Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

Summary:

"It was called "The Titanic of the South." The luxury steamship sank in 1838 with Savannah's elite on board; through time, their fates were forgotten--until the wreck was found, and now their story is finally being told. When Savannah history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski, she's shocked. The ship sank after a boiler explosion in 1838, and the wreckage was just discovered, 180 years later. Everly can't resist the opportunity to try to solve some of the mysteries and myths surrounding the devastating night of its sinking. Everly's research leads her to the astounding history of a family of eleven who boarded the Pulaski together, and the extraordinary stories of two women from this family: a known survivor, Augusta Longstreet, and her niece, Lilly Dawson, who was never found, along with her child. These aristocratic women were part of Savannah's society, but when the ship exploded, each was faced with difficult and heartbreaking decisions. This is a moving and powerful exploration of what women will do to endure in the face of tragedy, the role fate plays, and the myriad ways we survive the surviving."--$cProvided by publisher.

The Adult Book Club provides an informal, congenial atmosphere for patrons over eighteen years of age to share their literary interpretations of the current book selection. Everyone should read the month’s selection before the meeting.  Please feel free to attend even if you haven’t finished the book as long as you don’t mind hearing how the book ends.  Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion, but listeners are welcome.

Light refreshments are served by individuals from the group on a volunteer basis.  Extra copies of the book selection are available one month in advance at the library circulation desk.
 
Registration is required.
Program facilitated by: Karen Raymer