Amazon.com
Wendy, the 13-year-old heroine of Joyce Maynard's The Usual Rules, lives in a happy, haphazard Brooklyn household with her dancer/secretary mom, her jazz musician stepfather, and her eccentric little brother. Life for Wendy is fraught with the usual teen angst until September 11, when her mom heads off to work at the World Trade Center and never comes home. Wendy struggles through the days with stepfather Josh and brother Louis until on Halloween night her estranged biological father shows up and offers to take her home with him to California. On the West Coast, Wendy devises her own healing process of skipping school, hanging around with an unwed teen mom, and spending hours loafing at a bookstore. Maynard is very good on Wendy's grief. She tries on one of her mother's dresses and realizes with a shock it still holds her mom's perfume. She's undone for a moment, then reaches "for the bottle of aftershave on Josh's bureau and patted some on her neck and arms. If you were going to smell like one of your parents, it was better to smell like the one who wasn't dead." She's equally convincing when she writes about Wendy's developing relationship with her loner dad and her growing understanding that Josh and Louis are now her real family. This graceful book about loss and adolescence is marred only by its use of September 11 as its milieu. Maynard sketches in some scenes at Ground Zero and some firefighter characters, but in the main the book is really about a girl and her dead mother. Using the Trade Center tragedy as a jumping-off point doesn't deepen the story; in fact, it seems a bit opportunistic. Maynard should have trusted the elegant, compassionate material at the heart of her book. --Claire Dederer
Book Description
Thirteen-year-old Wendy lives with her mother, stepfather, and younger brother in Brooklyn. Her world is transformed one day in September 2001-her mother goes to work that morning and doesn't come back. Through Wendy's eyes, readers follow her slow and terrible realization that her mother has died, and the family's struggle to move forward with their lives. Wendy's journey takes her to California with her real father where she forges friendships with his cactus-growing girlfriend, a teenage mom, and a sad bookstore owner with an autistic son, and begins to understand the deep love and connection she has with her brother. The Usual Rules is an unexpectedly hopeful story of healing and forgiveness that offers readers a picture of how-out of the rubble-a family rebuilds its life.
Customer Reviews:
The Most Memorable.......2006-09-25
The Usual Rules was the most memorable book I ever read. I picked it up at the local library one or two years ago, devoured it in a day, and was apalled. It was, and is, the best book I have ever read. It was sad, it was exciting, it was emotional, it was humorous. It has memorable characters and a memorable plot. I enjoyed it so much. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
What do you do when you lose it all?.......2005-11-06
This is quite simply a wonderful book. It takes place in New York City and follows Wendy on the day she loses her mother in the tragedy of September 11.
What follows is a personal quest. Wendy is obviously heartbroken and adrift in the world. Her home, which once felt so familiar, no longer feels this way when she is left with her stepfather and her half brother. No matter how kind they are, Wendy is drawn in search of something more. Maybe it is connections, second chances, or an escape.
Wendy decides to live in California with her estranged father. While living there she makes an odd and random assortment of friends, each of whom teach her a little bit more about love and loss.
A beautiful novel written from the heart that you will think about long after you put it down.
A moving book.......2005-05-03
Wendy is a typical thirteen-year-old girl; she goes to school one September morning, and suddenly her life changes drastically. Her mother went to work at the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, and never came home. Wendy, her brother Louie, and her stepfather Josh are devastated and don't know how to go on. When Wendy's father, Garret, unexpectedly shows up at her apartment, he tells her he still wants her to come to California to stay with him. Wendy is unsure of what to do, but Josh insists she go for a change of scene and to get out of New York.
Wendy goes to California with the intention to reinvent herself (like Madonna, whose music she likes); no one except her father and his girlfriend know about her mother. She is supposed to go to school, but instead she rides the bus to Sacramento or reads at a bookstore where she meets Alan, and later his autistic son Tim. Wendy also meets Garrett's cactus-growing girlfriend, Carolyn, a teenage mother named Violet and her son Walter Charles, and a skateboader named Todd trying to find his brother. Her new friends all have family problems in some way, and show her that everyone has heartbreaks, big and small. Wendy does go back home to New York, and she realizes she can still have a life after her mother's loss of life.
