who lived that fateful night. Till now I hadn't read any book on this tragedy except the movie, which I think everyone has seen. Though it's a short book but I was amazed to know some facts covered by book. It was a worthwhile read for me and I would recommend it to you only if you have interest in history of Titanic tragedy.
Happy reading !
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Happy reading !
________________________________
December 31, 2018
This was an account of the passengers who boarded lifeboat number eight on the night the Totanic sank. We got to see a bit if their backgrounds, but it was a bit like character soup - too many people for me to keep score if in such a short book. The writing was very factual, we didn’t see much of their inner thoughts or feelings. I got the feeling that this book couldn’t really decide if it wanted to be fiction or non fiction.
February 26, 2014
Very good minute look at the survivors in one particular lifeboat from the Titanic. A lot of the time, you find yourself rereading the same stories over and over again about that horrific night, but this one added insights into new characters I hadn't heard of before. Great for those interested in all things Titanic (like me!)
March 28, 2012
A kindle single, retelling the story of the Titanic while focusing on the passengers who ended up in lifeboat 8. Told vividly. Even if you have read Walter Lord, you should check this out.
December 23, 2020
I cannot understand the reviews that complain about how 'technical' this book is. It isn't a novel. It isn't fiction. It's real life, so what were you expecting exactly - a fairy tale? A horror story? This is reality. This is fact. In reality, this book gives us a brief look at one small lifeboat's journey in the ocean when hundreds of others were left behind, dying without one.
The author notes at the end:
All dialogue and thoughts attributed to survivors in Lifeboat No. 8. are reconstructed from first-person accounts and newspaper interviews of survivors, letters written by them, and testimony given by survivors at the American and British inquiries into the sinking of the Titanic.
This is a very real story that invokes feeling of sadness, rage and terror within you. It is sad what these people had to go through. It is sad that there were so many widows, as the Carpathia came to be known as the 'ship of widows' after picking up the Titanic's survivors. It is sad that there was so much miscommunication which led to the death of hundreds:
One ship was no more than twenty miles away. It was the Californian, whose
wireless operator, Cyril Evans, had tried to warn the Titanic about icebergs and
had been told by Jack to shut up. For Evans, too, it had been a long, tiring day,
capped off by Jack’s dismissive reply. At 11:30 p.m. he had turned off the
wireless and gone to bed—forty-five minutes before the CQD was sent out.
As the Titanic’s stewards passed along the order to put on life belts, a young
seaman stood on the Californian’s deck and detected a curious sight: a giant
liner stopped dead in the water. He pointed the ship out to his captain.
“That will be the Titanic,” the captain said, “on her maiden voyage.”
Then he turned away, unperturbed and unhurried, as if what he had seen was
not the least bit unusual.
It is heart-breaking that so many were separated from their loved ones when they need not have been:
Finally, with repeated urgings from the ship’s officers, the women moved
toward the railing and the men drew back, a bit of graceful choreography that
ultimately would have the effect of dividing the dead from the living.
Tillie Taussig held tight to her husband’s arm. He insisted she get into the
boat, but she refused. She held on to him even as he backed away and joined the
other men who had helped their wives and children into lifeboats, kissed them,
held them, and walked away. For men traveling in first class, such gallantry was
instinctive, a function of habit and breeding so ingrained as to render
unnecessary the command “All men stand back from the boats.” Still, the irony
of his particular situation would not have been lost on Mr. Taussig, who was a
major shareholder in the company that built some of the Titanic’s lifeboats and
had long campaigned to increase the number of lifeboats a ship must carry.
Isidor Straus implored his wife to get into the boat. Another first-class
passenger, Hugh Woolner, begged her to change her mind. They could not
persuade her. “I will not leave him,” she said.
Woolner took Mr. Straus aside. “I’m sure nobody would object,” he told him,
“to an old gentleman like you getting in.”
Isidor Straus shook his head. “I will not go before the other men,” he said.
Did Isidor and Ida Straus comprehend what was at stake? It seems they did,
for a moment later Mrs. Straus walked back to Lifeboat No. 8, removed her fur
coat, and handed it to her maid, Ellen. “Wear this,” she said. “It will be cold in
the lifeboat, and I won’t be needing it anymore.”
And finally, it is outrageous that a lifeboat that could fit 65 people would go off with 27 instead. It is outrageous that so much thought was put into glamour and glitter and not on human life. It is outrageous that most of the dead were the poor. It is outrageous that even after the survivors were on board the Carpathia, there was still a classist system wherein the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class passengers were being treated by different doctors.
There were so many things that went wrong, but today all that survives is the lesson to be learnt: survival before comfort, caution before blind trust, humility before one's ego, compassion before classism, and above all, appreciation of one's life before its end.
The author notes at the end:
All dialogue and thoughts attributed to survivors in Lifeboat No. 8. are reconstructed from first-person accounts and newspaper interviews of survivors, letters written by them, and testimony given by survivors at the American and British inquiries into the sinking of the Titanic.
This is a very real story that invokes feeling of sadness, rage and terror within you. It is sad what these people had to go through. It is sad that there were so many widows, as the Carpathia came to be known as the 'ship of widows' after picking up the Titanic's survivors. It is sad that there was so much miscommunication which led to the death of hundreds:
One ship was no more than twenty miles away. It was the Californian, whose
wireless operator, Cyril Evans, had tried to warn the Titanic about icebergs and
had been told by Jack to shut up. For Evans, too, it had been a long, tiring day,
capped off by Jack’s dismissive reply. At 11:30 p.m. he had turned off the
wireless and gone to bed—forty-five minutes before the CQD was sent out.
As the Titanic’s stewards passed along the order to put on life belts, a young
seaman stood on the Californian’s deck and detected a curious sight: a giant
liner stopped dead in the water. He pointed the ship out to his captain.
“That will be the Titanic,” the captain said, “on her maiden voyage.”
Then he turned away, unperturbed and unhurried, as if what he had seen was
not the least bit unusual.
It is heart-breaking that so many were separated from their loved ones when they need not have been:
Finally, with repeated urgings from the ship’s officers, the women moved
toward the railing and the men drew back, a bit of graceful choreography that
ultimately would have the effect of dividing the dead from the living.
Tillie Taussig held tight to her husband’s arm. He insisted she get into the
boat, but she refused. She held on to him even as he backed away and joined the
other men who had helped their wives and children into lifeboats, kissed them,
held them, and walked away. For men traveling in first class, such gallantry was
instinctive, a function of habit and breeding so ingrained as to render
unnecessary the command “All men stand back from the boats.” Still, the irony
of his particular situation would not have been lost on Mr. Taussig, who was a
major shareholder in the company that built some of the Titanic’s lifeboats and
had long campaigned to increase the number of lifeboats a ship must carry.
Isidor Straus implored his wife to get into the boat. Another first-class
passenger, Hugh Woolner, begged her to change her mind. They could not
persuade her. “I will not leave him,” she said.
Woolner took Mr. Straus aside. “I’m sure nobody would object,” he told him,
“to an old gentleman like you getting in.”
Isidor Straus shook his head. “I will not go before the other men,” he said.
Did Isidor and Ida Straus comprehend what was at stake? It seems they did,
for a moment later Mrs. Straus walked back to Lifeboat No. 8, removed her fur
coat, and handed it to her maid, Ellen. “Wear this,” she said. “It will be cold in
the lifeboat, and I won’t be needing it anymore.”
And finally, it is outrageous that a lifeboat that could fit 65 people would go off with 27 instead. It is outrageous that so much thought was put into glamour and glitter and not on human life. It is outrageous that most of the dead were the poor. It is outrageous that even after the survivors were on board the Carpathia, there was still a classist system wherein the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class passengers were being treated by different doctors.
There were so many things that went wrong, but today all that survives is the lesson to be learnt: survival before comfort, caution before blind trust, humility before one's ego, compassion before classism, and above all, appreciation of one's life before its end.
March 12, 2021
This book was a short read and I really enjoyed it. The author describes the opulent lifestyle of the first class passengers who were aboard the 'Titanic'. Lifeboat No. 8 was described more in detail and how the women and children were saved and men / third class passengers were left to die which we all know about it. I had never read a book on this subject except the movie which was my first hollywood movie and its also my favorite. This book is a one time read and I am planning to read more books on Titanic in the future.
July 22, 2017
Elizabeth Kate paints a picture of that fateful event so very beautifully. I really felt that I was one of the passengers. She tells the stories of the few survivors who made it on that lifeboat with such compassion,understanding and reality that I really felt I was actually on the lifeboat myself.
August 31, 2018
A fair account of history's most devastating maritime disaster.
December 30, 2018
A well written puzzle piece of the world's most infamous ship and its tragic disaster.
September 12, 2022
Amazing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2023
Such an interesting and harrowing account of the women who survived in a lifeboat on the titanic.
December 28, 2019
Dammit! No one told me that more than 50 children died from 3rd class when all woman and many many men from 1st and 2nd class cabins survived. I’m so sad now. People can be monsters sometimes.
April 13, 2012
As the one-hundredth anniversary of the Titanic disaster approaches, I find myself drawn anew to stories of the ship and it's passengers. I've watched movies, documentaries, and read books detailing the voyage. After the explosion of popularity triggered by the movie in the late '90s, I figured all the stories that would be told had been told already. Rarely do I stuble upon anything Titanic-related that doesn't feel like a rehash.
I've never felt so swept away by a Titanic narrative as I was by Kaye's account of the tragedy through the eyes of passengers. What makes LIFEBOAT NO. 8 even more haunting is the fact that these stories are true, albeit dramatized, accounts of events that happened aboard the ship. Kaye takes us into the life of the family of the only child to die in the upper classes, into the lives of famous and not-so-famous passengers, and into the mindset of those who stayed on deck while the mortally wounded vessel eased itself into the icy Atlantic water which would become it's grave--and theirs.
Just as important as the story of the sinking itself is the follow-up. Here, Keys shows how those passengers in Lifeboat No. 8 never really left Titanic at all, how that one fateful night sent them from the safety and comfort of lives lived in absolute certainty to the darkness and frigid cold of unpredictability that would cause them to never really be sure about anything ever again.
Powerful, gripping, and truly a breath of fresh air--Kaye uses her journalistic chops to immerse her readers in the world of 1912, merely a hundred years ago, but a world as foreign and fascinating as an alien planet to so many of us today.
I've never felt so swept away by a Titanic narrative as I was by Kaye's account of the tragedy through the eyes of passengers. What makes LIFEBOAT NO. 8 even more haunting is the fact that these stories are true, albeit dramatized, accounts of events that happened aboard the ship. Kaye takes us into the life of the family of the only child to die in the upper classes, into the lives of famous and not-so-famous passengers, and into the mindset of those who stayed on deck while the mortally wounded vessel eased itself into the icy Atlantic water which would become it's grave--and theirs.
Just as important as the story of the sinking itself is the follow-up. Here, Keys shows how those passengers in Lifeboat No. 8 never really left Titanic at all, how that one fateful night sent them from the safety and comfort of lives lived in absolute certainty to the darkness and frigid cold of unpredictability that would cause them to never really be sure about anything ever again.
Powerful, gripping, and truly a breath of fresh air--Kaye uses her journalistic chops to immerse her readers in the world of 1912, merely a hundred years ago, but a world as foreign and fascinating as an alien planet to so many of us today.
December 23, 2013
Well written and detailed account of one of the most famous ship disasters in history. Written from the point of view of the survivors in one lifeboat, it is a scary account that humanizes the wreck though the eyes of the people in the middle of it. It read almost as though they were being interviewed by the author. Kaye captures all the horror, devastation, and despair as people's lives were forever changed. After living through 911, I feel she evokes that instant when one realizes the perception of one's life has changed forever. She chillingly relates man's folly, that in his pomposity, he has dared nature with his overconfidence, to be slammed into reality that we are no better or worse that any other species sharing this planet for as long as nature permits.
