h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As you know, Bernard Cornwell is a fan of the Hornblower books. I'd never read them, although I was aware of them,because I'd always thought of them as boys stuff. When I'd exhausted the Sharpe stuff, I remembered that as a girl I had read a fair few of my dad's Louis L'Amour westerns - mostly the ones about the Sacketts.

Well, Sharpe and the Sacketts are really men's men, and by my reckoning boys stuff too, but I liked them. Then I met a guy (boyfriend of one of my workmates) who loved Hornblower and couldn't get enough. I've been lending him my Sharpes (which he loves) and in return he gave me the Hornblowers.

And they are fantastic. A different style of writing, but there are similarities (officer, not much money, no friends and influence in high places etc)

Worth a read if you have the time.

I've watched the Hornblower films, as for reading, I'm currently reading some of the Bronte sisters books, poems and info (A12837242) and reading to take a crash course on Astrology (A13385540)

Just out of curiosity, how many Hornblower books are there?

Emmily

my goodness, that's a ot of work on the Brontes - I will enjoy reading that.

Hornblower books... I think there are around 10. I'll have to check.

Unfortunately I've never caught more than about 10 minutes of the TV series - which is a pity, because I really think I'd like them.

It appears there are six feature-length films - The Duel, The Fire Ships, The Duchess and the Devil, The Wrong War, The Mutiny and Retribution. (according to the box set of DVDs I've just looked up) and I think I've seen all of them, at least once.

Emmily

from what I know (what that guy told me) I'm not sure the TV things are too closely connected to the books.

But I'd have to watch them - what a torture!

I read nearly all the books when I was at school, years ago, lol.

did you like them?
Have you tried Sharpe?

yes I liked them wouldnt have read so many if i hadnt, lol. I have read nearly all sharpe as well

he'll be 56 in a couple of weeks, and probably can't remember much about them

One time we went to London for a day out, and were both reading the same Sharpe book, taking turns reading it on the train and tube with our bookmark to mark our page.

I think it was visitor that got me watching Hornblower, I'd not watched it before.

I sort the books in the shop I work in, I don't recall any Hornblower books, if any do come I'll grab them, for when have time to read something different. Had a load of Sharpe books recently, new condition and with front cover design I wanted (fussy wotsit) there were 4 or five that I didn't have, and had got from the library to read.

Emmily

Saw this and thought of you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEAN-BEAN-GODS-MASTERPIECE-KEYRING-KEYCHAIN_W0QQitemZ300022810611QQihZ020QQcategoryZ3628QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Emmily

That's to you Sho, not 'visitor' I forgot he was in the thread.

Emmily

oooooooooooooooooo I'd like one of those!
I noticed, in the Prison Break ad break this weekend that Sharpe is on UK Gold on Wednesday


but I have to say, as I'm going through Hornblower that I'm finding it fascinating to think that while Horatio is trolling around in one part of Europe (leaving swooning ladies in his wake) Sharpe is at the the other end, leaving swooning ladies in his wake. I think Hornblower would like Sharpe, he's a lot like Bush in many respects, and Hornblower definitely loves him.

Egads, I think I'm getting a bit obsessive!

Sharpe's been on Gold on and off for a while. I wish one of the channels would show the the Hornblower 'films', next time they are on, I'll record them, so I can watch them when I want.

There was also a couple of key rings on ebay that said 'Mrs Sean Bean' I'll have to get to Lakeside (a large shopping centre/mall couple of miles away) it seems Sharpe's Challenge may have resulted in some Sharpe merchandise, though, if it has, and there are loads of mugs, key rings, fridgemagnets etc, it'll just frustrate me, as I can't afford to buy any of them be nice to see them anyway.

Oh, there's a new Sharpe book out, uh, I've forgotten what it's called......to find out...Sharpe's Fury, I saw the hardback in Tesco last Friday.

http://www.bernardcornwell.net/index.cfm?page=2&BookId=46

Emmily

oh yes, I saw that - I'll have to wait for the paperback I think.

Me too, unless I'm lucky enough to have a hardback donated to the charity shop in the meantime

Emmily

I was going to put it on my "online book-retailer" wish list, but it seems to want to give me the American version which I don't want (yep, they are "translated")

Because... a little known thing they do, and I have no idea how often or whatever, is to randomly select a customer and send them a book off their wish-list. Really. It's how I got Guns, Germs & Steel.