Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Black Wave: A Book Review


There is just something about ships at sea that fascinate me.  The book entitled "A Night To Remember" by Walter Lord was a book written about the Titantic which I read at a very young age and that book is one that I have never forgotten.  I have written about Louie Zamperini and his amazing story of being adrift for forty-six days on a tiny raft in the South Pacific.  Now, the book I want to tell you about today is "Black Wave" by John and Jean Silverwood.  This couple took their four children out of school and decided to sail the seas on a catamaran,  the Emerald Jane.  The two oldest were teenagers, so you can imagine how that went over with those two, of course, they didn't want to leave their friends from high school!  The first part of the book is written by Jean Silverwood and as you would expect, writes about the challenges of having such a large family in such close quarters.  Her husband, John, had challenges of his own, with being the skipper of the the ship and also having some problems with alcohol.   Then, all their energies were directed into just staying alive, when after being at sea for two years, they struck a reef in the South Pacific and the ship was destroyed.   John Silverwood's life was just hanging by a thread, as his leg had been severed by the giant mast on the Emerald Jane.  It truly was touch and go for a while, with the outcome not at all certain.  Luckily, with the GPS, they were located rather quickly. John's leg was amputated but his life was saved.  The bravery of his children is what you will remember from this ending of their journey.

 In the second part of this book, John Silverwood reveals his discovery that another ship, the Julia Ann, had struck the SAME EXACT REEF, in the year 1855.   The comparisons that he makes between the two sea-going vessels are to me, extraordinary. The Julia Ann was carrying coal from Newcastle  to California and as passengers,  some Australian born Mormons.  The Captain of this ship, named Benjamin Franklin Pond, is a hero to me after I read this book.  What a leader, and what a positive outcome after his ship hit this reef!   But at first when all must have seemed lost, this is what he recorded...

"The moon was up and shed her faint light over the dismal scene: the sullen roar of the breakers sent an additional chill through my already benumbed frame.  The bell at the wheel, with every surge of the sea, still toiled a knell to the departed, and naught else but the wailings of a bereaved mother broke the stillness of the night, or indicated life among that throng of human automata; during the long hours of that weary night the iron had entered their souls, and the awful solemnity of their situation was brooded over in silence."

Five people died from the shipwreck of the Julia Ann, three women and two small children.  The rest of the fifty-one passengers and seventeen crew members were saved.  They remained on the reef until the crew could build a raft so that they could be taken to a nearby island where they remained for two months, living on turtle meat and coconuts.  As they were still on the reef, one of the passengers, a young woman by the name of Esther Spangenberg wrote these words:

"We remained in the water all that day, keeping as close as possible to prevent the sharks from attacking us, as there were a great many of them swimming about close to us.  We had nothing to eat all day, and truly presented a miserable group; almost naked,our faces bloated, and our lips swollen to an unusual size."

There is more that I would like to tell you about Captain Pond and his leadership on the Julia Ann, but I encourage you to read this book and find out more about this fascinating true story of survival and courage.

The exact title of this book is "Black Wave: A Family's Adventure At Sea and the Disaster That Saved Them".  Even though the ship met with disaster, the family survived it and came out stronger because of it. 


32 comments:

  1. kay, i haven't read this post (yet). right now i am preoccupied looking at your header. is that you? aww, that is so awesomely nice.


    kj

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  2. Hey Karen!
    Yes, that is me, and it was taken two years ago in England. HA HA< I have made myself two years younger with a click of my mouse!
    My son took this photo and can you tell how thrilled I was to be amongst these beautiful bluebells? :-) I was in heaven!

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  3. I'm intrigued, sounds like a great read. I'm off to find out more!

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    1. Hey Sulky Kitten,
      I think that it could be made into a good movie but better not tell Tom Cruise, he will be practicing his eyebrow moves for this one!

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  4. This does sound like an interesting read. I will add it to my list!

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    1. Hey Tracey,
      It was a very interesting book. If you read it, let me know what you think!

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  5. That sounds like a fascinating read! I'll have to put that on my list. It reminded me of reading The Perfect Storm, also non-fiction. The book was excellent and after reading it I thought I might never go out on the ocean again. Luckily, that feeling didn't last... Great book review!! Love, Silke

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    1. Dear Silke,
      I always head to the non-fiction section, that is what I love to read! I also read The Perfect Storm and liked it.
      Thanks for your comment! I love your bluebirds!

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  6. Two amazing stories in one book is what it sounds like; i'll have to try to get a copy from the library.

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    1. I must admit a particular fascination with the story of the Julia Ann and Captain Pond. When you read about it, I think you will agree it is a great story.

