Review: Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson
Posted: 14 Aug 2015, 21:53
I recommend reading this book before his other works.
Having read this after Devil in the White City, I could see where Larson's writing became perfected in between the two. I did find this book a little frustrating in some of the accounts being fragmented, some didn't seem to have any part in the story telling. I also would have liked to see a larger picture/map of the area to get a better sense of how big the island was without having to look it up online.
I also found his description of how hurricanes form rather elusive. I understand because I've had those classes, and so I just skimmed over his descriptions. Otherwise it felt difficult to follow without drawings or sketches to support the image being conjured.
It was a fast read but a good tale. I found many pictures online of the destruction and I nearly lost my lunch! The images I saw were far worse than the ones Larson was portraying. It's probably a good thing none of them were included in the book.
Having read this after Devil in the White City, I could see where Larson's writing became perfected in between the two. I did find this book a little frustrating in some of the accounts being fragmented, some didn't seem to have any part in the story telling. I also would have liked to see a larger picture/map of the area to get a better sense of how big the island was without having to look it up online.
I also found his description of how hurricanes form rather elusive. I understand because I've had those classes, and so I just skimmed over his descriptions. Otherwise it felt difficult to follow without drawings or sketches to support the image being conjured.
It was a fast read but a good tale. I found many pictures online of the destruction and I nearly lost my lunch! The images I saw were far worse than the ones Larson was portraying. It's probably a good thing none of them were included in the book.