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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I know it's common belief that the Aubrey-Maturin series declines in quality in the later books, but I enjoyed this one very much. The tone has shifted, without a doubt--setbacks are more deeply felt as a sense of mortality begins to hang over the characters, who are no longer at all young. But there are some thrilling sections--Stephen's trip over the Andes is very good, and the naval chase amongst a maze of icebergs is beautifully, tensely written. Jack's son, Father Sam Panda, is a really wonderful character, and his personality shines through the words. Overall, I enjoyed this very much despite the melancholy tone.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Opening with a quite spectacular surprise assault on the wine-dark sea of the title this novel then moves strongly into Stephen's political attempts in Peru and a nice change of pace on the land there.
In between this, we have the internal politics aboard to deal with: Martin's changed self after Clarissa Oakes and a newcomer from France with wild political ideas of his own and no understanding of the protocol on ship.
This was a great fun entry although maybe slightly less compelling than the previous one. Four more to go now...
In between this, we have the internal politics aboard to deal with: Martin's changed self after Clarissa Oakes and a newcomer from France with wild political ideas of his own and no understanding of the protocol on ship.
This was a great fun entry although maybe slightly less compelling than the previous one. Four more to go now...
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the 16th in the Aubrey/Maturin series. Anyone who is familiar with the books or who has, as I have, read all the previous installments will likely enjoy this novel. On the other hand, I can imagine the book might cause puzzlement to a reader picking it up as an entry into the series.
I liked the book. Still, it is one of the weaker installments. I argued in my review of no. 15, CLARISSA OAKES, that that book, though somewhat lacking in action, nevertheless created a powerful portrait of men cooped up for months at a time in a 18th-century sailing vessel (the Surprise is an old ship). THE WINE-DARK SEA seems more inclined to dispose of some characters left over from the previous book. Nathaniel Martin, Stephen’s assistant in many previous installments, is forced to depart the ship midway through the book, and another officer who has appeared in a couple of earlier novels is killed off. Then the Surprise arrives off the coast of Peru. Stephen goes ashore and it looks as if there will be a revolution and some major action. One of the Surprise’s French prisoners escapes and …not much happens as a result. This prisoner, Dutourd, has been touted through two books as charismatic and dangerous. POB simply drops him from the story.
But at this point in this roman à fleuve action and intrigue are really not much more than a back drop. The really good stuff is the humorous relationship between Stephen and Jack and the botanizing and zoologizing of Stephen—in this case in Peru. My favorite part here is Stephen’s visit to the heights of the cordillera and his observations of the flora, the fauna, and the native americans he encounters there. I know nothing about birds, and still I enjoy Stephen’s obsession with them.
Recommended only for POB enthusiasts (of which I am one).
I liked the book. Still, it is one of the weaker installments. I argued in my review of no. 15, CLARISSA OAKES, that that book, though somewhat lacking in action, nevertheless created a powerful portrait of men cooped up for months at a time in a 18th-century sailing vessel (the Surprise is an old ship). THE WINE-DARK SEA seems more inclined to dispose of some characters left over from the previous book. Nathaniel Martin, Stephen’s assistant in many previous installments, is forced to depart the ship midway through the book, and another officer who has appeared in a couple of earlier novels is killed off. Then the Surprise arrives off the coast of Peru. Stephen goes ashore and it looks as if there will be a revolution and some major action. One of the Surprise’s French prisoners escapes and …not much happens as a result. This prisoner, Dutourd, has been touted through two books as charismatic and dangerous. POB simply drops him from the story.
But at this point in this roman à fleuve action and intrigue are really not much more than a back drop. The really good stuff is the humorous relationship between Stephen and Jack and the botanizing and zoologizing of Stephen—in this case in Peru. My favorite part here is Stephen’s visit to the heights of the cordillera and his observations of the flora, the fauna, and the native americans he encounters there. I know nothing about birds, and still I enjoy Stephen’s obsession with them.
Recommended only for POB enthusiasts (of which I am one).
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated