Play Book Tag discussion

Steeplechase - Distasters - 19 tags

I got interested in this event after visiting the terrific museum in Halifax Nova Scotia some years ago. They had recorded interviews with people who had endured the disaster as children, as well as photos and other information. This book does an excellent job of briefly setting the scene in the city, the chief North American port of WWI, the participation of locals in the war, and the shaky relationship with the US. The author reconstructs the many small errors that led to the largest explosion before the atom bomb, followed by a tsunami, huge fires, and a deadly snowstorm. He follows the stories of several local residents and highlights the heroic and unselfish work of locals and outsiders in organizing relief, treating the wounded, identifying the dead and rebuilding what was called The Devastated Area. To this day, Halifax sends a Christmas tree every year to thank the city of Boston for its speedy and unqualified assistance.

I rarely read nonfiction, but some of the best books I have read recently have been historical nonfiction, such as The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder and Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II. So I guess I should read more of them.

5 stars from me too, Robin. A little known bit of history that I was glad to find and read about. The museum sounds great.

It is also the place the bodies from the Titanic were taken and many who weren't claimed are buried in a local cemetery.

Add me to the 5 star list. I loved it too!

Oh and by the way Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II made my top ten in 2022..