The books Wendy reads throughout the story she can empathize with. Anne Frank's optimism that people are good at heart, Frankie's friend John Henry from The Member of the Wedding reminds Wendy of her little brother, The Butcher Boy she can empathize with, Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Night by Elie Wiesel, and Lord of the Flies. The people Wendty reads about have had terrible things happen to them, but they all managed to go on. That gives Wendy hope.
There are no punctuation marks when someone speaks; since the title is The Usual Rules, I think the author wants to break the rules or reinvent the rules like Wendy. In the face of a terrible tragedy, the usual rules don't apply.
This is a very touching, gentle, complex, multi-layered, bittersweet, and ultimately moving story of love, loss, and family.
Unforgettable Characters, Unforgettable Story.......2005-04-12
Wendy is thirteen years old and a fairly typical teen living in Brooklyn with her mother Janet, her stepfather Josh, and her half-brother Louis. On the morning of September 11, 2001, Janet goes to the World Trade Center where she is a secretary and, in the devastating events of that day, is lost to her family forever. What follows is a heart wrenching insight into the numbness, the hopelessness, the rage that filled those left behind.
Anyone who reads this book will have a hard time forgetting Wendy putting up fliers with her mother's picture on them, her regrets for all the ugly remarks she ever made to her mother, and most of all, her beautiful and haunting memories of time spent with her family.
Wendy's biological father has been pretty much of a no-show in her life thus far, but when he learns Janet is missing he turns up and takes Wendy back to California with him and away from the only family she has ever known.
What follows is the story of a strong young girl, a survivor of the highest order. Truly remarkable are the secondary characters that fill this story. Joyce Maynard has done a wonderful job of giving us three-dimensional characters we come to love and appreciate, people who help Wendy and reveal a lot about the basic goodness and terrible failings of human nature. A young mother wrestling with giving up her baby, a middle-aged woman reunited with the child she gave up twenty years ago, a book store owner dealing with his autistic child, a drifter in search of his brother, a good friend who spills the secret about Janet's best friend, and a young clarinet player experiencing first love are some of the memorable characters that people this story. But it is Wendy's two fathers, Josh in New York and Garrett in California, that are pivotal to the story. Both loved Janet and both feel the need to take care of Wendy in quite different ways. And most of all, there is Louis, the young brother who is such an important part of Wendy's life. They shared a mother, but will they ever be able to live together again when they have such vastly different fathers who each live on opposite coasts.
Out of sorrow and terrible tragedy comes a heartbreaking story that will have you in tears and yet hopeful. You will be immediately pulled into this story and feel a part of the happy family life that is about to explode. You will follow Wendy in her journey to California and ache with her as she misses not only the mother she will never see again, but the brother and stepfather now 3,000 miles away and removed from her life. This is a novel about families, how they support us and how they fail us, and how, in the end, it is our inner spirit that sustains us when "the usual rules" no longer apply.
Simply the best!!.......2005-02-08
I am 15 years old and I found this book to be so great! There was no part of this book that I didn't enjoy reading. I think that any teenager capable of understanding in depth circumstances and the tragedies and heartache that life thrusts at people would certainly love reading this book. Read this book and immediately feel like you are involved in the story through the happy and sad, the laughter and the tears. ...I highly recommend this book!!
Average customer rating:
- Not Free SF Reader
- Phoukas, magic and rock and roll, oh my!
- A Real Keeper
- Very good beginning
- Mysterious, charming, witty, eccentric
|
War for the Oaks: A Novel
Emma Bull
Manufacturer: Orb Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
Bull, Emma | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
Moon Called (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 1)
-
Territory
-
Elsewhere
-
Bone Dance: A Fantasy for Technophiles
-
Greywalker (Greywalker, Book 1)
ASIN: 0765300346 |
Amazon.com
Emma Bull's debut novel, War for the Oaks, placed her in the top tier of urban fantasists and established a new subgenre. Unlike most of the rock & rollin' fantasies that have ripped off Ms. Bull's concept, War for the Oaks is well worth reading. Intelligent and skillfully written, with sharply drawn, sympathetic characters, War for the Oaks is about love and loyalty, life and death, and creativity and sacrifice.
