There have been a lot of book recommendations lately. It's my library's fault. I currently have 4 checked out and 10 on hold. My library's website also lets me search and save to my hard drive. I have 39 books waiting to put on hold. I can manage it all online. Books that I have been wanting to read for several years have moved from my Amazon wish list to my library hold list. (Why didn't I listen to Zoe earlier?) There have been a lot of reality based books lately but sometimes a boy's got to play and Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey Maturin Series is a whole lot of fun. A 20 volume seafairing epic during the Napoleanic wars. Two down and eighteen to go. Essential reading. Essential for mental health.

Master and Commander
by Patrick O'Brian

From Amazon:

The opening salvo of the Aubrey-Maturin epic, in which the surgeon introduces himself to the captain by driving an elbow into his ribs during a chamber-music recital. Fortunately for millions of readers, the two quickly make up. Then they commence one of the great literary voyages of our century, set against an immaculately-detailed backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. This is the place to start--and in all likelihood, you won't be able to stop.

Post Captain
by Patrick O'Brian

From Amazon:

The year is 1803, and that scalawag Napoleon Bonaparte has gone to war again. For Captain Jack Aubrey, who has fled to France to escape his creditors, this is doubly alarming news. In short order the captain is interned, makes his escape across the French countryside, and leads a ship into battle. And again, his adventures are cleverly counterpointed by those of his alter ego Stephen Maturin.