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A review by sidselgchr
Landfalls by Naomi J. Williams
4.0
This was such an interesting, beautiful and vivid story of french ships setting out to explore the world in 1785.
It worked really well with the different narrators for each chapter, seeing how diverse life was onboard a frigate in the 18th century. The diverse cast of sailors, translators, captains, botanists, artists etc. all aboard the two ships felt so real and funny and alive.
The things they see, the people they meet, the dumb bureaucracy of /civilised/ people. The self important scientists, caring more about nature than the way things are done. The much ado about nothing-ness that surrounds the higher ups, the banal formalities, courtseys and compromises and neverending flattery was truly funny.
And the language is superb. It is truly vivid, and so describing and feeling, that you can see the entire thing playing out. All the vivid brightness of the southern hemisphere, the sweating french in their wigs and heavy jackets, the natives they meet, the ocean, the intense relationships.
Truly a great read.
It worked really well with the different narrators for each chapter, seeing how diverse life was onboard a frigate in the 18th century. The diverse cast of sailors, translators, captains, botanists, artists etc. all aboard the two ships felt so real and funny and alive.
The things they see, the people they meet, the dumb bureaucracy of /civilised/ people. The self important scientists, caring more about nature than the way things are done. The much ado about nothing-ness that surrounds the higher ups, the banal formalities, courtseys and compromises and neverending flattery was truly funny.
And the language is superb. It is truly vivid, and so describing and feeling, that you can see the entire thing playing out. All the vivid brightness of the southern hemisphere, the sweating french in their wigs and heavy jackets, the natives they meet, the ocean, the intense relationships.
Truly a great read.