May 1, 2013
I mourn for all the non-survivors of the history's greatest maritime disaster. All throughout my reading experience, I can feel how horrible and heart wrenching the incident was. I say I was emotionally affected and the whole thins was unimaginably traumatic.
They say the best way to relate to history is to let yourself get involved in it somehow. And this book has done that thing to me. As if it bring me back the time and I seem to witness the whole thing through the accounts of the survivors.
They say the best way to relate to history is to let yourself get involved in it somehow. And this book has done that thing to me. As if it bring me back the time and I seem to witness the whole thing through the accounts of the survivors.
June 6, 2024
At least it is a short book. I picked it up because it is a non-fiction about the sinking of the Titanic. But the book is devoid of emotion. I could not feel the fear of those passengers who felt it. It was a commentary, essentially.
April 16, 2012
Doesn't really offer anything new about the Titanic, nor does it present anything in a new manner. Also, it felt particularly lifeless.
April 19, 2012
Short and not nearly detailed enough. Meh.
April 18, 2022
"An Untold Tale of Love, Loss, and Surviving the Titanic" (title)
Elizabeth Kate wrote Lifeboat No. 8 as an account to accurately describe how those who embarked on the titanic lived. It is a short book that paints the image using descriptive writing of what occurred during and before the Titanic's sinking. Beautifully spoken, the writer herself riveted the readers with her passionate and heart-wrenching tale as she recounts the fleeting memories of those 27 people who boarded life boat no.8 to escape the sinking Titanic in 1912. This book's theme of love, courage, loss, and resiliency brings you deeper into the lives of which told the story themselves. In addition, this book shows extraordinary people who stood up when most would have when most would have been selfish and saved themselves. Kaye's account is told through the actual voices of survivors, including the story of the Countess of Rothes herself, who planned to start an orange farm with her husband. The Countess was the one in charge of Lifeboat No. 8, rowing through the black, icy water for hours with the assistance of other women aboard. "More of a man than anyone we had on board," said one of the members of the Titanic staff. For her courage is one of the most renowned and bravest told in this tale. Another important chunk of the story is told as well, which embraces this theme. A budding romance between the Titanic's valiant wireless operator, Jack Phillips, and the Countess's maid, Roberta Maioni, is at the core of Kaye's tale. The world's first SOS signal was sent out by Jack on the ship, where he remained as Roberta transferred safely to Lifeboat No. 8 with only a photo of Jack. Henceforth, embracing one of the many themes shown in this tragic tale.
Those aboard Lifeboat No 8 did not finish there after they survived that fateful night in the North Atlantic. Kaye tells of the experiences of each passenger and crew member who perished in the tragedy and how they were forever affected. This is truly a beautiful book which entices a readers mind for those who are interested in the tragic fate of those from the Titanic.
Elizabeth Kate wrote Lifeboat No. 8 as an account to accurately describe how those who embarked on the titanic lived. It is a short book that paints the image using descriptive writing of what occurred during and before the Titanic's sinking. Beautifully spoken, the writer herself riveted the readers with her passionate and heart-wrenching tale as she recounts the fleeting memories of those 27 people who boarded life boat no.8 to escape the sinking Titanic in 1912. This book's theme of love, courage, loss, and resiliency brings you deeper into the lives of which told the story themselves. In addition, this book shows extraordinary people who stood up when most would have when most would have been selfish and saved themselves. Kaye's account is told through the actual voices of survivors, including the story of the Countess of Rothes herself, who planned to start an orange farm with her husband. The Countess was the one in charge of Lifeboat No. 8, rowing through the black, icy water for hours with the assistance of other women aboard. "More of a man than anyone we had on board," said one of the members of the Titanic staff. For her courage is one of the most renowned and bravest told in this tale. Another important chunk of the story is told as well, which embraces this theme. A budding romance between the Titanic's valiant wireless operator, Jack Phillips, and the Countess's maid, Roberta Maioni, is at the core of Kaye's tale. The world's first SOS signal was sent out by Jack on the ship, where he remained as Roberta transferred safely to Lifeboat No. 8 with only a photo of Jack. Henceforth, embracing one of the many themes shown in this tragic tale.
