Kundenrezensionen

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History (Vintage)

5 Sterne:		(52)
4 Sterne:		(42)
3 Sterne:		(9)
2 Sterne:		(8)
1 Sterne:		(2)

 

 

Are there other folks out there who enjoy reading true accounts of someone else's misfortune, especially if that misfortunate involves a titanic, unstoppable force of nature? A few, really good examples of this true-life disaster genre that I've read over the years are: "The Earth Shook - The Sky Burned" (San Francisco Earthquake)"; "The Coming Plague" (newly emerging diseases); "Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals" (doomed on Lake Superior, etc.); "Rats, Lice, and History" (a biography of typhus); and "Isaac's Storm" (the Galveston hurricane of 1900).

Erik Larson's book on the deadliest hurricane in history has two main focal points: the hurricane itself; and the human drama of Isaac Cline, the Galveston meteorologist who failed to predict the intensity of the storm. The book meanders through occasional dry stretches of Isaac's pre-storm biography, and through the history of the U.S. Weather Bureau (they were interesting, but not nearly as interesting as the storm), but once it focuses on the events of September 8, 1900 and beyond, I wasn't able to set "Isaac's Storm" down. Especially compelling are the eerie descriptions of what it's like to sail through the eye of a hurricane, and of course the narrative (from the viewpoints of several survivors) of what it was like to be in Galveston before, during, and after the storm. If you are afraid of storms or of water, you might not want to read this book because Erik Larson puts you right there when the storm debris is caving in the side of your house, or when the "tide suddenly rises fully four feet at one bound".

Surely one of the most amazing books I've read in awhile. Larson tells the story of the hurricane of 1900, which completely destroyed the city of Galveston, Texas. Intensely personal, the story is told from the point of view of the townspeople, but especially from that of Isaac Cline, a young forecaster working for the Weather Bureau in Galveston. This book paints a vivid picture of life at the turn of the 20th century, and of the state of weather forecasting 100 years ago. No satellites, no computers or high technology of any kind. Larson's storytelling technique is absorbing and his story is gut-wrenching.

The success of The Perfect Storm has spawned a whole new genre of fictional history....and this is a perfect example along with this year's The Story of the Whaleship Essex--interesting yarns, but not full-length books. In this case, the great Galveston hurricane appears have the makings of the perfect book, but not in this painfully etiolated telling. Isaac is not a compelling figure--his rigid and abstemious character elicits little if any sympathy. The run-up to the storm is interminable and while the storm itself is good, the book itself is not worth the effort.

The huge success of the story of the Titanic (movie) a couple of years ago was not just about the romance which was fictionalized, but also about the reoccurring human belief that with our increased discoveries in science, we cannot fail. People felt this way at the turn of the century, with the discoveries of antibiotics which would 'totally' eradicate infectious disease, with spaceflight and the Challenger, with AIDS, and now believe it or not, the building up of coastal communities along the eastern seaboard and Gulf Coast Seaboard. All of this in spite of the belief of scientists and insurers that with global warming and changes in weather patterns these areas are liable to be hit by frequent and large storms in the near future.

This book was a perfect display of human fraility and their ability to fool themselves. Larson did his research; I know because I started doing research on the Internet after reading his book...and almost all of what he said happened. There are plenty of first hand accounts available on the Internet including the reports written by Issac and his brother to the Weather Bureau and the idiotic replies and newspaper announcements given out by the dummy in charge at that time. Yes, we can only speculate what was going through their minds at that time, but many journals and diaries were accessed, in which the participants put down their thoughts and beliefs after the big event. At that time it was more likely for people to record their heritage and keep journals because of lack of television and radios, and the need to pass things on to the next generation. I found this book and the writing to be almost flawless. Larson writes with a journalistic bent, and if readers go to read the accounts of the Johnstown Flood in Pa. they would find writing much the same. Some of it is spectacular, but this storm was spectacular, and the stupidity and arrogance involved even more so. It is an immensely readable and enjoyable book, and I would recommend that the book be given to both contractors and buyers of homes on the coastline prior to building! Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

...The book I read was filled with awkward writing, unnecessary speculations of the author, and the most annoying writing style, I've ever encountered. Further his attempt at post-modernism, in his weaving of time and place, was pathetic and confusing. It read like a group of newspaper articles mixed together and placed into the context of a book in random order.

It's a shame too, because I share the same enthusiasm as the author on the subject--the history of meteorology and great storms. Several other recent books approach this topic with greater clarity and excitement. While I also have reservations with Sebastion Junger's writing form in the Perfect Storm, the style and presentation made the book easy to read and incredibley enjoyable. For a fictional account of a great storm, John Casey does a terrific job in Spartina. For an incredibly well written book, in which a great storm is narrated, see Gary Kinder's Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea.

What an exciting premise...and yet it is based on fact. This is a fascinating and penetrating look at ourselves 100 years ago in all of our infancy and ignorance of the world and the weather. If nobody tries to make a film out of this...I will!

