Thursday 18 August 2016

Read in 2016 - 26: Sea Dust

"Yorkshire Grit" is a set of three books by Margaret Muir, an author I knew nothing about until I found her blog here.


When I came across the set as a free ebook in Amazon's kindle store, the title alone made me click the download button instantly.
Last week, I finished reading the first book and am now at the early chapters of the second. (The set is not a series - each one is a book that stands completely on its own.)


"Sea Dust", the first book, tells the story of a young woman who starts over under the most averse circumstances:

Her little daughter has just died, her husband is a violent drunkard, and her 12-year-old son is forced to take on a job instead of getting further education. With the help of a sailor, Emma barely manages to escape with her life and secretly boards a ship set for Australia, with nothing more than the rags of clothes she is wearing.

The voyage is dangerous and difficult, with Emma's life more than once threatened. But things take a turn for the better, and after several more ups and downs, some deaths at sea and unexpected developments, she arrives in Australia. Unsure of the direction her life will take, Emma reluctantly leaves the ship. What is she going to do to support herself? Where will she live - and who with?
  
Emma's story was touching, and I began to really care for her after the first few chapters. The ship, each character and what was involved in a long voyage at sea in the 19th century is described in detail - a lot of research work must have gone into it.

This is not one of those books where you can guess the outcome from page one; quite the contrary. Language and editing are good (I found only a few minor typos). There is only one tiny point of disappointment with this book for me: In spite of the book being part of a "Yorkshire" trilogy, only the first short part is actually set in Whitby (the harbour town in Yorkshire where Captain Cook came from). Most of the story takes place at sea, and the last part is set in Australia.

That small critique aside, this was a read I enjoyed a lot, and I am definitely going to leave a comment at the author's blog to let her know. 

10 comments:

  1. Dear Librarian,
    Thank you for reading and commenting on Sea Dust. It was the first book I ever wrote and still remains my favourite. I hope you will get as much pleasure from reading the other two books in the Box set.
    Regards,
    Marg Muir

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    1. Dear Marg Muir,
      Thank you very much for taking the time to come over to my blog, read my review and comment! It is always an honour for me when an author decides to get in touch.
      I liked Sea Dust very much and am not surprised it remains your favourite! Right now, I am enjoying "Through Glass Eyes" and will review that one, too, when I have finished it.

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  2. I loved this post and have now been to Margaret's blog where there is a great Q&A post. There I've learned more about her and realize she and I have much in common - both English, both left for other continents when we were young, both love the sea and sailing on it etc.

    Thanks for sharing her books, I must try to find a way to read them.

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    1. Mary, I am glad my review and the link I provided gave you some pleasure. Yes, the Q&A on Marg's blog is so interesting, isn't it!
      I am sure her books can be found on Amazon in your country, too.

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  3. I will be checking to see if I can get this book here. You have made it sound very interesting.

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    1. I am sure it is even easier to find in your country than it was in Germany, Kristi. I am glad my review makes you want to read it, too!

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  4. This involves a story of a ship at sea and it sounds as if the author did proper research into the story? Sounds like my kind of book!
    And how nice that the author left a comment here on your blog. I like her just for that one thing alone.

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    1. Same here, Kay!
      Yes, everything in the book about the ship - how it is maintained at sea, what was involved in such a long voyage and in keeping a team of 30-odd men working together without too much trouble - is plausible and must have meant a lot of research work.

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  5. Another one for the 'to be read' list methinks.

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