Welcome once again to Wishlist Wednesday!

The concept is to post about one book from our wish lists that we can’t wait to read. Want to play? Here’s how:

• Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
• Please consider adding the blog hop button to your blog somewhere, so others can find it easily and join in too! Help spread the word! The code will be at the bottom of the post under the linky.
• Pick a book from your wishlist that you are dying to get to put on your shelves.
• Do a post telling your readers about the book and why it’s on your wishlist.
• Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of the post at Pen to Paper.
• Put a link back to Pen to Paper somewhere in your post.
• Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

My Wishlist Wednesday book is:

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

From Amazon:

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she’s had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be her personal maid on the Titanic. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men—a kind sailor and an enigmatic Chicago businessman—who offer differing views of what lies ahead for her in America. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes, and amidst the chaos, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat.

The survivors are rescued and taken to New York, but when rumors begin to circulate about the choices they made, Tess is forced to confront a serious question.  Did Lady Duff Gordon save herself at the expense of others? Torn between loyalty to Lucile and her growing suspicion that the media’s charges might be true, Tess must decide whether to stay quiet and keep her fiery mentor’s good will or face what might be true and forever change her future.

Why do I want to read this?

To tell the truth, I’ve long been fascinated by the story of the Titanic, even before Kate and Leo brought us Rose and Jack (sniff…). I’ve read other novels either centering on the sinking of the Titanic (Every Man For Himself by Beryl Bainbridge) or featuring the Titanic as a catalyst for plot developments or as an event that sets the tone for a particular period (most recently, The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe).  I only just stumbled across a reference to The Dressmaker this past week, but I think it sounds wonderful, especially the combination of historical figures (Lady Lucile Duff Gordon was a real survivor of the Titanic) with fictional characters who can provide a more intimate point of view. One of the synopses of this book mentions that the plot focuses a great deal on the aftermath of the sinking and the trials that were held, and while I’ve read a great deal about the tragedy itself, I haven’t seen much about the fall-out afterward such as the public reactions and the official investigations.

The Dressmaker sounds like a book that I’ll love! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

Have you read The Dressmaker? What did you think? And what are you wishing for this week?

Quick note to Wishlist Wednesday bloggers: Come on back to Bookshelf Fantasies for Flashback Friday! Join me in celebrating the older gems hidden away on our bookshelves. See the introductory post for more details, and come back this Friday to add your flashback favorites!