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Aug 30, 2023Liked by Katie Clapham

Teehee, "starring everyone's favourite theres-just-something-about-him, Jared Harris,"

Yes!

I really enjoyed The Terror on tv, but my wife bounced off of it. I haven't read the book because I'd read less positive things about it so it slipped down my list.

I do love a good ship name, though. And all the myriad parts of ships. It's a whole other thing, ship types and anatomy. I read China Mieville's second book after (omg yes) Perdido St Station -- the name of the book escapes me right now -- and it was all SHIP ANATOMY NAME and SPECIFIC SAIL TYPE and THIS TINY BOAT IS FALLED A SPECIFIC THING. It was wonderful. An education in ships that I've duly forgotten now, of course, along with the title of the book.

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Was it The Scar? I haven't read it. Don't worry - I forget everything too. I'd definitely recommend The Wager for plenty more ship detail, again, not that I can really remember any of it. I remember that I loved it. Are we all secretly obsessed with ships?

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Yes, the scar! That's it!

And hehe, maybe we are.

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Aug 27, 2023Liked by Katie Clapham

I'm also already secretly Nautical But Nice! I was surprised by how much I loved Master and Commander so I tried the books and was surprised but delighted by how funny they are! I've added The Wager to my list and I have to ask, have you read Dead in the Water: Murder and Fraud in the World's Most Secretive Industry by Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel? It's another non-fiction that reads like a thriller. It starts with the suspicious hijacking of a ship and from then on it's a wild ride with explosions, murder, fraud and pirates! It's one of the best books I've read this year and I tend to struggle a bit with non-fiction. (And there's just enough information about Lloyds of London in there to make me really want to read a history of them because it would be WILD! A bit like 'insurers but make them pirates'!?)

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Lindsay, I am ordering this book to the shop IMMEDIATELY! Thank you for suggesting it - I hadn't heard of it but it sounds really great. I hope you enjoy The Wager when you get to it.

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I’ve either not seen Master and Commander, or forgotten about it, and I definitely will be watching it again, if only to see Russell Crowe prancing around in a cape/coat cape and funny shaped, yet perfectly formed hat! I will earmark the book too, for after my Neopolitan novels saga!

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