Book Log 2/2010 - Patrick O'Brian: Master and Commander

[jacey]

Patrick O'Brian: Master and Commander

II must re-read some Hornblower. It's a long time since I waded my way through the whole collection, but I recall loving them. I was expecting to equally enjoy the O'Brian books and deeply disappointed when I didn't.

I know lots of people think Patrick O'Brian can do no wrong, but I just didn't like Aubrey and Maturin enough to overcome the boredom factor of a string of episodes with no overarching plot. I appreciate this is the first in a long line of highly recommended books and I'm sure things develop, but I won't be searching any of the others out.

Having said that, I appreciate that the research that's gone into recreating this world of Nelson's Navy is stellar. The detail is impeccable and the book is probably very realistic in terms of what a new captain in his first command might encounter if he was bold enough and hungry enough.

Unfortunately, for me, the episodic plot is limp and I found I was reading it only for the worldbuilding. I warmed to the Sophie (Aubrey's ship) more than to the human characters. I was determined to get to the end but it took me almost a month. From all the recommendations I've had over the years I know I'm in a minority.

Comments

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Aargh. Will edit the spelling. Thanks.

So... why do you love the characters. What am I missing?

[desperance.livejournal.com]

In part, fallibility (Aubrey especially: a big blustering Englishman with flaws veined all through him, and the charm to carry them well. Maturin is more of a self-portrait, the insewn and critical observer), but that's the writer in me; the reader responds to their intelligence, their determination, their conversation - this especially! - and the whole rich stew of their personalities. At heart, they're just people I like to spend time with: which is why I reread the whole series every now and then.