Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

                I’m not sure when I first heard of the Andrea Doria.  I think it was a series on the History Channel or National Geographic.   There was some series about famous shipwrecks that was pretty awesome. That’s where I first heard about this accident that occurred in the 1950s.

                The Andrea Doria was the ship of Italy. It was a flagship, a queen, an empress of the seas.  She was the Titanic without the term “unsinkable” and the proper number of lifeboats.   It sank hours after it was struck by the ship Stockholm.  The reason for the collusion was the subject of court and lawyers. 

                Moscow’s account of the accident, republished in this edition by Open Road Media, traces the events leading up to the collusion as well as the successful rescue that occurred afterwards.   While the writing is edge of your seat, even though you know what is going to happen, Moscow is even handed and fair in his reporting.  And it is reporting.  

                While the focus is primary on those responsible for the two ships as well as the passengers (in other words, the crew of each ship), Moscow does relate the experiences of passengers from every class of the Doria as well as the experiences of some of those on the Stockholm and even the ships that arrived to rescue Doria passengers.  Moscow does so in a way that is not melodramatic, and is all the more powerful because of that.   From the then mayor of Philadelphia, Dilworth and his wife, to the 13 year old boy looking for his parents, to the three women sleeping au natural and finding themselves thrown around without clothes on - while not milked for the drama, the stories do not lack for impact.  This is particularly true about Camille Cianfarra, a foreign correspondent whose was traveling on the ship with his family.

The viewpoints, or considerations, of some the captains on the rescue ships – ships who left their routes to come to the aid of the stricken Doria.   This is particularly true with the ship Ile de France.  

This edition includes updated information, including that about safety issues as well as the history of diving the wreck, including accounts from various divers.   Moscow does debate the ethics of retrieving from the wreck (though he is careful to note that the many of the divers pass along “souvenirs” to souvenirs), for that would be outside the scope of his book. Yet, the section can give a rather disquieting feel to it.  Also included are pictures, including the photo series by Harry A. Trask that won the Pulitzer Prize.

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.

                Usually when I get approved on Netgalley, I try my best to write at least 250-500 words.  I find that for this book I cannot do so.

                Simply put: This is the best book I have ever read about a church or other building.

                I collect and read Pitkin guides as if they are going out of style.  But this book blasts them all to shame.  I pre-ordered a Kindle copy after reading the digital ARC.

                In this book Margaret Visser gives a complete guide to the church of Sant’Agnese di fuori Mura (in Rome).  Along the way, she deals with church history, art history, architectural history, feminism, martyrs, and ancient history.  It is brilliant. One would think a book of this length on such subject matter would be boring. 

                It’s not.  It’s sheer poetry.

                I never heard of this church before, and Visser makes you feel as if you there, but now I want – I need – to see it.

 If you interested in any of the above topics, please read this book.

I cannot thank Open Road Media enough for re-issuing this for Kindle and for allowing me to read a digital ARC.

                It’s magnificent.

                I haven’t read A Civil Action, and quite frankly after reading this book I never want to read anything by Harr.

1.  I don’t care that Francesca answered the phone wearing a towel and with wet hair. I don’t care about her thighs.  Why do you keep telling me these things?
2. Why is so much space give to Francesca’s love life but only 3 pages, less than half, given to what Laura did at the same time? Isn’t Laura more important at this point since she is, you know, actually advancing the needed knowledge?
3. BTW, why is it Francesca and Laura when all that men are referred to by their last names?
4. Oh and how come there are no dripping wet men to go along with the dripping wet Francesca?
5. And how come Laura, who it seems was just as vital, gets so little time? Because she wouldn’t talk to Harr or because she wasn’t as pretty?
6. Francesca might be smart, but it is really hard to tell that from this book. It’s actually a shock when she gets into a program and Laura doesn’t.

Most likely English is the author's second language, but I don't care.  I picked this up when it was offered free; currently Amazon is list the price at 5.40.

At that price, it shouldn't have so many errors.  There are sentences that go nowhere.  Even after reading them three times they do not make sense.  If English is not your native language, it's not forgive and forget.  You get someone who knows what they are doing to either translate or proofread your work.

The first in this Harvard series I didn't like. It's a little too much Miller showing the reader how smart he is and not enough meat.