Eddi McCandry has just left her boyfriend and their band when she finds herself running through the Minneapolis night, pursued by a sinister man and a huge, terrifying dog. The two creatures are one and the same: a phouka, a faerie being who has chosen Eddi to be a mortal pawn in the age-old war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Eddi isn't interested--but she doesn't have a choice. Now she struggles to build a new life and new band when she might not even survive till the first rehearsal.
War for the Oaks won the Locus Magazine award for Best First Novel and was a finalist for the Mythopoeic Society Award. Other books by Emma Bull include the novels Falcon, Bone Dance (second honors, Philip K. Dick Award), Finder (a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award), and (with Stephen Brust) Freedom and Necessity; the collection Double Feature (with Will Shetterly); and the picture book The Princess and the Lord of Night. --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
Acclaimed by critics and readers on its first publication in 1987, winner of the Locus Award for Best First Novel, Emma Bull's War for the Oaks is one of the novels that has defined modern urban fantasy.Eddi McCandry sings rock and roll. But her boyfriend just dumped her, her band just broke up, and life could hardly be worse. Then, walking home through downtown Minneapolis on a dark night, she finds herself drafted into an invisible war between the faerie folk. Now, more than her own survival is at risk-and her own preferences, musical and personal, are very much beside the point.By turns tough and lyrical, fabulous and down-to-earth, War for the Oaks is a fantasy novel that's as much about this world as about the other one. It's about real love and loyalty, about real music and musicians, about false glamour and true art. It will change the way you hear and see your own daily life.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
What can I say? For some reason, this is one of my all time favorites. A fabulous urban type fantasy (part of the reason I like it so much), complete with conflict and rock and roll. After reading this, I went looking for things that were similar. This one, however, is still the best. As a related note I saw that blackcoat press had for sale a screenplay for a movie version that she wrote, too. I have not read it, but sounds interesting.
Phoukas, magic and rock and roll, oh my!.......2007-09-02
I've come to the conclusion that any story with a phouka (alternately spelled pooka) is better for it. Harvey (with James Stewart) made brilliant use of this creature. Emma Bull does the same in War for the Oaks. Originally published in 1987, this book is set in Minneapolis where Eddi McCandry is trying to make a living as a rock and roll musician. When the novel starts, Eddi's prospects in the music department are not so good. To make matters worse, she is soon recruited by the Seelie Court to help them make war. That's right, Eddi is drafted into a faerie war. In order to keep her safe (until she has to risk her life in battle), the phouka is dispatched as her bodyguard.
There is something kind of awesome about a book that can combine rock music with something as fantastical as faeries. Bull does it wonderfully. Each chapter title is a song. Music excerpts abound throughout, sure to entertain even those of us unfamiliar with music of that period. Bull also spends a lot of time describing the process of making music--what the band sounds like on stage, how rehearsals go, etc. Instead of being boring or draggy, they're really interesting and show how very much effort goes into this process.
At times the plot seemed a little predictable, but I'm still not sure if that's just because I've been reading quite a few fantasy books lately instead of from anything in the writing. It doesn't really matter though because it's not a bad predictability. Rather, it's the kind that leaves a sense of satisfaction because it feels like the plot is going along as it should be.
Bull's writing style was down to earth without being stale and her characters will not easily be forgotten. The phouka, in particular, is a favorite for too many reasons to enumerate here. So, if you haven't guessed, I strongly recommend this book. If you like music, if you like phoukas, if you like fantasy, if you need something to read, if you believe in magic--this book is for you.
A Real Keeper.......2007-01-10
This is a book that should be put prominitly on your keeper shelf. Emma Bull is an outstanding author and this is a great read. I highly reccomnd this book. I totally enjoyed reading it. As a matter of fact, I am writing this after reading it for the 3rd time!. Read,enjoy, and keep ths book.
Very good beginning.......2006-10-11
So I picked up this book because someone on Amazon said it was better then War of the flowers. Same idea but better, so I decided to give it a chance. The characters were very interesting especially the Phouka. The main character was descent and I usually like reading about reluctant heroes. Anyway, the beginning was so much fun and the Phouka was so entertaining. About halfway through the book it started to get worse. It was really good and then it became so sappy. Even the character I liked a lot became sappy. I finished the book disappointed. Oh and the ending was dumb. I gave it three stars because the first half of the book was really good.
