{"product_id":"the-tornado-83-john-edward-weems-9780890964606","title":"The Tornado, 83","description":"\u003ci\u003eThe Tornado\u003c\/i\u003e gives account of one of the world's most terrifying natural disasters. Twisters have left their wake of freakish consequences throughout the United States and the world, and \u003ci\u003eThe Tornado\u003c\/i\u003e vividly describes some of the most bizarre from around the country--houseboats sailing through the air; cars flown to a landing half a cornfield away; an entire house lifted and demolished, leaving only a divan holding the uninjured family. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The most detailed description of a tornado and the violence it can bring comes from the author's focus on the tragedy of one American town in 1953. John Edward Weems was an eyewitness reporter of a funnel that hit Waco, Texas, on May 11 of that year. In gripping narrative, he portrays the events of that day: a man clinging to a guard rail while a mailbox, plate glass, bricks, and assorted debris whizzed past his head; automobiles rolling end on end down the street; buildings falling like blocks knocked down by an angry child; a movie theater crumbling on the terrified patrons. When the storm had passed, 114 people were dead and hundreds injured; property damage ran in the tens of millions of dollars. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Research in news reports, government weather documents, and books flesh out this account, which Pulitzer-prize winner Annie Dillard called \"wonderfully exciting. It is full of people, and the thousands of details that make up their lives--and deaths. [It is] a story of enormous power.\" John Banta, writing in the \u003ci\u003eWaco Tribune-Herald\u003c\/i\u003e, described it as \"a gripping story of human drama and tragedy.\" \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e said, \". . . the events still chill face to face with a power that defies reason.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Royalties from the sale of \u003ci\u003eThe Tornado\u003c\/i\u003e will benefit the book fund of the Waco-McLennan County Public Library. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e John Edward Weems\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0890964602\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780890964606\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Texas A\u0026amp;M University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/09\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 200\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.65lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.26h x 5.58w x 0.59d","brand":"John Edward Weems","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47001248235775,"sku":"9780890964606","price":11.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_769b2e2c-f9e6-440a-864a-c0ed3d69a16f.jpg?v=1751600504","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-tornado-83-john-edward-weems-9780890964606","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}