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The Finest Hours
The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue | Michael J. Tougias, Casey Sherman
11 posts | 15 read | 10 to read
The true story of an incredible disaster and heroic rescue at sea told by two masterful storytellers. In the winter of 1952, New England was battered by the most brutal nor'easter in years. As the weather wreaked havoc on land, the freezing Atlantic became a wind-whipped zone of peril. In the early hours of Monday, February 18, while the storm raged, two oil tankers, the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer, found themselves in the same horrifying predicament. Built with "dirty steel," and not prepared to withstand such ferocious seas, both tankers split in two, leaving the dozens of men on board utterly at the Atlantic's mercy. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of the valiant attempt to rescue the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships. Coast Guard cutters raced to the aid of those on the Fort Mercer, and when it became apparent that the halves of the Pendleton were in danger of capsizing, the Guard sent out two thirty-six-foot lifeboats as well. These wooden boats, manned by only four seamen, were dwarfed by the enormous seventy-foot seas. As the tiny rescue vessels set out from the coast of Cape Cod, the men aboard were all fully aware that they were embarking on what could easily become a suicide mission. The spellbinding tale is overflowing with breathtaking scenes that sear themselves into the mind's eye, as boats capsize, bows and sterns crash into one another, and men hurl themselves into the raging sea in their terrifying battle for survival. Not all of the eighty-four men caught at sea in the midst of that brutal storm survived, but considering the odds, it's a miracleand a testament to their braverythat any came home to tell their tales at all. Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman have seamlessly woven together their extensive research and firsthand interviews to create an unforgettable tale of heroism, triumph, and tragedy, one that truly tells of the Coast Guard's finest hours.
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bell7
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Pickpick

This true tale of a Coast Guard rescue attempt of the crews of two oil tankers that split apart off the coast of Cape Cod during a hurricane will have you on the edge of your seat and turning pages fast. The authors juggle the various people and pieces of the drama with aplomb. After the rescue, detailing what happened afterwards and the accolades received gets a little muddled, but overall this was an excellent read.

9 likes1 stack add
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bell7
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I'm dogsitting and Nora likes to "help" me read my book club book. I think she's licked every book I've read here ? #dogsoflitsy

Chelleo She‘s adorable! Welcome to Litsy! New book friends are the best! We hope you‘re loving it here! Checkout these #Litsytips: http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: http://bit.ly/litsyvideos There‘s so many fun things to do: book exchanges, buddy reads, photo challenges and more! Check out #LitsyHappenings for details. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 7y
bell7 Thanks @Chelleo - it's been fun dipping my toe in and posting a bit. Looking forward to meeting fellow readers and getting some recommendations! 7y
ReadZenRites Hi 👋🏻 Welcome to Litsy ✨📚✨ 7y
Jess7 Welcome to Litsy! 7y
bell7 Thanks for the warm welcome @ReadZenRites and @Jess7 7y
10 likes5 comments
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bell7
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My library is hosting a community read of "The Finest Hours" by Michael Tougias - all but a few of the books are checked out, and all of our copies of the teen edition are gone! It's next on my to read list for this month's book discussion and I'm really looking forward to it. Anyone familiar with his writing? I've had him come to my library for talks before, but this will be my first time reading one of his works.

2 likes1 stack add
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TeaRainBook
Mehso-so

2.5/5 stars. Didn‘t have the same punch that the movie had.

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TeaRainBook
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Reading this for 2018 Pop Sugar Challenge prompt “book made into a movie you have seen already”. The movie was done by Disney and stars Eric Bana and Chris Pine. I picked the YA version because I didn‘t want to read about boat specs.

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utterKATEness
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When it‘s not academic, it‘s nautical. (I‘m sorely missing the moments when I can pick up a book for fun!)

#leisurereading #guiltypleasurebooks #nautical

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Mdonald
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A very quick read. I think the movie will be more entertaining, but the authors did a great job keeping the facts short and concise which I can appreciate. #LitsyAtoZ #F

JennyK1 The movie was great! Definitely worth watching :) 8y
Mdonald Good to know! I think I'll like the movie better. The book was good, but short so everything happened really fast (which I can appreciate in a nonfiction)! 8y
4 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Mdonald
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Ha! His father was far from chicken...a true hero!

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LiteraryMind
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Pickpick

An incredible journey taking you into the depths and dangers at sea with the most brutal storms New England ever saw! Based on a true story, The Finest Hours depicts true courage, bravery, and understanding what it means to risk oneself in hopes for saving others. May God forever bless such people! NOTE: the movie is just as fantastic! #CoastGaurd #ChrisPine #Disney #NetFlix #BernieWebberRocks

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Josie
Pickpick

Loved this one. An incredible true story about the coast guard officers who stepped in to save lives during one of the worst storms to ever hit New England. Watching the movie as we speak :)

15 likes3 stack adds