"Review of Master and Commander" Topic

I bought this book almost a year ago, I started to read it, at first it was very nice, the meeting of Jack and Stephen, getting the new ship ready ect.

but then there was a long time were nothing happend, alot of random talk, that realy didn't do much.

I gave up, and stoped reading it for like 6 months.
then I got in this realy heavy napoleonic naval frenzy, watchinng the master and commander movie, watching hornblower ect.

so I decided to give the book another try.
I had gotten to about page 150 before I gave up. so I started again there.
the first thing I read was conversation between Stephen and Dillon. I realy didn't take much noteise of it. but it turned out that you got some important info that had consequenses later on.

there was alot more action in the second half of the book, with the attack on Cacafuego as the high point of the book.

my biggest problem with the book is that there was no clear story line though the book. no red thread leading you on, some times it was like there was a dozen small short stories just paised in the book, some time that everthing was random.
that was probebly the reason for giving the book up the first time, when you hit a boring part, you didn't have that tread that got you to want to read on.
But what the book does wonderfully is to take you back in time, it's very beliveble, the speech, they way they behave ect. the characters also feel very real.
and ofcourse the technical aspect is superb, I must admit I only understand half of the sailor speak in the book, but i'm sure it all makes sense for those that know it.

anyway the book was good read on the second try and I orderd the next two books in the series.

Thanks for the report. Enjoyed the movie immensely.

Mike

I'm up to "The Far Side of the World", which, confusingly, is the book on which the film "Master and Commander" is based. I think FSotW is about book 9 in the series. Some of the books can be a bit slow, but all build and add to the main characters.

I read Master and Commander. It was OK; I think had similar issues as the original poster. But I could not for the life of me get through the second book. 150 pages in and they hadn't even gone to sea!

I enjoyed CS Forester much more.

They're certainly an acquired taste, and the first book does you no favours in helping you acquire it. But if you get into it, it hooks you like heroin. Absolutely my favourite set of books.

They aren't really action-adventure stories. They aren't even really naval fiction. What they are is Jane Austin for boys.

Or Jane Austen, even.

I read Master and Commander. It was OK; I think had similar issues as the original poster. But I could not for the life of me get through the second book. 150 pages in and they hadn't even gone to sea!

I think post captain is more a spy thing, were you learn about what Stephen dos

Well, I don't know what to say here. I guess you might find some of the detail and stage setting a but dry if you don't know a lot about sailing ships, their operations and the times of their use. If you read a few of these books, much of that background will become more familiar to you.

Jane Austen??? Not quite that bad is it?

The relationship between Aubry and Maturin is rather unique and forms a significant thread through out the saga. Lets' face it, using a small frigate for intelligence work makes a lot of sense and opens a few more story lines for the author.

I think these books are GOLD -- PURE GOLD.

mjc

"Jane Austen for boys."

Wonderful analogy. Thank you.

I do like the character of Stephen Maturin, I thnik he and I would have a lots of intresting descusions. as we are both very curios and intrested in nature.

and you as the reader kinda see it all though his eyes, as he like you(well most of us) are not sailors.

so we live on theise ships though him like a amature

I always think of these as Jane Austen for boys as well, a real insight into life during the Napoleonic Wars.

Pride & Prejudice with guns. Great stuff.

I meant to add…

I too found the first couple of books a bit stodgy and gave up on the series until I saw the film. It then suddenly clicked what O'Brien was trying to do in the books, in the same way that Peter Weir created a series of Turner paintings in the film. Not looked back since.

"as he like you(well most of us) are not sailors."

He's sort of like the dumb bimbos that tag along on Dr. Who. :) There only so the Doctor can explain what's happening without standing there talking to himself like a total loon.

Sadly, could only read the first volume. Found it dry, drawn out and lacking in plot. Different strokes for different folks (smile).

I'll stick with Hornblower and his relationship with Bush.

Dan

I've thought about reading Hornblower, but after watching the series, I doubt I would bother to read the books that are coverd in the series.

