Tag: disaster
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Togo (Disney+)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Togo: I’m not crying. You’re crying. Shut up. Quick synopsis: The story of Togo, the most important lead sled dog in the Nome 1925 Serum Run. It became what we know today as the Iditarod. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: You probably heard of the Iditarod and a dog named…
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Battle of the Books: A Land So Strange Vs. Brutal Journey
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Land So Strange by Andres Resendez and Brutal Journey by Paul Schneider: Florida had crazy stories even back in 1528. Quick synopsis: A group of Spaniards who attempted to colonize Florida end up in a battle of survival. The survivors end up walking across most of North America. Fun Fact…
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The Big Burn by Timothy Egan
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Big Burn: Well I’m certainly going to be nice to Forest Rangers after reading this. Quick synopsis: The story of the “Big Burn,” the largest forest fire in American history and Teddy Roosevelt’s efforts to create and protect national forests. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The Camp Fire of…
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The Finest Hours by Michael Tougias
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Finest Hours: Two shipwrecks for the price of one! Quick synopsis: The story of two oil tankers in distress off Cape Cod in 1952 and the effort to save the crew by the Coast Guard. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Both distressed ships split in half! And kept floating…
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My Favorite History: The White Hurricane
From November 7th through November 10th, 1913, the Great Lakes were hammered by what was called the Great Lakes Storm of 1913, or much more ominously, the “White Hurricane.” I love history when I have absolutely no insight before I start digging in. I am huge lover of shipwreck stories and came across White Hurricane…
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Dark Tide by Stephen Puleo
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dark Tide: You’ll never think of a sugar rush the same way again. Quick synopsis: A recounting of the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. You heard me right. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In 1919, a giant vat of molasses in Boston burst, sending a flood of molasses through…
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A Night to Remember by Walter Lord
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Night to Remember: Better than the movie. Certainly shorter. Quick synopsis: The classic retelling of the sinking of the Titanic. Enough said. This book was used as reference material for James Cameron when he wrote Titanic. Walter Lord wrote it in 1955. I believe that’s the definition of timeless. Fun…
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The Mirage Factory by Gary Krist
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Mirage Factory: L.A. was full of crazy people from the beginning. Quick synopsis: The story of the origins and early years of L.A. as it was becoming the city we know today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In trying to bring enough water to the fast-growing population of L.A.,…
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The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Children’s Blizzard: If this book doesn’t make you cry then you are a sociopath. Quick synopsis: The story of the blizzard of 1888 in the Midwest which surprised the heartland and caused massive sadness. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Weather forecasting used to be much worse! And in the…