Exploring Tragedy and Resilience with David McCullough
The Minot-Sleeper Library’s Nonfiction Book Club has a knack for introducing me to books I might not have picked up on my own, and the May 2024 selection, The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough, is no exception. Before diving in, I had heard about the infamous flood, a catastrophe that turned into a tragic reality, but knew little about the details or the human stories behind it. McCullough’s masterful storytelling changed that entirely.
This gripping account of one of America’s most devastating disasters not only delves into the events of that fateful day but also explores the decisions, negligence, and resilience of the people involved. From McCullough’s vivid descriptions to the meticulous research, this book transformed my understanding of the tragedy and left me reflecting on its lasting lessons.
David McCullough’s The Johnstown Flood offers a captivating and thorough look at one of America’s worst disasters. McCullough brilliantly uses eyewitness accounts and contemporary reports to immerse readers in the story, making them feel the tension and devastation of that fateful day. His research is top-notch, and he leaves no stone unturned in exploring the reasons behind the disaster and its aftermath. The book is paced perfectly, keeping readers hooked as the tragedy unfolds.
While there are moments where certain details get repeated a bit too much, this minor flaw doesn’t overshadow the book’s overall quality. It’s an engaging and enlightening read, shedding light on how human negligence turned a preventable catastrophe into a tragic reality. A must-read for anyone curious about history or how decisions can have lasting impacts.
David McCullough is widely regarded as one of the greatest American historians, known for his meticulous research and engaging storytelling. His works, including The Johnstown Flood, 1776, and Truman, bring pivotal historical events and figures to life in a way that resonates with readers. This was my first McCullough book, and I already have 1776 on my TBR list.
Have you read The Johnstown Flood or any of McCullough’s other books? What did you think of his approach to history and the way he connects readers to the past? If you’re a fan of history or have other favorite authors in the genre, I’d love to hear your recommendations—share them in the comments!
And if you’re curious about The Johnstown Flood, check it out at your local library or borrow it digitally through the Libby app. Let’s start a conversation about the stories from history that have left an impact on us all.
All artwork on this blog was rendered by Xine Segalas.
It’s hard to believe it’s March already. The last month has been somewhat of a blur to me. A week into the month, my son called to tell me that he hurt his knee while sitting on his air mattress which has been doubling for a couch while he waits for the couch he ordered in December to arrive. The good news is that we learned just yesterday that it is scheduled for delivery the last Friday of this month. Finally.
Me and Mom
The second week of the month started with my mother experiencing her second stroke in 5 months – this stroke ultimately took her life 5 days later. Since then we have said our goodbyes to her as a family graveside and with extended friends and extended family via a zoom memorial. I miss my long conversations with her and now continue to grieve. It will take some time but life goes on.
I have been reminded of that fact this last week as I have been consumed with dealing with my son’s knee surgery and having to care for him during his recovery. My mother always said ‘the job of a parent isn’t ever really fully done.’ She was always there for me when I needed her and I will always be there for my kids when and if they need my help. In the last 7 days, I have averaged 3.4 miles of walking and 10 flights of stairs daily in my own house simply running around, going up and down the stairs (the house unfortunately is not set up with a first floor bedroom). My left knee hurts a little bit.
I find listening to my books to be such a relief. It’s my me-time. I have been downloading my tax forms and filing stuff from last year that never got filed in 2020. I haven’t felt very artistic lately but I am trying to relax and get back into the routine of drawing.
I listened to 2 books in February, the first was a title I had in my library for a while and as part of my resolution to read the older titles in my library and stop accumulating more books – which I still do anyway – I finally tackled it. I am so glad I did too! Beneath a Scarlet Sky is a phenomenal story by Mark T. Sullivan. The audiobook which I listened to is narrated by Will Damron and runs 17 hours and 43 minutes and is just amazing! Wow! I found this to be a fascinating book.
“It all made Pino realize that the earth did not know war, that nature would go on no matter what horror one man might inflict on another. Nature didn’t care a bit about men and their need to kill and conquer.
Mark T. Sullivan, Beneath a Scarlet Sky
The story is about the remarkable life of Pino Lello, a young boy from Italy during WWII. I was on the edge of my seat plenty of times throughout the story. I highly recommend this read to anyone who is interested in history and adventures. 5 Stars.
I decided to switch gears afterwards and listened to another Taylor Jenkins Reid novel – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I found this book to drag in areas, granted that’s a lot of husbands to go through. Overall the plot is interesting and Evelyn Hugo character who I found to be very deep and complex. However, the character of Monique annoyed me bit. She seemed a bit whiny at times and I don’t like hanging out with whiny people and I have begun to notice I don’t like books as much that feature whiny protagonists. The book is narrated by Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan and Robin Miles and runs 12 hours and 10 minutes. 3.5 Stars.
I am able to focus so much better on things and block out all the external clutter of the world which has been great lately. I continue to listen to The Word of Promise Audio Book, New King James Version which is narrated by Michael York, Jason Alexander, Joan Allen, Richard Dreyfus, Louis Gossett, Malcolm McDowell Jr., Gary Sinese, Marisa Tomei and Stacy Keach. This behemoth runs 98 hours and 1 minute. I’m only 2 hours 26 minutes into it so far but I have enjoyed listening to it. I have only read parts of the Bible and it is one of my resolutions to complete.
I began the March with A Burning: A Novel by Megha Majumdar. A classmate of mine who now lives in Australia recommended the book. The audiobook runs only 7 hours and 22 minutes and is narrated by Vikas Adam, Priya Ayyar, Deepti Gupta, Soneela Nankani, Neil Shah and Ulka Simone Monhanty who all take on the voices of the various characters features in this story about class, corruption, justice and the individual roads fated in life.
I found this to be an interesting glimpse into a different culture. The characters are unique and captivating – yet, all somewhat relatable despite living in a country where societal norms differ greatly from those in the western cultures. I felt frustrated for Jivan and Lovely and what they endure as women in India.
Many years ago I would have been asking why is this happening? But now I am knowing that there is no use in asking these questions. In life, many things happen for no reason at all.
Megha Majumdar, A Burning: A Novel
I thoroughly enjoyed the The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey. Since finishing it, there are descriptive scenes which have stayed with me and I thought about repeatedly. I love old fairy tales and I love the idea of taking a children’s story and turning it into a novel. I loved the passages about the landscape and I found the characters to be as deep and full as the Alaskan snows they endured. I highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in adventures in the Alaskan wilderness with a touch of old fashioned fairy tale weaved into a modern day story of love and survival. 4 stars.
Currently I have started to listen to The Garden of Evening Mists by Tang Twan Eng, a recommendation from my cousin who first heard about the book from my Aunt. My cousin raved about it and thought I would enjoy since I love nature and gardening so much. I’ll let you know what I think about it next time.
Happy Reading – “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin
