# Thoughts on Patrick O'Brian's Novels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [November 15, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078 "2016-11-15T17:58:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/1 "2016-11-15T17:58:34Z")
I (finally) watched _Master and Commander_ yesterday and really got into it. I loved the sailing lingo, watching the sailors’ tasks, and the language. Should I try a novel in his Aubrey-Maturin series? If so, which one? I like well-written literary fiction about things I wouldn’t/couldn’t do (like, say, rig up a schooner and dig a bullet out of my stomach with a dirty knife). ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/2 "2016-11-15T18:23:18Z")
They’re great - I especially like the Patrick Tull narrated audiobooks - you’ll want to start with the first one, Master and Commander (don’t worry about the plot being the same as the movie, it isn’t.) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/3 "2016-11-15T18:26:41Z")
Maybe I’m remembering: they’re punctuated…idiosyncratically. But it doesn’t matter, they’re a fun read. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/4 "2016-11-15T18:33:03Z")
They’re the best historical fiction ever written. If you liked the movie, you’ll like the books. As stated, the best way to start is with Master & Commander - they are chronologically written, so jumping into the middle can leave you a little lost. Just a warning - it takes a bit for the action to pick up in M&C. Stick it out, you will be rewarded. And it’s “O’Brian”. (Actually it’s “Russ”, but you’re not supposed to mention that.) ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/5 "2016-11-15T18:39:34Z")
Thanks, all! I’ll be snuggling down with M & C tonight 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/6 "2016-11-15T18:57:08Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > I loved the sailing lingo There’s quite a lot of that in the books, it’s fair to say. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, just let it wash over you. If it is critical to a plot point, someone will helpfully explain it in the text to Stephen, who has as much clue about nautical matters as the average modern reader does. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/7 "2016-11-15T19:01:07Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > Thanks, all! I’ll be snuggling down with M & C tonight 🙂 Careful, there like 17 of them in the series. They can be a little addicting. I hope you have made arrangements for your pets, loved ones, job, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/8 "2016-11-15T20:45:18Z")
They might take a while to grow on you. There’s humor, but it’s often so dry that you don’t notice it the first time through. They are beautifully written, though, so give them time. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/9 "2016-11-15T20:54:08Z")
“Is this not my left hand?” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/10 "2016-11-15T21:35:22Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > “Is this not my left hand?” “I thought it was the horse.” ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/11 "2016-11-15T21:37:13Z")
Because it is cur-tailed! ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/12 "2016-11-15T21:44:17Z")
I have listened to the entire series, narrated by Patrick Tull, more than once. The humor and action is an unequaled combination in any series or genre with which I have experience. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/13 "2016-11-15T22:19:37Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > … there like 17 of them in the series. Twenty in all - 21, if you count the final unfinished book. Far too few, in my view. I’ve read them all at least a half-dozen times. I envy the OP’s opportunity to encounter them for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/14 "2016-11-15T22:58:18Z")
> [@Scupper](#): > > I have listened to the entire series, narrated by Patrick Tull, more than once. How long does it take to listen to a talking book? I tried it once, and the slow pace drove me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/15 "2016-11-15T23:10:51Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How long does it take to listen to a talking book? > I tried it once, and the slow pace drove me nuts. The first one is 16 and a half hours…it’s not something I’d ever do just sitting on the couch when I could be reading a paper book, but I get a lot of listening in when I couldn’t otherwise be reading - while driving, doing house/yard work, going for walks, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/16 "2016-11-16T00:16:50Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > Because it is cur-tailed! Very good! A glass of wine with you, sir! And don’t forget you must always choose the lesser of two weevils. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/17 "2016-11-16T00:37:23Z")
What else shall we spoil for him? Let’s see…His daughters were actually fathered by Barrett Bonden. Stephen moves to Spain with Wray. Jack flees the ship wrecked on an iceberg, leaving Bonden and his crew to a horrible death. Any more? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/18 "2016-11-16T00:58:35Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Any more? Jack and the sloth ultimately set up home together on a remote tropical island, where they have a slow-motion comedy mismatched housemate relationship for about thirty years. Reports of the sloth’s further debauchment are…\*unclear \* ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/19 "2016-11-16T04:11:57Z")
I will also endorse wholeheartedly to read all 20 books. I was blown away the first time I read them all, and on the third or fourth go around enjoyed them just as much. And this is from somebody that has stacks and stacks of unread books. I keep going back to these. I did buy the three companion books. One is a cookbook that was just for fun “lobcourse and spotted dog.” Another showed maps and points of interest, and the third was an invaluable lexicon. I’d name them by title with the author if I was at home. Certainly not necissary but fun for the second go around. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078/20 "2016-11-16T06:09:50Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > There’s quite a lot of that in the books, it’s fair to say. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, just let it wash over you. This. Don’t let it put you off. If you can’t make sense of it, that’s OK. The story will still work. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-patrick-obrians-novels/772078.md?page=2)