Reviews

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

sarahlizzie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

4.75

Me, sitting at home, wrapped in a blankie and sipping a coffee: yeah, I would have simply avoided all of this. First of all, I'm built different. Second of all, I have vitamin C tablets.

emilyprime's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative sad tense medium-paced

4.0

maggiecatherine's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

5.0

jakelig's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative tense fast-paced

4.25

monicaa_d's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

4.0

If you're looking for drama, you've got it. Less scurvy than the last ship book I read, and surprisingly light on the cannibalism. I found several parts of the book actually funny, due to the author's dry recounting of the ship's mishaps. 

Enjoyability ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 
Impact ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

alliincali's review against another edition

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4.0

Sometimes when you listen to an Audible book it really makes the experience (Dave Grohl, The Storyteller or A Gentleman in Moscow for example). The Audible rendering of The Wager was the exact opposite. I almost gave up!

If I had read a digital or paper copy of The Wager I would have finished it in a day. Listening took me over two weeks because the narrator was the absolute wrong choice in my opinion. Great story, poor delivery with mispronuncistions as well. Do yourself a favor and read this story do not listen to it.

kabibblekitsch's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25


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aimee_47's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad

4.25

lesleylovestea's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

5.0

chris_swannie's review against another edition

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4.0

This is not my typical read. I listened to it as an audio book, which I often do. It moved a bit slowly for me in the beginning with a lot of explanation of how ships and their crews worked hundreds of years ago. The book draws on the journals of the men who spent time on the Wager and, at times, has a very academic tone. However, once the action started, I was hooked. I enjoyed seeing how the author poured through what these men journaled (or didn't) to tell as much of the story as possible. Whether we deem each of them a hero or monster, they certainly endured an extraordinary experience at sea.