Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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C.S. Forester
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C.S. Forester & Patrick O'Brian
I finished my reread of the first book, and I can only confirm my previous 4 stars.I love sailing... a small squall was the worse I ever experienced but I still remember the feeling to be in front of an immense power...Ace, have you ever been at sea in a storm? It has to be terribly frightening, but also a little bit thrilling, I think..
While I was rereading the book, I also watched the movie on Tv and i thought it was good as well. I liked the scene in the fog, at night, looking for the enemy ship: the feeling to be in a suspended world.. Sailing at night is for me one of the most beautiful experience you can have.
O'Brien is very good to sketch the life on board, which I love, but also the friendship between Aubrey and Maturin, the small difficulties of life, the camaraderie and petty discussions among the crew, the tragedies and comic interludes.
This edition was translated in Italian, I will try the following books in English even if this will mean to learn again all the naval terminology...onward!
Simona wrote: "I finished my reread of the first book, and I can only confirm my previous 4 stars.I love sailing...."
I'm so glad that you enjoyed the book again Simona, I am just over the half way mark (got distracted as usual by a few other books but am back to Jack and Stephens adventures).
Like Tamara I had a lot of problems with the nautical terms at first and still do. I downloaded the Audiobook from the library and this is helping tremendously with both the foreign words and also the boat terminology. The narrator is very very good.
Yes, we have sailed through storms Simona, you basically have to just steer into the wind and make your sails as small as possible or put them away and motor through it. We have also had horrible gusty winds on anchor and dragged a few or even a lot of meters, in fact we just had a horrid night on the anchor in Montenegro a few days ago where we were quite close to another Aussie boat after 44 knot gusts. The guys on the other boat were shitting themselves a bit when they looked up to see us only 30 metres or so away. We met them the next day and traded war stories over a few drinks.
Night sailing is one of the most amazing things, the thing is, you cant even video it and put it on YouTube to share the experience.
One thing that we don't have to worry about is cannons and other weaponry on approaching boats, although on our last boat crossing the South China Sea we were approached by pirates with spotlights and they checked us out then left us alone. Our boat was very small and I guess they didn't think we were worth boarding or robbing. We went into Borneo on stealth mode for the rest of the journey. No navigation lights. No headlamps. Turned our AIS off. We will probably stay out of Philippine waters in future.
Oh my, Ace! That sounds like true spine-chilling adventures! You'll have enough anecdotes to write a book soon :) Stay safe in your odyssey though. I'll keep you and John in my prayers.
You surely are living the life, my friend. Please stay safe...and think of me next time you're on the night watch, black ink under the hull and only the stars above....
We do have some stories Alice but they are more exciting to tell than live through. Thank you for your concern...The crew of the Sophie in Master and Commander go through so much more, just the description of their living quarters and shifts on duty make me just want to crawl under my nice doona in my double bed and not think about how cold their winters must have been. We are at a marina at the moment (checking out of Montenegro in the morning) and we have shore power and our heater is on and we have hot water for showers. It really cannot be compared.
Having said that, we are expecting some strong winds from the North as we cross from Greece to Turkey across the Aegean Sea :(
Ace wrote: "We do have some stories Alice but they are more exciting to tell than live through. Thank you for your concern...The crew of the Sophie in Master and Commander go through so much more, just the d..."
Ace, I admire your tenacity. When we were in Iceland recently on vacation, we went on a whale watching boat. It was wonderful to be out on the open sea. We got to see a lot of dolphins and what looked like the tip of a whale. but I got woozy and a bit sea-sick after a couple of hours on the boat. So I've developed a healthy respect for people who can withstand choppy waters and gusty winds.
Stay safe.
Ace, give me a "go ahead" when you will be going to start the 2nd book...I'll be there.
Simona wrote: "Ace, give me a "go ahead" when you will be going to start the 2nd book...I'll be there."I'll be starting on the 4th of November Simona
Simona wrote: "You surely are living the life, my friend. Please stay safe...and think of me next time you're on the night watch, black ink under the hull and only the stars above...."I'll be thinking of you tomorrow night !
What's the second book called? Just to keep followers of the discussion up to date.I'm off to find it myself and put it up on the group's main page.
GR says it's Post Captain. I have the Italian translation on paper and I'm going to reread that one..
I have completed Master and Commander, but haven't typed up a review yet. I'm starting Post Captain in a few days.
Simona wrote: "Me too Ace. We are late!!!! 😱😱😱"Ace wrote: "I have completed Master and Commander, but haven't typed up a review yet. I'm starting Post Captain in a few days."
Hope you ladies are not missing the boat? 🐋⛵️⚓️
Guys I have read both series and I have to say that they are both wonderful. Now with the Master & Commander series I will warn you that the first couple of books are a hard read... the language is very British and salty. Not the dirty sailor talk but salty in the peculiar language of sailing and seafaring. The author eventually starts to flow in a more readable style and vocabulary befitting a modern reader.
