Review of Shanghai'd
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David Milaham
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- Latest Review: Shanghai'd by Curtis Stephen Burdick
Review of Shanghai'd
[Following is a volunteer review of "Shanghai'd" by Curtis Stephen Burdick.]
“Shanghai’d” is a story that began with the setting of the California Gold Rush in 1948. In this period, it was not uncommon for men to be kidnapped and forced into service on ships traveling along trade routes across the Pacific. Joshua Cabot was one such man who was an unfortunate victim, first to the bottle and then to kidnapping. Leaving home to make a fortune with the gold rush certainly did not bode well for Cabot. Read this book to discover how his unexpected adventures turned out.
This was a truly marvelous book to read due to numerous factors that made it appealing. Curtis Stephen Burdick, the author, expressed his storytelling experience by making it possible to get invested in Cabot’s life, as though one were there with him. The gentle easing of the narrative from the initial advent of the gold in California—who found it and why—to the sudden involvement of Joshua Cabot in this situation all flowed naturally and made the story very relatable. Joshua’s initial reaction and that of his girlfriend at the time made it easy to connect with the story and gave a window into what to expect, and truly, I was not disappointed. The journey on the ship was both thrilling and lighthearted, making the characters feel more human.
Another aspect I found most commendable was the degree of historical accuracy in this story. From the gold rush to the technology and the behavior of the characters throughout, which was consistent, everything seemed very accurate and properly laid out. It made sense when the story told of the adventures and people Cabot met while he was kidnapped. Captain Stark especially debuted as a really ruthless captain, and I appreciate how that fit into the theme of the story. All of these combined made this book worth the read.
Regarding the negative aspects, I have very little to say. First off, the pacing of the story seemed uneven, with some parts rushed and others made a slow burn. Joshua’s courtship with Annabelle after reaching California was an example of these sped-up narratives, which resulted in presenting a lot of information and emotions all at once; it was not very appreciated. These, combined with the errors I found, were the reasons why I deducted a star and gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. In the absence of these negative aspects, nothing will make this book short of a perfect rating. The story flowed well and carried me along, with all the highs and lows brought in a manner where I was absolutely invested.
******
Shanghai'd
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“Shanghai’d” is a story that began with the setting of the California Gold Rush in 1948. In this period, it was not uncommon for men to be kidnapped and forced into service on ships traveling along trade routes across the Pacific. Joshua Cabot was one such man who was an unfortunate victim, first to the bottle and then to kidnapping. Leaving home to make a fortune with the gold rush certainly did not bode well for Cabot. Read this book to discover how his unexpected adventures turned out.
This was a truly marvelous book to read due to numerous factors that made it appealing. Curtis Stephen Burdick, the author, expressed his storytelling experience by making it possible to get invested in Cabot’s life, as though one were there with him. The gentle easing of the narrative from the initial advent of the gold in California—who found it and why—to the sudden involvement of Joshua Cabot in this situation all flowed naturally and made the story very relatable. Joshua’s initial reaction and that of his girlfriend at the time made it easy to connect with the story and gave a window into what to expect, and truly, I was not disappointed. The journey on the ship was both thrilling and lighthearted, making the characters feel more human.
Another aspect I found most commendable was the degree of historical accuracy in this story. From the gold rush to the technology and the behavior of the characters throughout, which was consistent, everything seemed very accurate and properly laid out. It made sense when the story told of the adventures and people Cabot met while he was kidnapped. Captain Stark especially debuted as a really ruthless captain, and I appreciate how that fit into the theme of the story. All of these combined made this book worth the read.
Regarding the negative aspects, I have very little to say. First off, the pacing of the story seemed uneven, with some parts rushed and others made a slow burn. Joshua’s courtship with Annabelle after reaching California was an example of these sped-up narratives, which resulted in presenting a lot of information and emotions all at once; it was not very appreciated. These, combined with the errors I found, were the reasons why I deducted a star and gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. In the absence of these negative aspects, nothing will make this book short of a perfect rating. The story flowed well and carried me along, with all the highs and lows brought in a manner where I was absolutely invested.
******
Shanghai'd
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Shanghai'd by Curtis Stephen Burdick
