Yucatan Deep

Rating:
Summary: Deep moments.
Review: I found myself very much enjoying this work by Tom Morrisey. There were parts where I felt he dragged it out a little too much, but it still kept the pages turning, so for the most part, it was interesting. I didn't feel like putting it down, that's for sure!

Join Mike Bryant as he goes for a record attempt, to dive Cenote X (pronounced seh-NO-tay as described in chapter) after a first attempt ends in tragedy for his friend, Pete. I thought it was interesting how a deaf woman came into play throughout the story. Mike wants to make it to the bottom of Cenote X, and Bridget (his deaf girlfriend) has a 2nd opinion. I think it is interesting how Bridget is a doctor in this as well. In the midst of all this, a man named Viktor Bellum has his own ideas, what they are, nobody knows. The person who stands out in this book is probably Elvis Hastings, surfer dude turned missionary, who has a lot of deep thought for Mike, who only wishes he had the kind of faith that Elvis has. It is very thought provoking about how we might witness to someone, when you see Elvis take something that Mike might say and turn it into his own illustration. It is awesome that Elvis is a missionary to the Mayan people and how he already uses sign language somewhat as a means of communicating.

This is a book of faith, adventure, and a search for something in the depths of Cenote X, what the Mayans call, K'uxulch'en, in their own language it means, "The Well of Sorrows." For the most part, it was awesome, but it probably could have been shortened. Other than that, I hope to see more of Tom Morrisey in the future. This is good stuff!

Rating:
Summary: Tapping the Depths
Review: This gripping novel weaves a tale of the tensions between the most up-to-date deep-water diving and a primitive jungle cult; between the competing ambitions of two men vying for a Deep-Diving World Record and the evidence of a smuggling, drug-running ring.

The balance of technical detail is near perfect, giving fascinating glimpses of the very real dangers of a deep-water dive without getting bogged down in those details.

Woven throughout is a simple message of Hope in Christ. It barely escapes becoming preachy at times, yet that "peachiness" is an integral part of character development, not a tack-on, so almost always slips through without becoming intrusive.

This book will intrigue those with a technical bent, but still be appreciated by those bored by technical detail.

Well worth reading!

Rating:
Summary: Great adventure novel!
Review: This is a good book about adventure. The story revolves around a cave diver who is attempting to get to the bottom of the world's deepest sinkhole (cenote). The bottom is like 1300 feet deep and in utter blackness. On the first attempt, Mike and his partner Pete try to reach bottom only to have Pete die and Mike barely make it back. Very exciting!!! Very well written.

The book also has a host of other well developed characters: Bridget (a trauma surgeon) and Mike's love interest, a surfer dude named Elvis, and many others including another cave diver with deep and dangerous secrets of his own. This is a great read!!

Rating:
Summary: Some Breathless Moments!
Review: With "Yucatan Deep," Tom Morrisey dives into unexplored areas in the realm of Christian fiction. He introduces us to fascinating characters and throws them into colorful settings. From the onset, we find ourselves in new territory.

The story centers around Mike, a world-class cave-diver, and his love interest, Bridget Marceau--who happens to be deaf. The pair have a longstanding relationship that begins to falter when Mike decides to return to the site of a past disaster in a 1000 foot deep cenote (a sinkhole leading into a cave system). The tension builds as Mike finds his efforts hindered by Indian rituals, personal guilt, and a former acquaintance with a secret motive for guarding Cenote X.

The deep-diving scenes are well-written, full of awe and breathless moments. The people in the story are believable. Morrisey's writing is evocative, although an editor might have pared down some overwrought passages. Here's one sentence as an example: "Slowly, tenuously, its green skin folding and unfolding in the golden morning sunlight with wary hesitance, the iguana crept toward the ripe mango on the garden wall." Five separate words communicate the same idea...but full credit for descriptive ability and mood-setting.

"Yucatan Deep" builds suspense, communicates spiritual truths, and introduces us to likeable characters. Morrisey even throws in a few surprises at the end. Although the story falters in the middle, it is one worth reading. I look forward to Morrisey's future efforts.

Rating:
Summary: Great adventure novel!
Review: With "Yucatan Deep," Tom Morrisey dives into unexplored areas in the realm of Christian fiction. He introduces us to fascinating characters and throws them into colorful settings. From the onset, we find ourselves in new territory.

The story centers around Mike, a world-class cave-diver, and his love interest, Bridget Marceau--who happens to be deaf. The pair have a longstanding relationship that begins to falter when Mike decides to return to the site of a past disaster in a 1000 foot deep cenote (a sinkhole leading into a cave system). The tension builds as Mike finds his efforts hindered by Indian rituals, personal guilt, and a former acquaintance with a secret motive for guarding Cenote X.

The deep-diving scenes are well-written, full of awe and breathless moments. The people in the story are believable. Morrisey's writing is evocative, although an editor might have pared down some overwrought passages. Here's one sentence as an example: "Slowly, tenuously, its green skin folding and unfolding in the golden morning sunlight with wary hesitance, the iguana crept toward the ripe mango on the garden wall." Five separate words communicate the same idea...but full credit for descriptive ability and mood-setting.

"Yucatan Deep" builds suspense, communicates spiritual truths, and introduces us to likeable characters. Morrisey even throws in a few surprises at the end. Although the story falters in the middle, it is one worth reading. I look forward to Morrisey's future efforts.