Those aboard Lifeboat No 8 did not finish there after they survived that fateful night in the North Atlantic. Kaye tells of the experiences of each passenger and crew member who perished in the tragedy and how they were forever affected. This is truly a beautiful book which entices a readers mind for those who are interested in the tragic fate of those from the Titanic.
December 17, 2024
Elizabeth Kaye’s *Lifeboat No. 8* is a gripping and intimate retelling of the Titanic tragedy, focusing on one of the lifeboats that escaped the doomed ship. Kaye provides a human-centered perspective on the disaster, weaving together the harrowing experiences of the passengers who found themselves in this small lifeboat amidst the chaos and uncertainty of that fateful night.
Through vivid prose, Kaye brings the Titanic’s sinking to life with emotional depth and historical detail. The book explores not just the timeline of events but also the personal stories of the people in Lifeboat No. 8—how they grappled with fear, morality, and survival as the disaster unfolded. The passengers’ interactions and decisions reveal the complex nature of humanity in moments of crisis, from self-preservation to unexpected acts of kindness.
Kaye’s storytelling is elegant and concise, capturing both the horror and heartbreak of the tragedy while honoring the resilience of those who endured it. She skillfully balances historical facts with a narrative that feels deeply personal, making the reader feel as though they, too, are floating alongside the survivors in the dark, icy waters of the Atlantic.
*Lifeboat No. 8* is a poignant and engrossing account of the Titanic disaster that offers a unique lens through which to view this infamous tragedy. With its focus on a single lifeboat and the individuals within it, the book captures the timeless themes of survival, humanity, and fate, making it a compelling read for history enthusiasts and fans of immersive nonfiction.
December 10, 2018
I couldn’t really see the central idea of the text, but I think that it might be getting through whatever comes your way. It develops quite a bit through the book. At the beginning of the book their challenges are things like having to do something they don’t like, not having certain foods, or having to do up their own dress. Rich people problems. But once the ship hits the iceberg their challenges are more along the lines of, staying warm, not drowning, to keep on rowing even though they’re all freezing.
Survive. This word is important to the text because that is what the characters are trying to do the whole time. Everything that happens in the book is them working towards that one word, and variations of it. Throughout the book it does differ a little bit of what the meaning is. In the beginning they don’t need to survive through anything. But it slowly comes into play throughout the book.
I loved this reading this book. Although it wasn’t very long, they incorporated so much into the book. The writer had many different perspectives coming into play, which i enjoyed. Because you get to see how everybody reacted to the same situation. There was a bit of emotion, although not much. Even though it did show many perspectives, I couldn’t see the emotion in them so that was a little disappointing. Besides that I enjoyed the book very much.
Survive. This word is important to the text because that is what the characters are trying to do the whole time. Everything that happens in the book is them working towards that one word, and variations of it. Throughout the book it does differ a little bit of what the meaning is. In the beginning they don’t need to survive through anything. But it slowly comes into play throughout the book.
I loved this reading this book. Although it wasn’t very long, they incorporated so much into the book. The writer had many different perspectives coming into play, which i enjoyed. Because you get to see how everybody reacted to the same situation. There was a bit of emotion, although not much. Even though it did show many perspectives, I couldn’t see the emotion in them so that was a little disappointing. Besides that I enjoyed the book very much.
February 20, 2020
Over the years, there have been many different stories of different people who were on the Titanic, but nobody has ever heard a story such as this. The book, "Lifeboat No. 8" by Elizabeth Kaye, introduces you to many people, such as the two cousins who are fascinated by icebergs, the maid Sarah Daniels, and many more. But who, you may ask, will be the one to survive? Unlike many who think that the ship is unsinkable and invincible, the wealthiest woman on the Titanic, the Countess of Rothes, is one of the first ones to realize that something is wrong. After noticing that the engines have stopped from the iceberg, she realized that the "Invincible Titanic", isn't so invincible afterall. It's because of her bravery, many others on the lifeboat no. 8 have survived. Her determination is something to be praised, especially when she rowed the lifeboat for hours on the dangerous sea. She risked her own life to save others and she didn't stop until they were safe. I would recommend this book to those who are intrigued by stories of survivors of the Titanic, and for those who want to be as selfless and as brave as the Countess of Rothes herself.
