I had good memories of my reading many years ago and now, in a rereading, I once again enjoy the flavor of adventure, the sea and the blue gin with tonic.

It's like taking a journey back in time, where the words on the page transport me to a different world.

The descriptions of the sea are so vivid that I can almost feel the salty breeze on my face and hear the waves crashing against the shore.

And the mention of the blue gin with tonic adds a touch of sophistication and mystery to the story.

As I turn each page, I am completely immersed in the narrative, eager to see what happens next.

This rereading has not only refreshed my memories but also given me a new appreciation for the book and its ability to captivate and inspire.

My first encounter with Arturo Perez-Reverte was through The Fencing Master, and I was truly captivated by it. However, after reading The Nautical Chart, I don't think I'll be eager to seek out another of his works.

This was one of those last-minute choices made for the plane ride. It does have its亮点—for instance, a well-crafted ending twist. But for the most part, it turns its virtues into vices.

The virtues in question include an admirable integration of jazz into the narrative, a deft connection of the back story with the main narrative, and the skillful use of the omniscient narrator, a self-proclaimed Conradian Marlowe who knows and sees all.

However, Perez-Reverte becomes so immersed in all the tales of the past that the "present" loses its impact. It seems that every time a new event occurs, it triggers a series of memories and concomitant emotions in the protagonist, leading us far away from the main plot. To a certain extent, this is effective. It gives the book texture, perspective, and a sort of nineteenth-century feel. But after a while, the technique becomes formulaic, and we wish we could just get on with the story.

One thing that can't be denied about Perez-Reverte is his thorough research. I remember that one aspect of The Fencing Master that I admired was the depth of his knowledge of fencing technique, terminology, process, and art. Here, somewhat (though not to the same great extent as Moby Dick could be used as a textbook about whaling), The Nautical Chart could serve as a handbook of cartography. I'm quite sure that you'll learn more about the history and use of longitude and latitude in this book than in any other work of fiction.

You'll also find a more blatant use of the siren/femme fatale motif than in most modern literature. It's not something that I think we need more of.

In the end, what I'm left with is an overly long story of some interesting characters caught in a situation that would have been much more engaging if I could have spent more time in that situation rather than in all the situations that preceded it.

It is an article that is filled with very technical vocabulary. I firmly believe that anyone who is not a seaman will find it extremely difficult to understand the majority of its content. The overall impression it gives is one of boredom and lack of interest. In fact, I would not recommend it at all. The excessive use of technical jargon makes it inaccessible to the general reader, and it fails to engage or captivate the audience. It seems to be written solely for a niche group of seamen who are already familiar with the specialized terminology. For those outside this field, it is likely to be a dry and uninteresting read.

It seemed that there was something interesting. However, until I finish it, it's really difficult! Maybe it's because the task requires a lot of effort and concentration. But I'm determined to overcome the difficulties and complete it successfully. I know that only by persevering can I achieve my goal. So, I'll keep working hard and not give up easily. I believe that in the end, I'll be able to accomplish this task and feel a great sense of satisfaction.

The Sea Map for a Man's Path to a Woman and the Sea: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/m...

"The Sea Map" is a meticulous book, a heartrending one. One of the older novels by Arturo Pérez-Reverte has come out in a new edition to show a different side of the author, usually associated with thrilling adventure novels. This one has the necessary ingredients for such - a ship that sank two and a half centuries ago with an enigmatic cargo (meaning treasure), a wounded, dark sailor who falls half in love with a mysterious beauty, fighting against crafty enemies to reach "his" secret ship first. And at first glance, the plot offers enough for those seeking adventures, battles, clashes between good and evil, flamboyant bravado and weapons, unexpected discoveries and reversals. But there is much more sadness and pain, desire and turmoil, despair and acceptance. A novel about a man and the impossible love, both for the sea and for a woman. And it's not certain which hides more crafty depths.

Publisher "Unicorn"

http://knigolandia.info/book-review/m...

I didn't have an intense dislike for this book. However, when the narrative strategy was disclosed, I found it rather gimmicky. Additionally, there was an abundance of empty talk about how women are mysterious and unknowable, which made me roll my eyes frequently. I understand that it was perhaps more the narrator than Coy having all those ponderings, but after a while, they became rather annoying. Especially since I was already anticipating Tanger's betrayal at the end. Although I must admit that her teaming up with the melancholy dwarf was a surprise, especially considering he'd killed her dog.

There was a great deal of beautiful description about the sea and the men who sail it. But it was very much centered around the idea that this is the domain of men, while women wait on land for their return. I liked Coy and El Piloto, and I desired to like Tanger. However, she didn't seem like a genuine person. Instead, she felt like a combination of a femme fatale from numerous different detective novels.

Overall, the book had its moments, but it also had several aspects that didn't quite work for me.

