Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Ionian Mission, by Patrick O'Brian

 
The Ionian Mission is Book 8 of the Aubrey/Maturin (Master & Commander) book series.  I've found I am able to enjoy these books much more by listening to them (they are expertly read by Simon Vance in the edition published by Blackstone Audio).  The problem I run into is that the audio books run long, this one was more than 11 hours, but the check-out time for audio books is just 21 days.  I know that sounds like plenty of time, but I don't have a drive/commute to the office, I live just a few blocks away.  So I listen to audio books while exercising, and only then when I do it indoors (3 days a week).  So I can get through 3 hours at the most each week, which means the borrowing period runs out before I finish.
 
This is the first time I can remember having to complete an audio book by reading the rest in print, but that's exactly what I did.  I made it about 2/3 of the way through the audio book when my checkout period ended.  I then borrowed the print edition and finished it that way.  I can tell you I didn't enjoy reading it nearly as much as I enjoyed listening to it.  The characters, voices, pronunciation, nuance... it's just much stronger for me on these Aubrey/Maturin books when read to me.  That sounds weak, but it is the truth. 
 
Some books I do not like to listen to but much prefer to read, hardboiled mysteries being one (everyone tries to immitate Humphrey Bogart).  But I think I may exclusively listen to these O'Brian novels from now on.
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