Mysterious, charming, witty, eccentric.......2006-09-22
The first chapter didn't win me over immediately, as Bull's sparkling wit takes a little time to get all the way into gear. However, once our heroine Eddi makes it through her initial encounter with a few denizens of the faerie realm the dialog warms up nicely, mostly thanks to a snarky, shape-shifting phouka (who never gets a name) and Eddi's best friend Carla.
The story follows Eddi through the perils of breaking up with her useless boyfriend, being chosen as the token mortal on a faerie battlefield, starting her own band, falling for a prince of the Seelie Court, explaining ethics to the phouka, getting almost killed, getting other people killed, booking gigs for her band, and dueling to the death with the Queen of Air and Darkness, but not in the way you'd think.
I quite enjoyed this book, but I think I would have gotten even more out of it if I were more into contemporary music. A lot of character development takes place within the context of band practices and performances, the chapters are all named with song titles, and Bull is scrupulous in giving the reader as much information about the songs involved as possible. As it is, I enjoyed the very vivid descriptions of the music, but my knowledge of the past several decades worth of music would not fill a thimble (I enjoy plenty of classic and contemporary rock, but I'm clueless about most of it, I routinely forget that "Dreams" is by Van Halen, not Starship, and that sort of thing), so I'm sure a lot of the more specific references were lost on me.
Book Description
The story of the greatest British naval battle of the Age of Nelson.Renowned historian and novelist Dudley Pope explores the defining moment of the Age of Nelson. His compelling descriptions of the battle itself are backed by a wealth of historical detail, including a chronicle of the preceding year, revealing both the British and the French political motives, and explaining Nelson's strategy and Napoleon's response. Pope creates an intimate portrait of the life in the Royal Navy at its finest hour.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent history telling............2004-06-12
Without a doubt, one of the more entertaining and informative retelling of the Battle of Trafalger. The author put all his talents of a fictional writer and applied it nicely in this well searched and written account of the Trafalger campaign and battle. I am familiar with the author's work on Copenhegan which was also nicely done.
You can probably compared this book with David Howarth's work although Decision at Trafalger provides far more details and more insights into the entire campaign and battle then Howarth. The book read well and even a casual reader can get into the narrative. One of the better books on the subject, belong on a bookshelves of anyone who got an interest in naval warfare during the Napoleonic era.
Very Entertaining book, no dry history here!.......2004-02-28
Trafalgar was an amazing, dramatic event. The grandeur of the ships and the legendary characters involved are well described in this book, and you can tell that Dudley Pope was a man who was fascinated with the age of fighting sail. He was also a very good writer and he described it well.
Pope started out by describing the voyage of the HMS Pickle, the 4 gun schooner which carried news of Nelson's victory as well as his death back to England immediately after the battle. This small part of the great story of Trafalgar might be ignored or briefly mentioned by another author, but Pope related it as the dramatic story that it was. He described the heavy weather which battered the tiny, unescorted ship through hostile waters during her 1000 mile voyage home, causing her to leak badly. He described the overland voyage to London by the young Lieutenant Laponetiere, who arrived at the Admiralty, utterly exhausted, late at night to deliver his stunning news to an elderly, overworked clerk. And all this is just the first chapter.
Subsequent chapters describe the British, French and Spanish navies of the time, the strategies of Napoleon and Pitt, Nelson's life and the relationship he had with his Captains, the life of the common sailor, and even the conditions in Cadiz in 1805. Pope's writing is full of color and detail, and this book moves quickly.
Pope managed to describe the action of the battle very clearly with the use of diagrams of the battle as a whole and of individual matchups between opponents. He made the complex action understandable, and described the dramatic death of Nelson without getting bogged down in melodrama.
The aftermath of the battle, as well as it's importance to the Napoleonic wars and the future of the Royal Navy, are insightfully described towards the end of the book.
Make this your first Age of Sail read!!!.......2002-07-22
This book is simply perfect. Not only does it recount the true events surrounding the Battle of Trafalgar off the coast of Spain, it is an excellent introductory book to the genre. As a fan of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin tales and CS Forester's Hornblower, this new collection of nautical books is a must read.
