Sun 7 Feb 2010
I decided to have a productive, though rather quiet Saturday. Things have been so hectic during the week that I’ve been pushed into that familiar, unfortunate position where I crave the weekend above all else.
After finishing Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander, I now move to the second novel in the series, which is Post Captain. I’ve been listening to the stories, read by Patrick Tull, which has been such a necessary, relaxing experience. No one knows how to use the thermostat in my apartment, so as the heat becomes nearly unbearable, I open up my bedroom window before bed, and click to iTunes. Here is what I hear each night before drifting asleep:
The person who posted the 12 GB torrent (all 21 novels, e-books and original cover art) took great care to clean up the audio files, and they sound much better than that youtube clip, of course. He borrowed them from his local library, equalized the volume, and performed low pass filters to delete pops and hissing. By far the most useful task he undertook (and no doubt most time consuming) was organizing the files into chapters, which, other than the digital format, is what makes the torrent so much better than simply checking these cds out from CPL one at a time. I highly recommend the Aubrey-Maturin series to all of my friends, especially the Vans and Fulljeff in particular. I enjoyed a good deal of historical fiction when I was in college, but never had the time to give this sprawling series the attention it deserves.
If you’re interested in exploring the novels further than simply re-watching the Russell Crowe movie, you can start with a wonderful interview with O’Brian on NPR from about 15 years ago. If the callers don’t convince you of how great a pleasure it is to work through his novels, nothing will.
Speaking of libraries, I also decided to finally check out the Lincoln-Belmont branch, which is 5 or 6 blocks away from where I now live in Roscoe Village. I found it rather bustling, actually, which was a welcome sight. Most of the computers were spoken for, and there were at least 5 or 6 families dispersed among the stacks. I checked out a book on Chicago Maritime History, and renewed my library card. I also put a hold on A Sea of Words, since as far as I know there is no existing database of POB’s arcane naval terms. If it proves useful I’ll definitely have to buy it.
The walk home was particularly pleasant, and I peered into the many antique shops that line Belmont from Paulina to Damen. Some even have signs that require you to ring the bell just to be let inside, provided you are a “serious” dealer, with genuine interest and a pocketbook that lends itself to 17th and 18th century chandeliers.
I went to Smoke Daddy for dinner (much easier when you can just stroll up to the bar and order your food immediately), and then headed to the California Clipper to see Fulton County Line before finally driving home, back to Post Captain and my sweltering bedroom.