I would have to start on the books after he was made post captain

Gunfreak,

The A&E series was good, but trust me, read the books without thinking about the telenovel and you will find it a good read. I have read most of the hornblower series (maybe all) and they are all good.

The Aubrey/Maturin books are a little more difficult to get into, but if you do, you will get a sense of the life beyond the ship. they have their moments.

IF I had to choose one series over the other, I would opt for the hornblower series.

The Hornblower TV series was a brave effort, but the books are much better.

O'Brian isn't really a series of books. It is really one long novel.

By the time you get to book 3 or 4, the characters are so real, and you have so much invested in them, that the remaining 18 books will fly by.

Obrian, hip hip.

I just finished the whole series a few weeks ago (took me about a year). I did find them more boring than the Sharpe series. There are sometimes large sections of the book with nothing interesting happening in my opinion. I am also beside myself when there is finally a battle, but you don't get to hear about it except as a quick after-action report because Stephen wasn't there or something. The series was OK but I'm looking forward to reading some more Bernard Cornwell series now.

Steve

Gunfreak, you describe my attempts exactly. It took me three tries to finish what I started.
Since, here in the USA, the only format they are available in is the "Quality paperback" for $15, I never took the bait again.
Based on the one Aubrey/Maturin that I read, I prefer Hornblower.

Don't know if it came out clear enough in the reveiw, but I did enjoy the later part of the book very much.

as I said I have orderd the two next books in the series.

There's no way I would plough through a twenty book series if I thought them only 'ok' and 'boring.'

Are you some kind of glutton for punishment, Steve?

I tried 'em. Didn't like 'em. Won't try 'em again.

I picked up Master & Commander whilst on holiday in Ibiza in '76 and struggled to get into it at first, how very different from dear old Hornblower I thought, but perservered, and thank goodness I did because I found in O'Brian a treasure trove of richness of character and humour throughout the series which is priceless. Enjoy! (I still like Hornblower mind)

I didn't say they were boring, they were more boring than sharpe, but OK is good enough for me.

Incidentally, did anyone catch HMS Surprise on radio 4 broadcast on the afternoons of Wed/Thu/Fri.?

I tried them too and tossed them aside. Much rather reread Dudley Pope's Ramage series or Hornblower (I have the entire sets of both.)

I am a Hornblower fanatic. I read most of the other Nappy naval stuff but didn't think they compared. When I started M & C I, too, found it dry and uninspiring and the characters confusing. Read about 1/4, put it down. Came back two years later, read it all and finished the entire series in less than two years. O'Brian was addictive. Still like Hornblower though.

I've started on post captain now

I realy get the Jane Austen thing now.(altho I've never read it)

so far the books is about a mother, 3 sisters and a cousin, gosuping with an admeral about Jack

I just finished Master and Commander 15 minutes ago. I really liked it. I found the fact that there isn't a straightforward plot strange at first, but I was already absorbed by the characters, so I didn't care.

I felt I was only getting half the jokes. I could tell something was a joke, I just had to context to understand it. "My bankers are Hoares," is universal, however. Another good one is when Jack is just about to get it on with the maid when a sailor named "Timely" bursts in the room.

I first picked up Maser and Commander about 15 years ago and was literally sucked in from the first page. As one who generally read action and war books I was surprised how the description of a rather fat naval officer tapping his feet in time to a recital could excite the imagination but it did. I have read every one of them now (in order, no less) – twice. I think Patrick O'Brian is one of the most eloquent writers of our age, especially when he's writing about THAT age in such a way that transports you there so vividly.

To each their own.

Two books by C.S. Forrester that are not part of the Hornblower series are also a good read "Death to the French" and "The Gun" excellent books if you can get them.

Regards
James

As it came up on a book thread on a website and always loved the movie I picked up the 2nd book The Post Captain. Knowing more than your average reader was still a little lost on some of the terminology. But loved it and will get to the next sometime.

I like the movie and I wish we could have another one. They do sequels for some of the worst movies and here is a very entertaining movie but no sequel. Too bad.