GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 30 October 2015

I just looked at my watch and realised that I've spent too much time today preparing two powerpoint presentations for a display for tomorrow; it's been great fun delving into the history of my local area.

Now for a change of pace I'm arming myself with a nice hot cup of coffee and I'll reread and cull the candidates for my GeniAus' Gems selections this week.

1. I love Chris's latest blog page idea.
http://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com.au/p/trove-tattles.html

2. I wish Michelle would find me some millions
http://hawkesburyheritage.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/family-millions-trove-tuesday.html

3. Contact from another Genie took Kylie to an ancestor
http://blog.kyliesgenes.com/2015/10/gustav-ferdinand-buring/

4. Melody puts up a strong argument for collaboration
http://www.researchjournal.yourislandroutes.com/2015/10/five-reasons-you-should-collaborate-with-other-genealogists/

5. Helen passes on a plea for help.
http://helenvsmithresearch.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/world-war-one-portraits-museum-of.html

6. Jennifer embarks on a new project
http://axedalethenandnow.com/2015/10/26/axedale-one-place-study/

7. Alex goes Back to the Future
http://familytreefrog.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-what-were.html

8. That's why I do too, Janelle.
http://janellestree.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/this-is-why-i-pay-ancestry-big-bucks.html

9. Andrew taught me about Tin-kettling
http://andrewsarchives.com/2015/10/25/tin-kettling/

10. Jenny's tribute to her late grandmother
https://conversationswithgrandma.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/the-real-grandma/

Grab a cuppa and enjoy.

I didn't find any new to me blogs this week. Did you?

Trove Tuesday - Family History

For my post this week I am sharing a short poem titled "Family History" from 1899.

1899 'FAMILY HISTORY.', The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), 29 March, p. 2 Supplement: The Mercury Supplement, viewed 26 October, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9444617

Dispatched

A glance at my online tree tells me that several distant family members passed away today. You can follow the links below to see what I know about them.


Died

Matches 1 to 4 of 4

	Last Name, Given Name(s)	Died		Person ID	Tree
1	Burgess Annie	25 Oct 1866		I8405	Geniaus Family Tree
2	Purcell Joseph Patrick	25 Oct 1928	Boronia Cannonbury Grove, Dulwich Hill, NSW, Australia	I8982	Geniaus Family Tree
3	Madgwick Robert Albert	25 Oct 1996	,Dubbo, NSW, Australia	I2362	Geniaus Family Tree
4	Brydon George Thomas Leo	25 Oct 2000	,,NSW, Australia	I7665	Geniaus Family Tree

Lost Sleep - thanks to Nathan

I like to read in bed before I turn in for the night. It is the fault of author, Nathan Dylan Goodwin, that I missed out on several hours sleep this week.

Nathan kindly sent me a review copy of his latest genealogical mystery, The America Ground - the third book in the Morton Farrier genealogical crime mystery series. Once I started reading it was hard to stop.

The book was attractively presented with an appropriate cover illustration, the paper was light enough that the book was easy to hold up in bed and the font a decent size for old eyes. I did find the narrow margins disconcerting and would have liked a bit more white space around the edges of the text.

I was quickly hooked by the story although at times I found the prose a bit stilted and thought that there was an overuse of adjectives in some places. But it's really all about the story and that hooked me in. 

Having read the first two books in the series I have become fond of Morton Farrier, the larrikin genealogist, and his long-suffering fiance. Will she ever get him to the altar? It was nice to reconnect with these characters but this book is suitable for anyone to read as a standalone. Anyone who likes a good whodunnit (not just genies) should enjoy this tale.

The story moves in time between 1827 and the present day with a short visit to the 1980s. I did not find this at all confusing as one does with some time travel tales. From a very early stage I was hooked by the story and just had to keep reading to see how Morton solved the mystery that was presented. With a few murders, some kidnapping and a touch of romance this novel kept me in suspense until its last pages. The subplot of Morton's search for his biological father added an extra dimension to the story. An added bonus for we genies is that Morton talks our talk and hangs out in the places we like to visist.

I would certainly recommend this book to fellow readers. Thanks Nathan for sending me a copy to read. I'm now hanging out for Book 4.

The America Ground is available as an ebook from Amazon Australia. I was pleased that I received a hard copy edition which it appears that Amazon.com will ship to Australia.

My mates overseas can buy the book in various formats here:

Buy The America Ground now! (UK)

Buy The America Ground now! (US)

Buy The America Ground now! (Australia)

Buy The America Ground now! (Canada)