Pirate Hunter, Sorta Reviewed
July 17, 2009
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Bethany House (July 1, 2009)
by
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tom Morrisey is a mountaineer, aviator, shipwreck diver, and explorer, who holds a Full Cave certification from the National Speleological Society – Cave Diving Section.
He has launched, edited or contributed to numerous national publications and is an award-winning adventure-travel writer. A popular speaker, he is also active in both evangelism and the arts. Morrisey earned an MFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, and his fiction has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines.
His first novel, Yucatan Deep (Zondervan, 2002) was a finalist for the Christy award, and he is the author of six novels, including Wind River and In High Places. In addition Tom has also written two nonfiction books: 20 American Peaks & Crags (Contemporary Books, 1978) and Wild by Nature (Baker Books, 2001). He and his family live in Orlando, Florida.
ABOUT THE BOOK
High Seas Adventure Meets a High-Tech Quest for Pirate Gold West Indies, 18th century Young Ted Bascombe is rescued by notorious pirate Captain Henry Thatch, finding himself caught up in a world of crime, adventure, and a daily fight for freedom…. Key West, 21st century Marine archaeologist Greg Rhode embarks on a treasure-hunting expedition in the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys, but he’s as beguiled by a beautiful diver with different-colored eyes as by the lure of pirate gold…The Hunt Is On! Interweaving these two stories, pro deep-sea diver Tom Morrisey spins a multilayered tale of two young men’s quests to escape their past by losing themselves to adventure on the high seas. Romantic and thrilling, this unique novel explores the timeless truth that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
If you would like to read the first chapter of Pirate Hunter, go HERE
Sally Says: I really hate having to review a book I haven’t finished, but I didn’t get the book in time to finish it. So.
I’m enjoying Pirate Hunter. I think I’m over halfway into the book which is a unique blend of a historical about a pirate and the modern-day treasure seekers whom I assume will find his sunken boat or something.
So far the two stories haven’t really blended. We have Bold Ted who was rescued from a slaver ship by pirate Henry Thatch. His story has one of the most heartbreaking tales of conditions on a slaver ship; but on the plus side, he’s met this girl named Sally (can’t go wrong there, right?) and is trying to make a future for the two of them. Then there’s modern day Greg who’s a marine archaeologist working alongside his dream girl on a historic wreck site.
What’s really cool about the story is that Morrisey uses a movie technique to connect the two stories. I’m sure there’s a name for this technique, but I don’t know it so here goes — it’s when a scene ends with an object or person and the next second opens with the same object or person in a different locale or years later. In the first chapter Thatch is teaching Ted about pirating, and he asks Ted what was so important about the year 1623. End of chapter. Chapter two opens with Greg wracking his brain over why 1623 is so important because he’s just been asked this same question on a job interview. I thought it was a pretty cool method of moving back and forth between the two stories.
The one thing I think some people might not like is that there’s a lot of diving technology explained throughout. Maybe a bit too much in places. But I didn’t mind; I was able to follow what was going on, and frankly, I love a good search for sunken treasure.
But since I don’t know yet how Greg’s story will combine with Bold Ted’s life as a pirate in the Caribbean, I must say goodbye. I have a treasure to find.
Comments
3 Responses to “Pirate Hunter, Sorta Reviewed”
Saw this book talked about on another blog, and I’ve put it on my to-read list. Sounds fascinating, especially when you talk about the transition technique.
I’m really interested to read this book! Naturally, since it’s about pirates, but also to see how he manages the transitions and finally brings the two stories together. I keep having similar ideas for books and so far it has proven wickedly difficult to blend the two time periods or two stories.
Then this book sounds like the one for you, Robin.
I think one thing that makes the two stories work so well together is that the characters are likable, particularly the story about Bold Ted.