The Truelove Audiobook

" O'Brian can be difficult to read but is wonderful to listen to when read by narrators like Patrick Tull. The language is sumptuous and period-perfect. Moreover, the author's mastery of details of the British Navy circa 1803 is unmatched. "

" This entry in the series did not do much for me. Not much action throughout. "

" #15 in the series. This book was another good addition to this long series of sea stories. "

" Too much Clarissa and not enough... Well, not enough anything else really. "

" We "read" this audio book on a recent trip. It makes a good companion on the road, with the usual cast of characters. THis story is not too compelling, though, as Aubrey and the crew sail to one of the Sandwich Islands to take sides in a local dispute and keep the island for Britain. The "Surprise" is now operating as a privateer with a letter of marque, and not a royal navy vessel. THe real story is about a woman, with a mysterious past, sneaked aboard by a junior officer, and her effect on the crew. "

" Overall, I am a huge fan of the series in general and O'Brian's writing in particular. His style is wonderful--there is hardly a better master of subtle and super-subtle irony going. But with this and the previous entry in the series, I feel as if the energy is flagging a little bit. As he has done several times in the past, O'Brian turns to ringing subtle changes on characters we have met previously by introducing new characters that chime with them in interesting ways. Enter Clarissa Oakes. Except that this time the new character seems to be a much more pallid version of Diana Villiers and Louisa Wogan. Naturally, she becomes the means for Maturin to ferret out (perhaps) the last of the nest of spies that has been a major part of the story arc for the previous six or seven novels. As interesting as parts of this several novel south seas interlude has been, I am eager to see O'Brian bring the series back to Europe and to the main sphere of action. Of course there are difficulties with that, since in the time frame he is working with, the British Navy has little to offer a ship of the line captain (such as Aubrey) except blockade duty. Here's hoping O'Brian racked his brains and came up with an interesting solution to these problems in the series' final quarter and returns the focus in some ways to the interactions between Aubrey and Maturin. On a different note (and I can't remember if I have remarked on this before--here's hoping that if I did, I write about differently this time), it is endlessly fascinating to see how O'Brian starts each of these novels off with a unique précis that doesn't repeat all the other little summaries he has given, just in case there is some reader out there who picked up the series in the middle. "

" Wow, these books really seem to be slowing down. There was next to no action in this book at all. I had a really hard time getting through it. There was so much going on in the ship that was just hinted at here and there so you never really get a clear picture of what is really happening - and I'm not sure that I want to know some of the details. As seems to happen a lot with these books, the main action happens in the last 10 pages or so which makes you then want to continue on with the series to see what happens next. "

" The entire series is amazing. O'Brian's writing is a delight to read and while I could quibble over 4.5 stars or 5 per each volume I'm rating it across their totality. "

" I love the all Aubrey-Maturin novels and this one was great, too. "

" Builds on the previous 14 books in the Aubrey-Maturin series "

" Good stuff, lots of words to look up. "

" Dammit, another non-ending. I guess my marathon continues... "

" Please finish them all, for all love! "

" another great book in the series "

" another great book in the series "

" Audiobook version, narrated by Simon Vance. "

" If you read Patrick O'Brian, I suggest you start from the beginning with Master and Commander. The books make more sense if you follow the history of the series "

" Don't like O'Brian's prose. He is a good writer, just not my style. I may finish the book sometime in the future. "

" The worst book of the series. "

" The Pacific Ocean Islands beckon for Captain Jack Aubrey and ship's surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin, together with thrilling adventures at sea. The equilibrium of shipboard life is unbalanced and Stephen receives valuable intelligence from an unexpected source. "

" Entitled "Clarissa Oakes" in the UK "

" I think it's because yet again there was a woman on board but I really liked this one. I also liked Emily and Sarah and how they had different dialects for different parts of the ship. "

" Patrick O'Brian wrote with such color and detail about this period that I am always captivated. This is one of my favorites of the Aubrey/Maturin series as it shows how the ship's company can be effected by a female presence on board. Loved it. "

" One of my favorites so far in this series. Martin and Maturin's adventures in Australia had me laughing out loud, and the clever interweaving of the bits of plot surrounding Clarissa, Padeen, Maturin and his intrigues were perfect. "

" This one is another that dips just slightly in the pace of the story, though there are some very important pieces of the overall arc introduced here. "

" Another great episode of the Aubrey-Maturin series. This is my 10th time through the series, and it keeps getting better. A lot to unwrap in this one. Audible edition, read by Patrick Tull. "