I would second that Jason, my next in the series is the Ionian Mission & it took me until about book 3 before I was sold on the series, also dont go much for his landlubbing escapades, much prefer the high seas drama & never tire of the chases & gun battles et al
One of our members (was it Tamara?) had difficulty relating to book One for those reasons you mention, Jason. The language restricted her from connecting to the story I think.
"A fig for your opinion.""A man of such amiable parts"
"As thick as penny whores around a barrack's gate"
"Copped it good and hearty"
"God damn and blast your eyes!"
"Handsomely, handsomely now."
"I am most commonly obliged."
"I have been practiced upon."
"In terms suited for the meanest understanding"
"Make a cock of it"
"Not overburdened with principles"
"Pox and eternal damnation!"
"Sadly lacking"
"Sons of everlasting whores!"
"To show like a scrub"
"Wear a different aspect"
"Your soul to the devil!"
I love the language!
Mark wrote: "I wrecken you be ok.👍"Hilarious Mark 😂😂😂
I struggled with the nautical language too, but like Harold says above, I loved the language and made an assumption that it was historically accurate. These phrases were some of the laugh out loud moments for me. I'm wondering how this is translating to Italian Simona?
"poor old fat heavy dirty-bottomed Sophie"
We are experiencing this ourselves right now and soon will be up on the hard for a scrape and paint.
Mark wrote: "I wrecken you be ok.👍"Should be hung by the yard-arm for that one :D
Avast ye swabs is a favourite of mine as is all the nautical terms along with the growth of the Captain & the Dr's relationship
Ace wrote: "Mark wrote: "I wrecken you be ok.👍"Hilarious Mark 😂😂😂"
Thank you, it took me ages and ages to come up with that.
Well 20seconds any way on google.
Andy wrote: "Mark wrote: "I wrecken you be ok.👍"Should be hung by the yard-arm for that one :D"
Oh buoy 😀😀⚓️
Oh BUOY....now this is too much!!! 😂😂
@Ace: I'll go back to see how it went in my book's translation and report, Captain!!!!
And I prefer the nautical adventures than the ones on land too
MASTER AND COMMANDER BUDDY READ SCHEDULE UPDATE For those interested in continuing with the
Master and Commander book by Patrick O'Brian
Schedule:
October 4, 2017
✔ Master and Commander [book 1]
November 4, 2017
✔ Post Captain [book 2]
Revised dates
H.M.S. Surprise [book 3]
February 2018
H.M.S. Surprise [book 3]
March 2018
The Mauritius Command [book 4]
April 2018
Desolation Island [book 5]
Terri wrote: "Have added the 3rd book H.M.S. Surprise to the 'currently reading' section at the top of group."Sorry Terri could you change this to "upcoming in February".
It's been a busy reading month, plus I wanted to wait for Simona to catch up. Dawn may also join us in March for Book 4 onwards. Sorry for any inconvenience to you and other readers out there!
Simona wrote: "Thank you Ace I appreciate this!"No worries Simona, take your time to enjoy your reading :)
No problem. I suppose that means I can take the shackles off Simona and let her slow down a bit. :-)
I'll be joining you whenever you get to Book 5. No hurry, I'm happy to wait. :)
I read them all a decade or so ago. Time to start over again.
I've read all twenty Aubrey novels and am about to start again. I think Patrick O'Brian is a great writer. It shouldn't be too difficult to keep to your time scale, Ace.
David wrote: "I've read all twenty Aubrey novels and am about to start again. I think Patrick O'Brian is a great writer. It shouldn't be too difficult to keep to your time scale, Ace."Tom wrote: "I read them all a decade or so ago. Time to start over again."
David and Tom it will be great to have you along on the voyage!
Jason wrote: "Guys I have read both series and I have to say that they are both wonderful. Now with the Master & Commander series I will warn you that the first couple of books are a hard read... the language is..."Jason, you were spot on with your comments about language challenges for the first two books. Will see what the third installment brings when we pick up again at the start of February.
I've put that schedule on the book's 'currently reading' details at the top of the groups main page.Each time a book starts I will add the schedule to the description. If you have any changes or updates, Ace, post them in this thread and I'll make sure to add them to that schedule each time I post it.
Hoping in on the series read on this one. I think it is a great idea to have a 'stand-alone' and a series read.
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
Desolation Island (other topics)Desolation Island (other topics)
H.M.S. Surprise (other topics)
H.M.S. Surprise (other topics)
Desolation Island (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Patrick O'Brian (other topics)Patrick O'Brian (other topics)
Dean King (other topics)
C.S. Forester (other topics)
C.S. Forester (other topics)
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Yep, the diagram shows the sails all out drying/airing in still weather.
The number of sails deployed would depend on the wind speed,
(EDIT: and also the direction of the wind in relation to the direction of travel) and on this kind of boat which would weigh a number of tonnes you would need at least the main on each of those three masts.
If anyone knows more about these types of sailing craft please jump in, my experience is limited to catamarans only.