Part Five: The Ancient Mariner/Prologue

I finished the book while on my Thanksgiving travels. I noted with interest MusicMom that Dampier returned to those pirate roots as a privateer! :) I read about this right after reading your comment on privateering and buccaneering, so I thought that was pretty good timing. I was amazed that he continued his travels until quite an advanced age. I thought that the epilogue did a really good job of summarizing the good, the bad, and the ugly about him.

This was a fascinating book and I am going to recommend this to my brother who mentioned to me, out of the blue, that he was practicing "pirate talk!" He also loves history. This has been a wonderfully fun group read. Thanks so much vintage_books and TheTortoise! You deserve a round of applause and a standing ovation!! Bravo, bravo!!
--BJ

billiejean

I noticed that, too!

I finished the book while we were stuck in traffic trying to get home Sunday after Thanksgiving. I haven't had time to do my review, though. Very busy week after being gone 10 days! I'll do that probably on Friday.

I'd like to add my 21 gun salute to vintage_books and TheTortoise for making this a most enjoyable voyage. All the extras and the good discussions has made this a great experience and really added to the enjoyment of this wonderful book. I doubt I would ever even found it with out this group and it is on my top twenty list of best reads for 2008!

Finished! What a good book and a great group to read it with. Thank you for all your efforts vintage_books and TheTortoise!

>4 loriephillips: Lorie, it was a pleasure! Thanks to everyone for taking part and making this a great Group Read.

- TT

I liked the epilogue and the effect the work of Dampier had on famous science and books. Funny that I had never heard of this man, probably due to his piracy.

All and all I liked the book, although sometimes a little boring. I don't think it's the book, but me causing that. I'm a fiction reader and even with topics that are total my interest I almost never enjoy it as much as fiction. Only Dava Sobels Longitude was an exception of this, so it's totally me.

Thanks to vintage_books and TheTortoise for their wonderfull work. It made it a great group read of a book that I normally won't have read.

I also finished recently and was very impressed. The research was awe-inspiring and the narrative flow was perfect. Pirate or not, Dampier was one heck of an explorer and naturalist, just sadly neglected. I would also like to express my appreciation to vintage_books & TheTortoise for a terrific job, without them I would never have stumbled across this fascinating bucaneer!

I've rated A Pirate of Exquisite Mind with 3 1/2 stars. The following is my rating system:

NOT SO GOOD
OK, BUT PROBABLY WON'T READ AGAIN
GOOD, WORTH READING, RECOMMENDED
VERY GOOD, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
EXCELLENT, A MUST READ

I'd be very interested in knowing how the group rated this book if you care to post it.

(edited because I left out my 5 star rating)

>8 loriephillips: lorie, see the review thread I have set up for Your Reviews.

- TT

I loved this book! I never would have heard of it without this group, so thank you!
I got it for my father-in-law for Christmas. He is a biologist and will absolutely love it.

>10 PaperbackPirate: PBP: So glad you enjoyed this book - now pop over to The Coffee Trader and read another superb book with us!

- TT