Water Ghosts (Book) - 1/27/2019 8:10:35 AM
Dimensions collide and cultures clash, battles are fought, real or imagined?
I had about given up on what passes for contemporary popular literature with its a-b-c plotlines, three sentence paragraphs, and caricatures inhabiting the skinniest of chapters. Then I read Linda Collison’s Water Ghosts. To quote the book out of context without sacrificing its story, “This is our chance to be rescued”.
This “young adult” novel may be best seen in hindsight from those of us over seventy. Reviews of Collison’s work abound with outlines of her plot, so I’ll summarize: A group of kids labeled as troubled is sent to sea on a Chinese Junk with the ironical name of Good Fortune. Along comes a ghost story. On a ship. At sea. Oh goody! Then, dimensions collide, cultures clash. Battles are fought, real or imagined? People disappear. Lives are lost. Ten Little Indians? No. Kids sail on. If kindle pages could fly my tablet would be beyond the horizon.
Collison takes us on a voyage told in first person. Like many a sea story, the beginnings are mundane when the needs of routine trump adventure. Then, when land sinks beneath horizon, there is only the sea, the ship and those aboard her. Isolation and dependency transform vessel into a crucible for testing the stoutness of personal value and the strength of character in youth and adult sailor alike.
But wait. Which first person storyteller is telling tale? Young sailor or old Chinese eunuch? This is getting weird. There is more than a single slice of time in this story for the ship is sailing over haunted waters. Time and history intermix. Boarders are not repelled. An epic battle pits good against good, living against dead, with forces separated by eons, while the invader breathes new life to an ancient tale of dynasty.
Collison plays to her strength by setting her ghost story afloat, for she is a sailor, made evident by her use of accurate but simplified nautical nomenclature defining Good Fortune as a believable stage without having ship overshadow story.
Water Ghosts: Linda Collison. Thoroughly enjoyable reading. Alan E. (Al) Strunk
Barbados Bound; Book 1 of the Patricia MacPherson Nautical Adventures (Book) - 7/1/2018 4:05:38 PM
Barbados Bound (Book One) is a work of nautical and historical fiction. The story opens in 1760 in Portsmouth, England. Sixteen year old Patricia Kelley is about to become a stowaway on a ship so that she can reach Barbados. Even though she is the illegitimate daughter of a deceased plantation owner, she has been educated in England and has in her possession a letter from her father stating the plantation will pass to her. To say she is unprepared for the trajectory her life takes is an understatement.
The author deftly takes readers into the very heart of this exciting and moving story. Vivid descriptions of the nautical setting during a war-torn era keeps the reader totally engrossed. Patricia Kelley is a complex protagonist. Even as young as she is, she has to face her realities. In spite of her inexperience, she must quickly learn to adapt to changes in order to survive. She struggles with identity and longs for freedom even as she loves deeply.
I found this to be a fascinating story. It is a well written and powerful novel which brings an important time in history and those who lived in it to life. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Authors Den. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Water Ghosts (Book) - 2/22/2018 5:20:39 PM
I was so excited to dive into Water Ghosts, particularly after I explained the synopsis to my mother and she said it reminded her of a Chinese legend. Going into the story, I didn't really know what I was expecting but as I continued reading, I found myself drifting farther away. Water Ghosts has an interesting premise but lacked in creating a dynamic set of characters that were interesting. The plot itself felt a bit thin and circles back to having an interesting premise but a weak execution. Nontheless, I managed to get through this novel which still means that it wasn't too terrible, I just didn't particularly like it.
Barbados Bound; Book 1 of the Patricia MacPherson Nautical Adventures (Book) - 2/7/2018 12:55:49 PM
Barbados Bound is an enjoyable twist to the wooden ships and stout-hearted men genre of historical fiction. It is also an interesting glimpse at England's disastrous attack on Havana in 1762.
Patricia McPherson, a dispossessed heiress journeys from England to the West Indies to claim an inheritance. Along the way she encounters obstacles and tribulations familiar to age of fighting sail enthusiasts, but as a young woman, there are added layers of complexity that set the story apart. Think Moll Flanders at sea.
Collison paces her narrative well and the action moves. Her characters and locations are nicely drawn, her research and background are adequate, and while she takes some liberties with the reality of the times, they serve the story well and are easily forgiven.
This is a solid effort that holds out the promise for a successful series.
Recommended.
Water Ghosts (Book) - 11/15/2017 6:37:31 AM
What a unique premise for a story! Three Chinese women who mysteriously and suddenly appear out of nowhere in a small town in China. No one knows why or where they came from, only that one of them seems to be the long-lost wife of a wealthy man in town.
A ghost story is always a good read, and with such a unique cast of characters, a mysterious setting, and spine-tingling, bone-chilling words that draw the reader in paragraph by paragraph. An excellent read!
Rhode Island Rendezvous -- Book 3 of Patricia MacPherson Series (Book) - 10/23/2017 3:54:26 AM
I enjoy historical fiction that's true to history. This appears to be one of those stories. And I like the twist of a woman becoming a ship's captain and those rough and tumble times.
Your reviews are quite good so it looks like people enjoy your books. And from the subject matter, you are fond of maritime stories of the sailing era. While I made a makeshift sail for my canoe and raced downwind at 16 and then later was asked to become half owner of a 32 foot wooden Danish folkboat, I never have sailed or been on the water for more than an afternoon or a pleasure cruise.
Ron
Looking for Redfeather (Book) - 8/27/2017 3:43:18 PM
I have only read a brief portion of, Looking for Redfeather but I must complement Ms. Collison on the prose of her narrative.
I think this book will find a large audience with young men and the mothers of young men who have just set out to find their place in the world.
Of course these are only first impressions but for the way it was moving and the mild cliff hanger on page three, makes a dark set up that many will find irresistible.
