pirates
- Jul 2, 2023
The DawnhoundsGood fun! Pirates and mushrooms and sci-fi murder-mystery-leads-to-worldending-political-mystery, and they kiss in the end. Didn't really like the bit where I have to wait a while for the next book to come around, but if you do not find those things anathema to your reading experience, I think you would find this enjoyable.
- Oct 23, 2023
Pirate EnlightenmentThis book is a fascinating little history of Madagascar and the kingdoms and societies during the golden age of piracy. I (and I imagine I am not unique here) know little of this corner of the world and corner of history, and enjoyed learning about the unique cultural mixture driven by the intersection of Arabs, pirates, slavers, colonists, and Madagascar people. Graeber's writing is as always entertaining and educational, although there is not much here of his usual grand claims of historiographical reinterpretation and generalization - it is a more focused anthropology that I think likely has a less wide interest than the exciting title and Graeber's name might otherwise incur.
- Oct 25, 2023
Treasure IslandFor a boy named Hawkins growing up by the (fresh, decidedly not pirate-infested) water, Treasure Island was a formative and exciting read about a boy named Hawkins traveling the world, finding pirates and treasure and friends. Rereading it to get in the proper headspace for dressing as a pirate for a costumed wedding - it holds up. Excellent swordfights and intrigue, and Long John Silver is to be sure a character for the ages.