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  7. Sounds fascinating ~ not much time to read these days but I've added it to my Reading Wish List. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Dear Audrey!
      Oh, my dear, you have two little ones! If you see it at the library, just thumb through it and read about the dishy Captain Pond and see if you don't think he is the greatest! I know you will! Perhaps Ewan McGregor could play him in the movie? :-)

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    2. Well, sign me up then! You mention Ewan and I already feel myself blushing! (smile) He is so heavenly. I just found out recently that he also named his daughter Clara. Ha!

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  8. i can not imagine 2 years on a boat with all those people. There must have been something seriously wrong with the family for them to decide to take something like this on.

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    1. Some of the reviews say the same thing that you do. The ship itself was only 55 feet long, I think, and even I think that that is too small to be on a great big ocean (and I know nothing about the sea, being a small town Georgia girl and coming from a rural farming background.)
      It was an interesting read, I am just glad that they survived.

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  9. This sounds really interesting, Kay. I've never heard of it, but I am curious about it now. I'll have to add it to my ever-growing list of books to read.

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    1. Dear Martha,
      I know just what you mean. So many books, so little time!

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  10. Black Wave is definitely a book I think I would enjoy. Thanks so much for this review. Ever since I was a child I have been interested in sea faring stories. I think it is because one of the victims of the Titanic grew up on what is now part of my family's farm in County Cork. I often walked around the ruins of his little cottage and thought about how he walked those very fields just before he headed to Cobh to board the Titanic.

    Your header picture is fantastic, Kay. Those bluebells are absolutely breath taking. Best wishes! Mairead

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    1. Dear Mairead,
      Thanks so much for your comment. The man that perished on the Titantic, you saw where he lived, how that must have made you feel as a child thinking of him! I shouldn't wonder if you could write a story about him, you are a good writer, you know. It would be a good way to honor his memory. You should think about it!
      And thanks, I loved those bluebells so very much!!!

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    2. Kay - I hope to write his story someday soon, but I would like to take some photos to accompany the piece first. Next time I am home in Ireland I plan to photograph the cottage ruins and the "long field" where he probably played as a child.

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  11. I hadn't heard of this book before. You did and excellent review that made me want to read it. :)

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    1. Thank you, Relax Max!
      And I am glad that I told you about a milk float! And if you get to speak with a milkman, what a treat, my mother-in-law's milkman is a jolly happy soul!

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  12. Kay, you did a good job with this review. Talking about books is so unique to each of us and I think that everyone has their own way of doing it. I enjoyed your "book talk", as Nan calls them. And...lovely, lovely picture in your header. What glorious flowers!

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    1. Dear Kay,
      Thank you! Yes, a book talk is more what I could do, I will have to let Nan know about me finding getting up the nerve to "talk" about a book!
      Oh, and thanks, the bluebells are lovely in England.
      Guess what, my calendar has the bluebonnets from Texas on it! I will think of you all through the month of May!

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  13. Hi Kay, I like your book reviews, I read "A Night to Remember" years ago, but the book "Black Wave" I just ordered the other day because we got a flyer in the mail at the library for it! I catalogued it and put it aside, didn't even really look at it, now I have to go back and read it! You've got me interested! Thanks, Dorothy~~

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    1. Let me know what you think. I preferred the second half by John Silverwood, with his thoughts and his account of the Julia Ann and Captain Pond.
      If you know of any great non-fiction, let me know. I am the Queen of Non-Fiction!

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  14. That is a beautiful picture of you, too!

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    1. You're sweet. You might be like me and need new glasses! :-)

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  15. Hi Kay,
    Oops, I goofed up on the book title! The book we just received was called "A Rare Titanic Family: the Caldwells story of survival". So, now I am going to order the book you read called "Black Wave" and yes I'll let you know, I am sure I will like it though! I'm gettin too old to be let out in public!!:0
    Dorothy~~

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    1. Hey!
      That's okay, you have give ME one to add to my reading list!
      ;-)
      Pat your sweet dog for me! Stroke the kitty under the chin!
      Love,
      Kay

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  16. I am SO not a seafaring girl. Just the idea of doing what they did makes me shudder. :<) And add an alcoholic captain to the mix. Oh, my. A little touch of hell, methinks.
    Great report!!

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    1. Dear Nan,
      I am so much of the Earth, you wouldn't believe it. Maybe that it is why stories of the sea fascinate me so. Even though this ended in tragedy, I think the family were lucky to survive.
      You know,you saying "Great Report" is like having a favorite teacher giving you an A+. Wow, thanks!

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