Dudley Pope's narrative flows smoothly making this one of those books you can't put down until your finished. The nautical terms of the 1790's ~ 1800's are explained to satisfy both the novice and the well read. Whether this is your first Age of Sail book or just another in a long list, this is a must read that you will cherish.
Better that Patrick O-Brien: this is REAL!.......2000-08-27
This is the best written and best researched treatment of the Battle of Trafalgar and Nelson's death that I have ever read -- and I read a LOT of naval history! Most discussions of Trafalgar concentrate on Nelson's slow death on the orlop deck, while the really decisive actions of the battle rage out of view. In this book Pope gives readers a thorough and vivid discussion of exactly what happened between the whole engaging fleets, AFTER Nelson was hit and taken below. The victory was Nelson's, from his strategy and leadership, but many other men on both sides fought to reach that crucial military decision. Dudley Pope brings this to life. If you've ever wondered why Nelson's last order, knowing he was mortally wounded, was for his flag captain to anchor the British fleet, read on! I also highly recommend Pope's other works, including his fictional Lord Ramage series, which gets visibly better from book to book.
Decision at Trafalgar (Heart of Oak Series).......1999-12-19
As both a Patric O'Brien fan and a lover of history works, I very much appreciate the novelistic approach that Mr. Pope takes with the book, which adds much character to the writingas well as a flavor of the life and times. Some detail is sacrificed, but the book is easily readible and the account of the ship actions themselves with included diagrams helps make this complex engagement easy to comprehend.
Book Description
1902. With an introduction by David Hannay. English novelist who began writing after a distinguished career in the British Navy. From the Introduction: When Marryat composed Peter Simple in 1834, he had no need to do more than look back on his recollections of service in the Imperieuse and other ships during the great war...It will never be allowed by sound criticism that his knowledge of the sealife was Marryat's merit, and not merely his, and our, good fortunes. Yet his greatest admirer will hardly claim for him that he belonged to that highest class of novelists who can create characters which live by their mere human truth...His recollections supplied him with a great deal more when he wrote Peter Simple. They came spontaneously, and in abundance. It is impossible not to believe that he must have enjoyed the writing of the book almost as much as three generations of men and boys have enjoyed the reading. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
Customer Reviews:
The key-book of naval novels.......2003-11-30
I first read Peter Simple in an abridged German version when I was 11.
However, I managed to find a 1895 English copy and greatly enjoy its full text. Nowhere have I found such elaborate and distinct naval terminology ever since. Captain Marryat is, as far as I know the only author who described a club-hauling of a man-of-war in full detail. His naval experiences make this novel a documentary novel also concerning life-style and other details. Such as the vivid description of France and other countries Marryat has been to. I still enjoy reading it very much. POB's books are different but as fine a pleasure to read as Marryat's Peter Simple.
Adventure on the High Seas!.......2001-05-07
Peter Simple is the tale of a young British midshipman seeking his fame and fortune on the high seas. Set during the Napoleonic wars, it offers comedy and adventure in an old-school style.
Originally released in serialized form, Peter Simple is a fun, straight-forward adventure novel. It was a best-seller in it's time (1833) and holds up beautifully. I think this will appeal to anyone who ever thrilled to the works of Rafael Sabatini, Bernard Cornwell, or Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel. It's an easy read and great fun !
Great fun.......2000-03-04
Frederick Marryat was a sea captain who served under the famous Lord Cochrane. This book was an inspiration to such later writers as Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forster. It is a little like Tom Jones in that it episodic, even picaresque. It is very funny in parts, in a way that O'Brian is not--you get the sense that Marryatt is weaving in incidents and characters from his own naval career. It certainly helps to have read O'Brian for a deep understanding of the culture, but with Marryat you feel at times that you are in touch with the real thing.
Difficult to put down. It kept me up late.......1999-10-27
Another good book in the Heart of Oak series. This novel was quite the opposite of the last one in the series I read, "The Black Ship". I think both novels give good pictures of how life was on the British sailing ships but in "Peter Simple" the crew seems to have a lot of fun and good times as well as taking their work very seriously. They are able to joke around a good bit and enjoy life. This seems much more realistic to me based on my own experiences at sea. "Peter Simple" is written by an actual man of war captain from the Napoleanic era and so probably portrays a much more accurate picture of life on a British man of war than any of the other similar novels. I really liked the novel. Although some of the coincidences and the ending especially are a little too much like a "ladies romance novel" I still think O'Brian fans would enjoy this novel too. The sea battles and ship maneuvers are every bit as good as O'Brian.
