He had to learn this, as many of his books, both early and late, appeared as serials in magazines. You don't know where you are, but you understand that you are about to be told. I've been reading about the 17th Century spice trade in two superlative non-fiction books, Nathaniel's Nutmeg and The Scents of Eden . I've said here they read like good novels. I must clarify they are as entertaining as novels, heavy on incident, light on emotion.
Some people read ONLY novels.
I admire these people. These readers are like gods to me. I don't pick up books that read like gods gargling grapes. However, Godshalk is going to try for another 467 pages, plus Glossary, Acknowledgments and Author's Note. I plan to read all the way to the end of Kalimantaan .