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andydavidsmith76's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I was oddly disappointed with The Far Side of the World on this readthrough. It’s the first book on this circumnavigation with no sense of ménage and had a sense of Patrick O’Brian by the numbers.
deltatime's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
plot verged on unbelievablemmore than I was always willing to suspend disbelief
njk125's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
juliasilge's review against another edition
4.0
Fabulous. Just fabulous. These books, chronicling the Napoleonic-era naval adventures of Aubrey & Maturin, are so wonderful, and oh, O'Brian gets me every time with the superdramatic, abrupt ending. They are detailed, funny, erudite, and just gripping. This installment centers on the Surprise pursuing an American warship through the Atlantic, around the tip of South America, and into the Pacific. I am starting to love these characters so much that I might want to see the movie, but we'll see. Also, I just looked it up and I read the first book ([b:Master and Commander|77430|Master and Commander (Aubrey/Maturin Book 1)|Patrick O'Brian|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255746604s/77430.jpg|722040]) two years ago, in December 2007. Maybe two more years to finish this 20-book series?
leesmyth's review against another edition
5.0
In no particular order, this one involves:
* ultra-feminist Polynesian cannibals;
* shipwrecks and castaways;
* trickery, bluffs, and counter-bluffs with the enemy;
* dramatic rescues;
* whalers and whaling talk;
* the Galapagos Islands;
* murder, suicide, and a love triangle....
It's a wonderful story, complete with sailors named Macbeth and Macduff who ruin Jack's attempt at quoting Shakespeare to lighten Stephen's mood.
And, of course, close observations of the human condition.
"From the fore-cabin came the youngsters' chorus of hic haec hoc and their mirth, mildly checked by Mr Martin, at the final his his his, his his his...." p. 109
"[I]n the course of his [medical] career by land he had seen many and many a husband, and even some lovers, angry at a woman's sickness, impatient, full of blame: quite devoid of pity, and angry that it should be expected of them." p. 183
"Stephen noticed, not without irritation, that as he ate and drank his civility was growing less artificial, his deliberately urbane expression more nearly a spontaneous smile, and that he was in danger of enjoying himself." p. 251
* ultra-feminist Polynesian cannibals;
* shipwrecks and castaways;
* trickery, bluffs, and counter-bluffs with the enemy;
* dramatic rescues;
* whalers and whaling talk;
* the Galapagos Islands;
* murder, suicide, and a love triangle....
It's a wonderful story, complete with sailors named Macbeth and Macduff who ruin Jack's attempt at quoting Shakespeare to lighten Stephen's mood.
And, of course, close observations of the human condition.
"From the fore-cabin came the youngsters' chorus of hic haec hoc and their mirth, mildly checked by Mr Martin, at the final his his his, his his his...." p. 109
"[I]n the course of his [medical] career by land he had seen many and many a husband, and even some lovers, angry at a woman's sickness, impatient, full of blame: quite devoid of pity, and angry that it should be expected of them." p. 183
"Stephen noticed, not without irritation, that as he ate and drank his civility was growing less artificial, his deliberately urbane expression more nearly a spontaneous smile, and that he was in danger of enjoying himself." p. 251
ckjaer88's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliant as always. I will never stop loving Aubrey and Maturin <3
fflf's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
krep___'s review against another edition
4.5
Patrick Tull is not my preferred narrator for audiobooks in this series, hence only 4 stars. John Lee or Simon Vance narrations would be 5-star.