07-14-2016, 07:29 AM | #16 | |
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Quote:
Spoiler:
Last edited by ElspethB; 07-14-2016 at 08:18 AM. |
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07-14-2016, 01:04 PM | #17 |
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Interesting, I hadn't known that. I knew he researched his battles thoroughly, but not that he'd modeled Jack after Lord Cochrane.
I'm still at the second significant battle. Haven't gotten to the Cacafeugo yet, though we've had our first mention of it. |
07-14-2016, 07:23 PM | #18 |
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Huh?? Jack is described has having long blond hair. A big man, yes. But Russell Crowe does a good job. Now Maturin on the other hand....
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07-14-2016, 07:32 PM | #19 |
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I think we can all agree that Paul Bettany was a "curious" choice for Stephen. I'm still flabbergasted. But despite that, I wish the movie had done well enough that we'd gotten more. Though what I'd really like would be an honest adaptation, book by book, instead of a mashup.
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07-14-2016, 07:37 PM | #20 | |
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I'm really enjoying the humor this time through. I'm going to quote one passage, in regard to a seaman who's to be court martialed for carnal relations with a goat:
Quote:
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07-14-2016, 09:12 PM | #21 | |
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Come on Issy. You didn't quote the best part.
Quote:
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07-14-2016, 09:31 PM | #22 |
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07-14-2016, 09:59 PM | #23 |
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These books are funny. One of the things I like about them.
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07-15-2016, 03:03 AM | #24 |
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I like it that our heroes hold to the views of the day, rather than have late-20th century attitudes, which is a flaw in so many historical novels. Stephen's enthusiasm for medical blood letting, for example.
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07-15-2016, 05:54 AM | #25 |
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I nearly didn't get into the series because of this. I had recently read the great biography "Cochrane: Britannia's sea wolf" before starting M&C. My first impression was that Patrick O'Brian merely had copied Cochranes deeds and added a few bells & whistles. But I'm glad that I stayed on for 21 books
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07-15-2016, 01:38 PM | #26 |
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Not to mention Stephen's rather lackadaisical attitude toward hygiene! To a modern sensibility it seems so odd for a man of medicine to be so grubby, and yet it makes perfect sense for the time period.
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07-15-2016, 02:03 PM | #27 |
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Yes, I thought the bit about the dissecting knife just needing a wipe, not a wash, before being used to carve their supper was very authentic.
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07-16-2016, 09:26 AM | #28 | |
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As for Stephen v. Jack, when I tot up their characteristics, good and bad, I would tend to go for Stephen despite Jack's compelling joie de vivre, except for Stephen's slovenliness, which is gross. |
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07-16-2016, 04:52 PM | #29 |
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Hmm. I think I prefer Stephen to Jack because of Stephen's science. He's willing to try virtually anything, with sometimes fairly horrible results. But that doesn't even seem to slow him down the next time. And he has such excitement about a new bug or bird. (This is seen less in this book than in later ones, but there are still plenty of examples here.)
With Jack, it's his joie de vivre here in this book, but so many other qualities that come to the fore later in the series. Loyalty, a compelling mathematical mind, and his absolute fecklessness ashore. |
07-17-2016, 06:56 PM | #30 |
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Nothing like a couple of 4 hour car trips to move the reading along! Just finished Master and Commander, finishing with the Patrick Tull narration. I'll have some further comments in the coming days.
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aubrey/maturin, master and commander, patrick o'brian |
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