It was a fascinating book.......1999-03-15
I loved this book when I was 14. Since I could not read English, I did read it in Spanish. Now I am 38 and believe I can read English, even if probably Mr. Shakespeare would not "be in love" with the way I pretend to express in his language.
Peter Simple was a magnificent book, specially for someone like me, whose name in Spanish is Pedro (Peter), and after years searching for it, even in London, I found it, and I have ordered it to reread as if I were 14 years old.
Thank you,
Simply, Pedro
Book Description
Ripping sea yarns from the creator of Mutiny on the Bounty.
James Norman Hall is best known as the co-author of the classic Bounty trilogy. In his later years, his favorite work was writing the tales spun by Dr. Dogbody, a peg-legged old salt who never lets the truth get in the way of a good story. Doctor Dogbody's tales vividly recreate the Napoleonic Wars, and delight with broad comedy, rollicking naval adventure, and characters that will live on in the reader's memory.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best books I've ever read!.......2006-09-20
Doctor Dogbody was a navy surgeon who spent most of his life at sea on sailing ships. As long as people can remember he has had a wooden leg. Whenever old mates gather around the fire with a pint in their hand and long to hear a tale, they anxiously await the tale of how the good doctor lost his leg. The tale is never the same twice!
This is one of those rare books that you keep on your bookshelf for re-reading. I have read "Doctor Dogbody's Leg" at least 20 times. I made the mistake of letting somebody borrow it and it
has disappeared. Guess I am just going to have to buy another copy!
Tickle your funny bone.......2000-07-01
A must read for any and all O'brien fans. This is one the funniest books I have ever read. The good doctor spins increasingly outragous yarns and somehow makes it all seem plausible. The writing is first rate and the characters are vivid and real.
A collection of 10 short stories.......2000-05-18
This book was a change of pace for the author, who was the co-author of Mutiny on the Bounty and other books. It is humorous light reading, with the tales set in the Cheerful Tortoise, as Dr. Dogbody, Royal Naval, meets with old acquaintances and tells tales about how he lost his leg. It sometimes rambles a bit, as tales might if told by an old-timer reminiscing. Overall, it is a good collection of stories that could probably be shared with children. So get a pint of ale, and sit down in front of the fire at the Cheerful Tortoise while Dr. Dogbody relates his adventures.
fantastically hilarious.......1999-02-26
A beautifully written and conceived collection (or is it one continuous tale?), this book will grab anyone who appreciates great humor and skillful writing. A true test of a book's greatness, this one I was truly sorry to see end. Grab a tankard of ale, or a glass of Port Royal, and settle down by the fire at the Cheerful Tortoise. You'll roar with laughter and gasp with astonishment at the good Doctor's tales.
A terrific, salt-stained literary treasure.......1999-01-30
This unique collection of short stories, all of which are based in a small and colorful Portsmouth tavern, is a fabulous read. Excellent characters, pure enjoyment layered upon tales of the sea, famous events and battles and a lot of witty and rich dialog. Dr. Dogbody's salty and humorous martime stories capture both the people and events of the time. Dogbody is a mixture of Harry Flashman, Forest Gump and Long John Silver. The supporting cast of characters is suberb, all carefully written to interface with Dogbody's amazing tales relating to the loss of his missing apendage. I'd love to see the BBC present ten episodes of this book. A clever and unique reading adventure. If you enjoy the Forester, Kent, Pope, Fraser or O'Brian's novels, you'll find this and keep it on you bookshelf and point it out to your literary companions with a chuckle.
Book Description
One of Marryat's most entertaining follows adventures, Percival Keene follows namesake character, a low-born seaman, on a mission to discover and claim his true parentage and identity. Young Keene ures battles both great and small, a stint on board a pirate ship, a stormy romance, and near-execution at the hands of Napoleon himself, all told with Marryat's trademark panache. A page-turning nautical yarn with brilliant historical re-creations of life and war at sea.