" Another entertaining story from O'Brian. Wonderfully descriptive and engaging throughout. "

" More adventures for Captain Jack Aubrey and his good friend Stephen Maturin. I've already started the next book so particulars about this one are fading. I'm still enjoying the series and I think I need to watch Master and Commander again now that I know most of the characters pretty well. "

" If you read Patrick O'Brian, I suggest you start from the beginning with Master and Commander. The books make more sense if you follow the history of the series "

" Still working my way through the Patrick O'Brian series, and this book is a fine addition the the group. Not my favorite, although I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite, but enjoyable nonetheless. "

" I think it's because yet again there was a woman on board but I really liked this one. I also liked Emily and Sarah and how they had different dialects for different parts of the ship. "

" The entire series is amazing. O'Brian's writing is a delight to read and while I could quibble over 4.5 stars or 5 per each volume I'm rating it across their totality. "

" So far, my least favorite. Nothing new or exciting. Must have been during a dry spell or for money. "

" This one is another that dips just slightly in the pace of the story, though there are some very important pieces of the overall arc introduced here. "

" Previously read in mid-2008, again in May 2009. Aubrey and Maturin sail from Sydney to Moahu. Intrigue involving Clarissa Oakes. "

" Part of a series of seafaring historical novels. Not much plot, but certainly a primer on 18th (19th?) century seamanship. "

" The worst book of the series. "

" #15 in the series. This book was another good addition to this long series of sea stories. "

" Please finish them all, for all love! "

" Not nearly as good in my opinion as the other books in the series to date. This novel was light on plot and seemed to be more of a place holder than anything else. "

" One of my favorites so far in this series. Martin and Maturin's adventures in Australia had me laughing out loud, and the clever interweaving of the bits of plot surrounding Clarissa, Padeen, Maturin and his intrigues were perfect. "

" Too much Clarissa and not enough... Well, not enough anything else really. "

" So far, my least favorite. Nothing new or exciting. Must have been during a dry spell or for money. "

" Don't like O'Brian's prose. He is a good writer, just not my style. I may finish the book sometime in the future. "

" Previously read in mid-2008, again in May 2009. Aubrey and Maturin sail from Sydney to Moahu. Intrigue involving Clarissa Oakes. "

" Interesting details on sailing ships. Odd focus on a female stowaway. "

" The Pacific Ocean Islands beckon for Captain Jack Aubrey and ship's surgeon and spy Stephen Maturin, together with thrilling adventures at sea. The equilibrium of shipboard life is unbalanced and Stephen receives valuable intelligence from an unexpected source. "

" Good stuff, lots of words to look up. "

" Previously read in mid-2008. "

" Only five left! What ever will I do when I finish them? Start them all again of course. "

" Only five left! What ever will I do when I finish them? Start them all again of course. "

" Please finish them all, for all love! "

" Please finish them all, for all love! "

" This one is another that dips just slightly in the pace of the story, though there are some very important pieces of the overall arc introduced here. "

" This one is another that dips just slightly in the pace of the story, though there are some very important pieces of the overall arc introduced here. "

" #15 in the series. This book was another good addition to this long series of sea stories. "

" #15 in the series. This book was another good addition to this long series of sea stories. "

" Dammit, another non-ending. I guess my marathon continues... "

" Dammit, another non-ending. I guess my marathon continues... "

" One young woman can cause a lot of trouble on a ship full of men. This book started off slowly, but soon it went along as his books usually do. Patrick O'Brian was apparently a keen observer of human nature. His depiction of characters' actions and reactions is simply exquisite. "

" One young woman can cause a lot of trouble on a ship full of men. This book started off slowly, but soon it went along as his books usually do. Patrick O'Brian was apparently a keen observer of human nature. His depiction of characters' actions and reactions is simply exquisite. "

" Builds on the previous 14 books in the Aubrey-Maturin series "

" Builds on the previous 14 books in the Aubrey-Maturin series "

" One of my favorites so far in this series. Martin and Maturin's adventures in Australia had me laughing out loud, and the clever interweaving of the bits of plot surrounding Clarissa, Padeen, Maturin and his intrigues were perfect. "

" One of my favorites so far in this series. Martin and Maturin's adventures in Australia had me laughing out loud, and the clever interweaving of the bits of plot surrounding Clarissa, Padeen, Maturin and his intrigues were perfect. "