Customer Reviews

Heart of Oak (The Bolitho Novels)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I beleive Heart of Oak falls short of any of the previous Bolitho Novels.

The few ship battle actions are poorly described. Most of the previous novels detail the ship's manuvering, gun actions, and hand to hand combat to leave a feeling of being involved. Also, many of the previous books details shipboard life and the skills needed to sail a man-of-war. This one is poorly done.

Too much print mooning over Adam'love life. I have read all 26 Bolitho Novels, some of them two or three times and the majority are real page turners. This one was not.

I have read the entire Bolitho series and have greatly enjoyed most of them. This one, however, I wish I had never bought. It seems as if Kent was trying for more drama instead of a good sea tale. Way too much angst and not enough swashbuckling action. Mr. Kent, quit mucking with the formula and get backing to writing the stories we love!

Disjointed and lacking in conectivity. NOT up to the great standards set by Reeman/Kent's previous novels.

I have enjoyed the Bolitho books from the moment they came out. Unfortunately they have become a tedious and boring read. This last one tops the scale with a disjointed, totally boring story line. Do not buy. If you did buy the book to keep the series complete, do not bother reading it

I haved read all of the Bolitho novels and I feel that this latest one was most disappointing. It had far less adventure in it and was rather dull for a good half of its 267 pages. Maybe it is time for Alexander Kent to retire or find a new topic.

I have read all of the Bolitho novels. I found this one to move from scene to scene in a jerky manner. very hard to follow. I sure hope the next novel will be better.

This latest in the Bolitho series was - as usual - a good read. But I don't think this was Kent's best in the series. After 26 books, the fan knows who the characters are but the uninitiated would be hard pressed to follow and there is too much disjointed language in the story itself. Still, I'm glad I bought and read it and wonder if there will be another.

If you read any of the first 20 or so Bolitho novels by Alexander Kent you will be convinced that this book was written by someone else. The story line is impossible to follow. There is no comparable action scenes. I could not finish this book, and recommend no one even tries.

I first started reading the Richard Bolitho books in Boston back in the late 60's as a young Sailor and have been ever addicted since. This latest novel upholds Douglas Reeman's (Alexander Kent's) fine tradition of Nepolianic War era British wooden sailing ships and iron men. Unlike the late Patrick O'Brien's books that tend to ramble on (I have never been able to hold interest in one of his novels), these books are readable and you understand the workings of a man-o-war at sea and in time of battle. His characters are human, you get to know them as old friends, you understand their fallacies and strong points, you share their good times and grieve for the departed. Excellent book Mr. Reeman!

Heart of Oak: The Bolitho Novels #27 (The Bolitho Novels)

Another great book in this series by Kent(Reeman). I wait each new book with bated breath. I do however think that the Adam Bolitho stories are a bit shallow compared to earlier books on Richard. I have all Bolitho books and eagerly await the next.