Reading--O'Brian bios

[sartorias]

While alternately binging and then shying away from the news when the pain and frustration goes too high, I've been toting about the first volume of Nikolai Tolstoy's biography of Patrick O'Brian. I read some, then turn to the Dean King bio.

Comments

[ccfinlay]

I love O'Brian's books (and am looking forward to the reissue of The Catalans), but I haven't read either of the biographies. You're making me want to pick up the Tolstoi just to read more.

[sartorias]

I too am looking forward to The Catalans. Do get and read this one. But it gets increasingly fraught. It's just amazing that this guy who had such emotional wrenching as a child he never connected with people except his wife, and through her her son (not his own, sad to say), who had maybe three or four years of formal schooling, if that (he lied outright about his schooling, obviously ashamed of his lack) could write such trenchantly insightful novels, brilliant with image from all over the world. Redolent of experience he never had, mixed with the inward anquish with which he was quite familiar. But above all, that sense of good will toward other humans, almost a sweetness ( though that word is dangerous to use I know because so easily translates into sentiment) that characterizes his books.

[ccfinlay]

I can only think of one false or overtly sentimental moment in all his books. Astounding.

I'll read that one when I have time.

[sartorias]

Would that moment be--

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The Geoghean episode in one of the last couple of books (the pretty boy who plays flute so well and immediately falls to his death? I found that sentimental--and unnecessary, as we'd already seen the suddenl death of pretty midshipmen.)

[ccfinlay]

I know what you mean by that scene, but it was so well-written, with the music angle, and Jack's poignancy, that I believed it.

No, for me it was:

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The sudden recovery of Maturin's daughter with the aid of Padraic while Maturin was off having adventures. It didn't feel earned to me by the story, and it felt too easy for Maturin. I thought he'd set up this unbearable grief for Maturin and then decided it was unbearable and solved with a deus ex celtica. I mentioned that to someone one time who'd read the O'Brian biographies and they said it may have been a reflection of his guilt about his own children.

[sartorias]

Huh. Guilt yes--though that particular one didn't bother me because I actually have seen an autistic kid pulled into just this side of social awareness and interaction by the sort of intense personal focus that Padraic gave Brideen.

[ccfinlay]

O'Brian's so well researched that I figured that sort of thing was possible, and in fact probably based on a real event. I just didn't think the story earned that emotional moment.

But, yanno, one moment that didn't work for me out of 21 volumes, and maybe a couple million words. I should be so skilled a writer. The list of beautifully rended heart-wrenching moments would go on for volumes. He's simply one of the best writers I've ever read.

[sartorias]

Yup yup yup I feel exactly the same way.

[marith]

Your icon is lovely, btw.