Here we are 100 years after the "deadliest hurricane in history". We ourselves our at the dawn of a new millenium. We ourselves have just been given the blueprint of human life and all our expectations of curing disease that come with this knowledge. This attitude of a new century, new knowledge and a new frontier is what this book is about. It is also the tragic character flaw of many of the characters. With 20/20 hindsight, we can look back at this terrible storm and experience the arrogance of a generation. Of course, with the advent of this very internet you are now using, and the data available on it, including incredible weather forecasts and "strike probabilities", which, for those of you not living in hurricane alley, means what percentage the experts think our lovely island is going to get struck by a hurricane that is thousands of miles away in the Atlantic and churning closer every minute. Of course, in 1900, there were no weather satelites and scientists and meteorologists really did not know all that much. What a devastating storm this was. Having lived through Hugo and Marilyn (and many less major hurricanes), my friends and I in the Virgin Islands have a great deal of respect for the hurricane. Even when we know it is coming, it strikes fear in our hearts. Even when we are shuttered up, with aluminum paneled shutters on the doors and aluminum or wood shutters on the windows, even when we have radio (until the tower blows away) we are scared. It is impossible to imagine the fear that the people in Galveston experienced when this storm became a monster. As many hurricane "virgins", the town people were curious and excited when the water started to flood the streets. The excitement turned to fear and panic when the water kept rising...4 feet in four seconds, can you imagine? This book starts slowly and then picks up speed as the storm gets closer. It is full of interesting details about the lives of the people of Galveston and the city itself. It has been thoroughly researched and it is an impressive tome. Galveston is extremely flat and close to the sea. Ten thousand people died in this storm. That is a LOT of people. This storm was a secret in the sense that nobody talked about it until this book came out. It is an excellent read. Nothing like "The Perfect Storm" which is a boat story. This book is riveting. Although the reader knows what is going to happen, you actually feel the fear and pain as person after person is killed or swept away. Especially upsetting are the deaths of so many children. This is a heavy book. You will not feel "better" or purged when you finish it. You will however respect Mother Nature. Highly, highly recommended!

Isaac's storm provides an excellent review of the evolution of both the National Weather Service and Hurricane forecasting. In this book, the Weather Bureau (WB) evolves out of the Army Signal Corps. The controlling military mind, Dr. Morris of the WB appears to be a major contributor to the disaster. Isaac Cline evolves as an unlikely hero. Most readers probably to do not realize, that Isaac Cline is held in high regard in the National Weather Service to this very day. Cline awards, in memory of Isaac Cline, are awarded annually. This book implies this may be an error based on a myth.

This book implies that Isaac Cline was no hero in this story. He comes across as a self-confident, arrogant man of his time. Its hard to believe he actually thought evacuation was necessary. He was a man of his times and thought his limited science and technology had beaten nature. He was dead wrong, a lesson we can still learn from. Despite this, he is credited as hero today, in part due to his own account and Dr Morris's attempt to cover the mistake up. Isaac Cline learned to be a better scientist from this tragedy and went on to use what he learned, too late for the people of Galveston.

The story gets riveting as the storm approaches. At first, a carnival like atmosphere grips the beachfront as the storm approaches. But as the onlookers get wet, they realize this is no laughing matter. Unlike the book the Perfect Storm, this book gets the meteorology correct, lending credibility to the story and the lives of the characters therein. Some real heroes emerge in this story, including Joseph Cline. There are real are victims in this story and the author does an incredible job showing how this tragedy impacted real people. Not all the characters or their families survive.

An enjoyable though fast read. A book laced with a good history, a good human story, and a myth that evolved about a man.

Once in a blue moon, a special book comes along. You know the kind I mean: You open the cover, read the first few sentences, and find yourself instantly transported into the heart of a bewitching story. And what a story this one is! Having lived on the Texas Gulf Coast for over 20 years and having survived several tropical storms and hurricanes, I thought I knew a little about what to expect from this tale of the massive hurricane that nearly destroyed Galveston in 1900. What I didn't anticipate was the consumate skill and amazing talent of writer Erik Larson. Although it is immediately apparent that a vast amount of research was necessary to tell this story in such a sure & compelling voice, I found myself surprised again & again by the level of Mr. Larson's craft. He is a natural storyteller with a clear and compelling voice. Using meticulous & painstaking detail that could be gained only through hundreds (thousands?) of hours of careful research, he spins out an incredible yarn that draws you inexorably into the heart of those very real days in early September of 1900 when over 6,000 people lost their lives in the worst hurricane ever to strike the United States. Although the tale of a single killer hurricane lies at the heart of this story, it casts a much wider net than that. Larson uses the truth like a wizard, weaving history, science, and fact together to bring us a story so remarkable that even after the book's finished it will live in your mind with such clarity that you may begin to wonder if it's something you read...or something you remember. This is "forensic writing" at it's very best. This book will forever change the way you perceive common weather reports and storm warnings. It will astonish, surprise, and enlighten you. And most of all, it will make you hope that Mr. Larson will write more...and soon.

I can't believe the reviews I've seen and am forced to chime in to warn those who expect _Issac's Storm_ to provide the thrill and grip that _The Perfect Storm_ did -- not even close.

While the fact that so much of this book -- especially the climactic storm itself -- is almost entirely the imagination of the author. This, in itself, isn't the weakest link of the text (keeping in mind that the same final moments of _The Perfect Storm_ are also imagined... though Junger is kind enough to clearly point this out). The weakest link is the writing and structure which make the plodding pace and frequent diversion to filler unbearable. Yes, understanding the weather bureau politics is interesteding as well as the history of storm prediction is key and intersting... so why is the sum of the book such a drag? Hmm... could be the third-rate writing.

Read with low expectations.