ielerol's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second time Maturin has refused to perform an abortion, and it still bums me out! I know Patrick O'Brian did a lot of historical research, but was his attitude really consistent with how doctors of the time understood the directive to "do no harm?" Especially given the extremely obvious consequence that I thought that historically speaking, before a lot of modern medical technology like ultrasound, fetuses weren't considered "alive" at all before quickening, and the modern form of extreme anti-abortion beliefs are relatively new. And yet, the narrative on the whole (as well as Maturin personally, beyond that refusal) is very sympathetic to the woman in question, and women in general, while still not giving characters absurdly anachronistic beliefs. The portrayal of Polynesians as cannibals is maybe not great, and yet, those Polynesian women are amazing, and Maturin is clearly sure they have the right idea. Maybe I should do more research myself.
Still, everything else going on here is excellent.
Spoiler
Mrs. Horner gets an abortion from Higgins instead, which surely caused a lot more harm to her, personally, than if Maturin did it. Like if the option is killing the fetus and the woman or just the fetus, I know that modern-day anti-choice activists are in fact fine killing the woman, but surely Maturin would not be!Still, everything else going on here is excellent.
aaronmjnoy's review against another edition
4.0
A strange one in the series, very little combat or spy action, yet full of incident. Stephen is even more clumsy than usual. Parts of this were used in the brilliant Peter Weir film adaptation, but it is not recognisable as the same story as most of it was borrowed from earlier books in the series.
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this book even though it was a bit far-ranging geographically and in terms of topics covered. Tempted to give it a 4 with the treatment of the Polynesian women. But loved Maturin's handling of things as always.
nukehavoc's review against another edition
4.0
Although I've been reading the Aubrey/Maturin books on and off for years, I saw the Far Side of the World movie before I got to the book. As others stated, it was interesting to see what was kept and what was dropped in the film, and ultimately, I think they nailed the feel of the books as best they could.
As for the book, O'Brian packs a lot into this one, but ultimately I prefer the conclusion of the movie to that of the book.
SPOILER
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The wreck of the Norfolk was a disappointment, especially after the Surprise spent so much time chasing her. While I know O'Brian based his work on the historical record, I preferred the movie's subterfuge and close-quarters ship battle to the anti-climatic wreck in the book. The tension between the American survivors and their British opponents was ruined by the sudden arrival of the Surprise at book's end. It was something that had been hinted at to be sure, but ultimately it felt to arbitrary.
As for the book, O'Brian packs a lot into this one, but ultimately I prefer the conclusion of the movie to that of the book.
SPOILER
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The wreck of the Norfolk was a disappointment, especially after the Surprise spent so much time chasing her. While I know O'Brian based his work on the historical record, I preferred the movie's subterfuge and close-quarters ship battle to the anti-climatic wreck in the book. The tension between the American survivors and their British opponents was ruined by the sudden arrival of the Surprise at book's end. It was something that had been hinted at to be sure, but ultimately it felt to arbitrary.
doodlebuginarug's review
adventurous
funny
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
siria's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another intensely satisfying installment in the series. It's one of the books of the series least capable of standing by itself, both because it is intricately bound up with nine previous books full of characters and events, and because, as with the rest of the Aubrey-Maturin books, it functions much more as a chapter within a longer saga than as an individual novel. The pacing is certainly much different than one would normally expect from a novel; it takes them 200 pages to leave port in order to give chase to the Norfolk, and the denouement is unexpected and rather abrupt. I still found myself enjoying it immensely; I would have done so if all the novel had done was to reacquaint me with Jack and Stephen, who are like old friends at this stage. The quality of the writing is fine enough, though, that I could enjoy this book for other reasons than solely the fact that it is another book in the A-M series.
The period detail is as exacting and as precise as ever, as are the descriptions of the various cultures with which the crew cross paths, and I really do appreciate that. The dialogue is gorgeously textured, and all too often extremely funny. I found myself laughing over several parts this morning on the bus into college, which did frighten the woman next to me somewhat. I particularly enjoyed the method by which Stephen was awoken after his concussion, which was more than a little surreal, and yet so utterly Stephen.
One of the most interesting parts of the book for me was comparing it mentally to the plot of the Master and Commander: [b:The Far Side of the World|672492|The Far Side of the World (Aubrey/Maturin Book 10)|Patrick O'Brian|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177002658s/672492.jpg|19475] movie, because that is how I originally came to the book series. They really are nothing alike; for all that M&C:tFSotW is a very fine movie indeed, it is much more typically Hollywood in tone and content than the book is. One is a chase movie; one is a book which records a voyage, however exciting and however dull that may be at times. They're both creations which I love, just in different ways. Also in connection with the movie, I was very entertained by the fact that in the movie, the crew of the Surprise are chasing a French frigate, but in the book, they're chasing an American ship. I'm sure that change wasn't occasioned by commercial bias at all.
The period detail is as exacting and as precise as ever, as are the descriptions of the various cultures with which the crew cross paths, and I really do appreciate that. The dialogue is gorgeously textured, and all too often extremely funny. I found myself laughing over several parts this morning on the bus into college, which did frighten the woman next to me somewhat. I particularly enjoyed the method by which Stephen was awoken after his concussion, which was more than a little surreal, and yet so utterly Stephen.
One of the most interesting parts of the book for me was comparing it mentally to the plot of the Master and Commander: [b:The Far Side of the World|672492|The Far Side of the World (Aubrey/Maturin Book 10)|Patrick O'Brian|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177002658s/672492.jpg|19475] movie, because that is how I originally came to the book series. They really are nothing alike; for all that M&C:tFSotW is a very fine movie indeed, it is much more typically Hollywood in tone and content than the book is. One is a chase movie; one is a book which records a voyage, however exciting and however dull that may be at times. They're both creations which I love, just in different ways. Also in connection with the movie, I was very entertained by the fact that in the movie, the crew of the Surprise are chasing a French frigate, but in the book, they're chasing an American ship. I'm sure that change wasn't occasioned by commercial bias at all.
menintrees's review
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
shiradest's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent social commentary well-couched, with very well distinguished voices.
louiseoli's review against another edition
ten books in and i firmly believe that patrick o’brian is one of the greatest authors to ever write in the english language. looking forward to the next ten