I simply cannot believe that his books weren't listed anywhere. It seems rather astonishing considering how easy it is to find them in well-known bookstores like Barnes & Noble or Borders.

His works are truly remarkable. They are not just ordinary books but great mysteries that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, great action adventure tales that are filled with excitement and thrills, and great historical novels that bring the past to life.

The writing in his books is of a high caliber. It is engaging, vivid, and well-structured. Reading his books is not only an intellectual exercise but also a source of great fun. It's a shame that they weren't more widely available and recognized. One can only hope that in the future, his works will receive the attention and acclaim they truly deserve.

I do not know, even after all these pages, whether the translation sucks or the whole thing misses the mark.

It feels like when you go to an elaborate dinner served by a drunk foodie couple. Their overambitious menu features dishes with expensive and exotic ingredients that they just can't quite pull off while inebriated and interacting with their guests. Stuff comes to the table late, under or over-cooked. The dialogue is banal, and what should tickle the senses falls flat.

If you put a post-it over the author's name, you might think Dan Brown and Clive Cussler's manuscripts got misfed in adjacent Xerox machines. Those machines spat out the pages, and the people who came upon the papers scattered about published the stuff they picked up off the floor and shuffled back together.

It's a strange and somewhat disappointing experience, leaving one to wonder what went wrong in the creation of this work. Was it a lack of skill in translation, or perhaps a fundamental misstep in the overall concept and execution? The result is a jumbled mess that fails to live up to expectations.

Perez-Reverte is indeed a powerful storyteller.

He unfolds his narrative with perfect pacing, incorporating sensuous details and a fascinating setting that draw the reader in.

However, his shallow portrayal of women prevents me from bestowing more effusive praise upon this novel.

The male protagonist, Coy, is clearly delineated. He is a hard-living yet honest sailor without a ship.

On land, he is spiritually and emotionally lost.

After meeting Tanger Soto, a cold and alluring woman with remarkable knowledge of historical documents and nautical maps, Coy slips into perilous territory.

She is guarding a secret, a well-researched hypothesis that a Jesuit ship sunk by pirates in the 17th century was carrying a cache of emeralds.

She believes the treasure now lies on the bottom of the sea, in an area Coy knows intimately.

She needs him, but unfortunately, not in the same way he comes to need her.

Despite the imbalance in the characterization, this novel remains thrilling until the bitter end.

A few weeks ago, I made a rather drastic decision.

I decided to stop writing reviews and instead only log star listings for books. This was due to some internal screaming and frustrations I had regarding the popularity contest that is the Goodreads review system.

However, as time has passed, I realize now that I need to make a few notes to keep track of what I read. Why? Because my memory is failing me.

Let's face it, I am getting older.

I started off loving this particular book. It was basically nouveau-literature. The main protagonist waxed poetical about jazz, women, and the sea. It was in a perfect mood for me when I first began reading it.

However, as I delved deeper, I realized that it wasn't going to rise to the climactic sea-faring voyage that I was so hoping for.

And then, I quickly became distracted by something else: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning.

I was in the mood for an honest-ship wreck adventure story that started off as a slow burn. But what I was getting instead was a quiet mystery, possibly a lite thriller.

Some might argue that it is in the vein of Patricia Highsmith, with that whole cat and mouse dynamic. But I'll never really know if my guess is correct.

Maybe I'll have to read more to find out.

Pérez-Reverte is characterized by his many adventure books. However, ultimately, they become repetitive and rather uninteresting. One can learn a great deal, especially about nautics, at least in terms of vocabulary. The supposed twist at the end of the story is predictable. The sexual tension between the main characters is drawn out for far too long. And when they finally give in, it is accompanied by a description of a rather unfunny bedding scene. It's a cliché of the kind where the ugly but useful guy falls in love with the smart, mysterious, and beautiful girl. In the end, she dies, proving that she wasn't always that smart after all.

Overall, Pérez-Reverte's works, while having some redeeming qualities such as the nautical knowledge they impart, suffer from predictability and overdone sexual tension. The cliché-ridden storylines can make the reading experience less engaging than it could be. It seems that despite his popularity, there is room for improvement in his writing to avoid becoming too formulaic.

Does his research, structures his plot, but how acutely does he delve into character? The first half of the story is slow, with the slow-witted Cal ruminating over his lover-to-be and randomly punching people. It seems as if the author is taking his time to set the stage and introduce the characters. However, as the story progresses, it picks up a bit toward the end. We start to see more depth in Cal's character and understand his motives better. The author begins to explore his inner turmoil and the conflicts he faces within himself. This added layer of complexity makes the story more engaging and interesting. Overall, while the beginning may have been a bit sluggish, the author's ability to develop the characters and build tension towards the end makes up for it.