Somehow I think it doesn't quite count as 'broadening your literary horizons'...

[annathepiper]

... if you buy a book that's supposed to be quality lit-ra-cher specifically because it's the basis for your favorite actor's next movie. But well hey, I'm given to understand that Master and Commander, the first of the Jack Aubrey series by Patrick O'Brien, is supposed to be good reading! ;)

Comments

[lyricae.livejournal.com]

I've reached the conclusion that anything that doesn't say "Harlequin" or "Sillhouette" on it is quality literature... That's just me though.

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[annathepiper]

If you're using that as a basis for comparison then I've got a whole ROOM full of quality literature! Go me! ;)

[avram]

The distinction between "quality literature" and mass-market written entertainment is pretty much a bogus one. Much of the stuff considered classic high-end literature was the popular mass entertainment of its day.

I've read the first four of O'Brian's Aubrey & Maturin books, and I liked the second one (Post Captain) more than the first (Master & Commander).

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[annathepiper]

A fine and valid point, Avram! So what you're saying is, in another fifty years all these science fiction and fantasy books I've got will be quality litracher? ;)

And duly noted on the impression of the series -- I am told by another friend that they're really good. I like a dash of historical flavor in my reading every so often so I'll see how I like these. I've got to read The Three Musketeers too, which is also upstairs waiting on my To Read pile. :)

[avram]

Well, probably not all of them. But there's a good chance that some of them will be much more highly regarded a century from now than they are now. And most will be utterly forgotten. And both of those things are just as anything else published recently, regardless of whether it's considered fine stuff by the literati. (And the literati would probably consider Aubrey and Maturin books to be popular entertainment.)

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[annathepiper]

Okay. :) I was a bit confused as to the antecedents of these books -- I mean, I took Brit Lit and American Lit classes in college, and this is the first I've ever heard of them at all. I wonder if I covered the wrong centuries or something.

[avram]

Let's see... Desolation Island, the fifth book (happens to be the one I've got handy) is copyright 1978, so figure the first one was written sometime around 1970. Patrick O'Brian died fairly recently -- 2 Jan 2000 at the age of 85, according to a quick Google search. In subject matter his main antecedent is the Horatio Hornblower books (or so I've heard; I've never read the Hornblower), which always amuses me because Star Trek was often called "Horatio Hornblower in space", and given that Aubrey is an action-oriented ship captain and his best friend Maturin his is a cool, detached scientist, there probably ought to be some appeal for SF fans. There are actually bits in Master and Commander that reminded me a lot of early Star Trek, when Aubrey sets up a clever trick to divert an enemy ship, but that's all I'll say till you've read it.

The Aubrey & Maturin books have more interesting character and emotional stuff going on than the Hornblower books; I've heard them described as a cross between Hornblower and Jane Austin. O'Brian was a fan of Austin's, and if I remember correctly, parts of the second book were written as a tribute to Austin.

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[annathepiper]

LOL! Okay, so these things are recent! No wonder I hadn't ever heard of them in college!

And here I thought the "Kirk and Bones" joke that was made at me about these books was just a joke. Muahahahaha. And hey, I love Jane Austen too, so if O'Brian was a fan of hers then I shall look forward to this. Thanks for the lovely info, Avram!

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

Somehow I figured it was Russell Crowe.

I don't think I have a favorite actor. I just can't get terribly attached to movies and movie things. I'm weird.

[avram]

I've got the same weirdness. I like movies, but I don't have any favorite actors, there's nobody I follow around, seeing movies just because this person's in them, the way I'll check out any comic or book that certain artists or writers are involved with.

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[annathepiper]

*giggle* I seem to be an "one actor at a time" girl. Now it's Crowe. It USED to be Harrison Ford. :) I think plenty of other gentlemen in the media are cute, mind you, but in terms of the guys who actually shut my brain down entirely from three feet away, well... ;)