The Mercy of the Sky

The Story of a Tornado

By: Holly Bailey

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Mercy of the Sky is the harrowing inside account of Oklahoma's deadliest tornado, penned by a local writer who became a national correspondent.

Oklahomans have long been known for their fatalism and grit, but even old-timers are troubled by the twisters that are devastating the state with increasing frequency. On May 20, 2013, the worst tornado on record landed a direct hit on the small town of Moore, destroying two schools while the children cowered inside.

Oklahoma native Holly Bailey grew up dreaming of becoming a storm chaser. Instead she became Newsweek's youngest-ever White House correspondent, traveling to war zones with Presidents Bush and Obama. When Moore was hit, Bailey went back both as a journalist and a hometown girl and spoke with the teachers who put their lives at risk to save their students, the weathermen more revered than rock stars and more tormented than they let on, and many shell-shocked residents. In The Mercy of the Sky, Bailey does for the Oklahoma flatlands what Sebastian Junger did for Gloucester, Massachusetts, in The Perfect Storm, telling a dramatic, pause-register story about a town that must survive the elements - or die.

©2015 Holly Bailey (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good narrator, OK story

I am a bit of a weather buff so I like Tales of weather disasters. This one describes 2013 tornado that devastated the town of Moore Oklahoma. With any event like this, due to the relatively brief time a tornado is on the ground, there is going to be a lot of "background" information. This story goes into great detail about the local weather personalities and their histories, as well as some details about the people involved. It is not done in a poor manner but stories like fall and Rise dealing with 9/11 did this kind of exposition in a more entertaining fashion. For example we get a lot of detail about weathermen when it wasn't all that pertinent. Instead it would have been better if we had received more history in details about prior storms including the mid-90s tornado that hit Moore that I believe reach 300 miles per hour.

Some later chapters are done very well including the agonizing wait for the parents of the deceased children in the elementary school. One thing that drives me nuts about books like this and especially this one is the author keeps referring to the tornado as some sort of living entity. It is described as a monster or a beast countless times as well as breathy descriptions about how it aimed for certain locations. It was weather and it does not need to be described as some sort of living Terror.

I did like the narrator's presentation and thought they did a very good job. As far as disaster books go this one is pretty good.

Should be No-Mercy From The Sky

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely

What did you like best about this story?

The Intensity of the narrator

Which character – as performed by Erin Bennett – was your favorite?

It's an amalgamation of characters and the story is told from each of their own prospectives.

If you could give The Mercy of the Sky a new subtitle, what would it be?

The Story of the 2013 Tornado Outbreak and Heartbreak

Any additional comments?

I read quite a few comments before I decided to go with this book. Originally I chose Into The Storm by Reed Timmer but once I gobbled thru that on a cross-country road trip I downloaded this one. I've been a weather nut my entire life and while in the end, I decided to go with physics-related studies (the university I was at did offer an Atmospheric Sciences program) I always secretly wished I'd attended the A/S program. There are a few negative reviews about this book, most of which circulate around the narrator or the way the story was delivered. Having worked with the National Severe Storms Laboratory and the National Weather Center (and Service) doing research related work in the realm of severe weather I can say that, for me, the delivery of the narrative of this book was spot on. I think the author and narrators are both trying to deliver the confusion, frustration, anxiety and fright these victims experienced thru her writing, having seen some of this horrible devastation first hand I can place the feelings they're trying to convey with the looks or actions I've seen on others faces while they're trying to make sense of what's just happened to their lives. The narration can be over the top the way she delivers it, but that lends it'self to the way she's attempting to frame the story and how these poor people felt. Personally, I loved this book and how it was written. First 9-10 chapters are about different meteorologists and their own stories of the devastating 2013 Moore OK tornado but that gives the book a solid narrative and it doesn't become mundane. Listening to how these weather professionals from meteorologists, to news station chopper pilots to the chasers on the ground relaying video and info back to the stations to the HERO teachers whom literally laid on top of children to shield them from flying debris, some of whom lost their lives this book is amazing, it's worth a read/listen if you're on the fence about it. Your eyes will get a little watery and throat a little thick listening but it was a fantastic book and I'm sure I'll be listening to it on my back across the country to Norman for storm season in 2018. Cheers.

This book can't get out of its own way.

Would you try another book from Holly Bailey and/or Erin Bennett?

Neither was particularly enthralling.

What was most disappointing about Holly Bailey’s story?

A generally fascinating subject but incapably handled by the author who spends chapter after chapter mired in irrelevant nuance that has little or no bearing on the actual disaster. She spends the first SEVEN chapters discussing only the career progressions of every major Oklahoma meteorologist from 1930-2000, and even that could have been at least mildly interesting, but instead its a dull uncreative recital of worn out cliches. And also, why must Tornados always 'churn'?!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

boredom.

Fantastic book and fantastic delivery

I've listened to this book multiple times now. This is one of those stories where you catch something new every time you listen.

The true life facts are horrendously heartbreaking, but the author has done an amazingly thorough and respectful job at telling them.

I also have to give major props to the narrator. She makes it through even the saddest details without ever losing her composure, all the while exhibiting plenty of emotion where it's needed. I can truly feel the anguish, anger, sadness, desperation, fear, and strength of the characters throughout her narration of these accounts.

Because of the level of genuine respect and care that are shown by the author and portrayed through the narrator, I'm sure I'll continue to listen to this story every so often. I highly recommend it.

The story of people impacted by a tornado

There are many books and documentaries about the ferocious tornadoes that have hit Moore, Oklahoma. The focus of most is the awesome power of the storm. What sets this book apart from the others is the author’s focus on the people impacted by the storm. In “The Mercy of the Sky” author Holly Bailey, who grew up in Moore, weaves together the stories of many. Some lost loved ones in the storm, or were seriously injured themselves. Others lost homes or businesses. Many outside the direct path of the tornado were burdened with the psychological effects of such a destructive storm. Those include first responders and news reporters. Ms. Bailey interviewed broadcast meteorologists to understand the sense of responsibility they feel for keeping the public safe from storms, and their anguish when there are injuries and fatalities. The mayor, city manager and other officials with the city of Moore had jobs to do to restore the infrastructure of the city, but they did so with heavy hearts because so many of the people of Moore were hurting. Many of the teachers and administrators of the two elementary schools that were destroyed, risked their own lives trying to protect their students. Some had children of their own in those schools, but they remained with the frightened children in their classes and trusted the teachers of their children’s classes would do the same.

Tornadoes are remembered for the number of fatalities and the dollar amount of damage done. The Mercy of the Sky reveals an aftermath much heavier than a few statistics.

Great Attention to detail!

A fantastic way to tell so much detail in a human way. I don’t understand the survivor’s guilt and I hope I never do.

Great story!

I enjoyed this real story of an actual event. It was realistic and endearing to me. Elicited genuine feelings of compassion.

tornadoes

love learning more about the power of nature! So sad the amount of devastation!!! And why isn't there a basement in every school in tornado country 😑

Perfect, No Notes!

Some reviewers are upset by the first half, concerning the low level drama between local meteorologists but don't let that stop you from reading this. All of the setup just makes the second half so much more impactful by examining the things that are truly important at the end of the day. There are so many devastating moments in this book that my only advice is not to listen or read at work or otherwise in public. Narration is top notch. Just take a chance, you'll be so glad you did!

a sad story

while listening to the story I wanted to cry many times. good book. well done!