Customer Reviews:
Sadly disappointed.......2002-05-16
Having read Dean King's recommendation (as he is usually accurate), I was expecting something above the average - especially as it is included in a series of Classics...
Sadly, not.
Written in typical 19th Century style, it tends to verbosity and skirting around, instead of coming straight to the point.
Considering that Marryat was a disciple of Cochrane, there is remarkably little action and little detail of that... a few shots are exchanged, the enemy is boarded and the prize is taken in one easy lesson - none of the tension, tactics and strategems that feature so large in other nautical tales. Nor do we get under the skin of any of the characters, there is no fleshing-out of the personalities, so we end up not caring what happens to them.
Our Hero Percival stumbles from one lucky accident to the next in true Victorian story-telling style, but there seems to be no central theme to the plot, apart from his estranged father's aloofness and disguised patronage.
I kept expecting some surprise or twist in the tale, but only the expected happened.
Great Adventure Wnderful Humor.......2001-01-01
A truly wonderful British man of war seafaring novel. Marryat is a wonderful story teller. Good characterizations a little mystery. One difference in the Marryat novels is the stories he tells about the pranks that some of the sailors and officers get up to onboard ship and ashore. And of course this is a usual part of shipboard life but the other officers such as O'Brien don't give us as much of this side of life at sea. Some of the pranks had me laughing nearly out of control
Usual Marryat - good!.......2000-12-19
Marryat displays his colors in his usual fashion: "normal" people, real characters, and the tang of salt air in your nostrils as you read.
The unacknowledged son of a post captain, young Percival strives to do his duty to achieve his father's/captain's respect. Adventures ensue.
Easy to read. Less social critique than Mr. Midshipman Easy. Less gruesome reality than The Privateersman. Not his best, but it is still a good yarn!
A lot of fun with great characters........2000-03-31
This book was a lot of fun. There are a few great characters besides Percival. Captain Delmar, heir to a title and a large estate, is the father of illegitimate Percival and never acknowledges him as his son. He does take Percival on as a midshipman and guides his career. My favorite character is the young coxswain, Bob Cross. He takes care of our hero, protecting and advising him, and teaching him the ways of the navy. Our hero voyages on and goes through some adventures, fights some good battles, is captured by pirates, and saves the life of his future love. The book ends with a violent storm off the French coast and a shipwreck that is described in great detail. The first part of the book is devoted to Percival's Mother and his early childhood. Young Percival is a scamp, a rogue, and a prankster. He is not a particularly pleasant young man. His antics are funny and I felt sorry for his first schoolmaster. All of Marryat's books have a similar theme. A young man of noble birth (usually unknown to him) goes to sea, does good, wins promotion, meets his love, then return home to title, wealth, and fame. But Marryat's books are all a lot of fun and worth reading. They were written by a Royal Navy Captain that served in the Napoleonic War.
Books:
- Theros Ironfeld (Dragonlance Warriors, Vol. 4)
- This Rock: A Novel
- Those Bones Are Not My Child: A novel
- Tomato Red
- Turkey--Bright Sun, Strong Tea: On the Road with a Travel Writer
- Watercolor: The Complete Course
- We Shared The Peeled Orange: The Letters of "Papa Louis" from the Thai-Cambodian Border Refugee Camps 1981-1993
- Welcome to Junior's! Remembering Brooklyn With Recipes and Memories from Its Favorite Restaurant
- World Enough and Time: The Life of Andrew Marvell
- Yanomami: The Fierce Controversy and What We Can Learn from It (California Series in Public Anthropology)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Magic School Bus Lost In The Solar System
- Program Evaluation: Alternative Approaches and Practical Guidelines, Third Edition
- In the Midst of It All
- History: Fiction or Science
- Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You
- Microhydro: Clean Power from Water
- The Devil's Dominion: Magic and Religion in Early New England
- Political Posters in Central and Eastern Europe 1945-1995: Signs of the Times
- Handbook of Common Methods in Limnology
- Grinning from Ear to Ear
The Cloud Chamber (Anne Schwartz Books)
The Truth About Forever
At Home in the World: A Memoir
No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life
True Confessions of a Heartless Girl