January 9, 2020
Lifeboat no. 8 recounts the life of a few passengers on the Titanic who made it out alive through a lifeboat numbered 8. As you read it, you can't help but visualise stills from the film, the grandeur that the ship displayed, the gentry that formed a significant part of the passenger list, and the excitement among the people aboard the then largest ship of the world.
The book begins when the ship has already collided with the iceberg. Quickly, we are introduced to the characters, their brief back stories. As the gravity of the situation comes to the realization of people, fears, premonitions and chivalry are brought to the fore. You can't help but be moved by the turn of events, and be reminded of the naivety associated with trust, as against accepting the bitter tragic truth.
The book begins when the ship has already collided with the iceberg. Quickly, we are introduced to the characters, their brief back stories. As the gravity of the situation comes to the realization of people, fears, premonitions and chivalry are brought to the fore. You can't help but be moved by the turn of events, and be reminded of the naivety associated with trust, as against accepting the bitter tragic truth.
April 3, 2023
Kaye has recounted the world's most famous maritime disaster with a special brand of romantic realism that is rarely achieved in the telling of hard truths. The Cameron film on the subject sought to convey the "emotional message" of Titanic's doom via a fictional love story. This book, factual, short and unflinching, portrays for us all the suffering and hope and disappointment of the tragedy without pulling in any unnecessary exaggerations. I will say, though (or maybe ask?): There's a Jack and Roberta here. Are they the inspirations for Jack and Rose?
If we could present History- particularly to new learners of it - in such a short, sharp, precise manner, many important stories would be much more easily related and understood.
If we could present History- particularly to new learners of it - in such a short, sharp, precise manner, many important stories would be much more easily related and understood.
October 18, 2019
Uvijek sam bio fasciniran Titanicom tako da mi je i ova knjiga "sjela". A uz to je i još kratka, baš onako kako ja volim, tako da sam je pročitao za jednu večer. Knjiga je daleko od savršenstva ali je na dosta mjesta jako emotivna i slikovita. Problem je što sam film Titanic pogledao previše puta, tako da su mi sve scene poznate tako da sam to već sve znao. Malo su me samo iznenadili prikazi ljudi koji su do pred sam kraj mislili da brod neće potponuti ili da će se voda ispumpati pa će se svi fino vratiti u krevet. Također mi je zanimljivo bilo da su se oni na ovom brodu broj 8 bili izgubili, ali su se ipak uspjeli vratiti na pravi put i doveslali do broda koji ih je spasio.
May 9, 2023
A beautiful account of bravery...
This was an interesting little story told through the voices and words of some of the survivors on board the Titanic and their acts of courage and bravery in the devastating wake of the disaster on that fateful April night.
It also sincerely highlighted the bravery of some of the women on board Lifeboat no 8, one of the first lifeboats to be dispatched.
Although a short read, it really encapsulated the story of the Titanic and provided a heartbreaking tale of love, hope, loss, regret and ultimately sacrifice and courage.
It is a well written short story that draws you in and doesn't let you go until the final word. A truly mesmerising read.
This was an interesting little story told through the voices and words of some of the survivors on board the Titanic and their acts of courage and bravery in the devastating wake of the disaster on that fateful April night.
It also sincerely highlighted the bravery of some of the women on board Lifeboat no 8, one of the first lifeboats to be dispatched.
Although a short read, it really encapsulated the story of the Titanic and provided a heartbreaking tale of love, hope, loss, regret and ultimately sacrifice and courage.
It is a well written short story that draws you in and doesn't let you go until the final word. A truly mesmerising read.
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