The Fortune of War and The Surgeon's Mate, by Patrick O'Brian

[rowyn]

My reading rate has slowed down considerably since my initial plunge: back into books: it's been two and a half weeks since my last review. And I keep having to renew the books I already have out from the library.

I have actually read two books since my last review -- two more of the Aubrey/Maturin novels. I didn't write about The Fortune of War at first in part because I plunged right into the next, and in part because there's not a lot to be said for these that doesn't spoil earlier books. Still, I want to note that I finished them, and that they are solid installments in the series. Certain things in each were sad-but-inevitable, and other turns quite surprised me. Particularly the end of The Surgeon's Mate. (!)

I have five books left out from the library. Two are the final installments of Mira Grant's Newsflesh series, and I'm not sure I'm going to read those -- I checked them out so Lut could read them. I'm sure they're good, but I dunno that I need more depressing stories.

Right now, though, I'm gonna start the next Aubrey/Maturin. Because that's the one I have with me. Also, when I finish this one I can finally return this tome that has the Aubrey/Maturin books 5-8 in it.

NOTE: Spoilers in comments on this post. :)

Comments

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Clearly, your attempts to be social are to blame.

[rowyn]

I am pretty sure they are, yes. Not only do I spend time being social, but then I spend even more time writing about it!

[alltoseek.livejournal.com]

The end of TSM is adorable. Makes me want to smack Stephen - no wonder Diana was so mean to him! So would I have been...

[rowyn]

When Babbington observes Jack coming up on deck looking 'timid', I thought 'Jack? Timid? On a ship? What could possibly make him timid *here*?'

And then Jack confides, "They are at it hammer and tongs," and I went 'ohhhhhh. Yep, that would do it." :D

I was so surprised that Diana actually married Stephen at the end that I half-expected the next book to open with their annulment. :) I was amused by them living in separate establishments and Stephen just visiting her very frequently. This seems eminently sensible on their part.

[alltoseek.livejournal.com]

Neither of them are particularly sensible apart, but together they are eminently sensible ;-)