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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
This book is a classic, a very long classic with good instances but some of the chapters very much become episodes in their own way and could have been missed. This took me 5 years to read and several attempts. Your the reader is up for a challenge please read away.
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Going into this book, I didn't realise it was about whaling. I know, I know. I thought the phrase "white whale" referred to something you'd long been searching for, and thus extrapolated, from what little plot I did know, that Ahab sought to gaze upon a beautiful, rare whale. I'm sad that this wasn't the case.
At the start, after I got past my own trepidation about reading a book about the sea, I loved it. The friendship between Ishmael and Queequeg was beautiful - I really appreciated the way Ishmael, after his initial fear, respected Queequeg's different ways of life, and allowed himself to interpret his Christianity as guiding him to love rather than demonise. Queequeg was such a lovely character - so kind and thoughtful. If there were some kind of murder mystery featuring Ishmael and Queequeg as the unlikely duo solving the crime, I'd be there!
When we got onto the Pequod, I got a lot less interested. I really don't care for sea stuff; we lost all the nice interactions between Ishmael and Queequeg; and while the whale facts were interesting enough, I really despised the hunting. The rest of the crew didn't much capture my attention, and I did not care for Ahab and his bloody-minded quest.
The ending was satisfying. I really liked the writing. I just wish there had been less whale murder!
At the start, after I got past my own trepidation about reading a book about the sea, I loved it. The friendship between Ishmael and Queequeg was beautiful - I really appreciated the way Ishmael, after his initial fear, respected Queequeg's different ways of life, and allowed himself to interpret his Christianity as guiding him to love rather than demonise. Queequeg was such a lovely character - so kind and thoughtful. If there were some kind of murder mystery featuring Ishmael and Queequeg as the unlikely duo solving the crime, I'd be there!
When we got onto the Pequod, I got a lot less interested. I really don't care for sea stuff; we lost all the nice interactions between Ishmael and Queequeg; and while the whale facts were interesting enough, I really despised the hunting. The rest of the crew didn't much capture my attention, and I did not care for Ahab and his bloody-minded quest.
The ending was satisfying. I really liked the writing. I just wish there had been less whale murder!
I must admit that I skimmed through some of the "blubber" chapters. Overall, however, I admit I was taken aback with how much I came to appreciate and love this epic story. Thematically and decisively there is so much happening that I'm sure it'll make a pleasurable second read some day. Just for fun- my absolute favorite chapter was The Spirit Spout. Suspiring "s" sounds can always rein me in.
This book was my white whale. But it did not defeat me. It's my brother's favourite book. I cannot understand why. I would not recommend it. But if you feel you must give it a go, the audiobook - read beautifully by Anthony Heald - will definitely help.
Started 06/02/16. Finished (finally) 11/12/22
Started 06/02/16. Finished (finally) 11/12/22
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
Favorite chapters: The Sermon, The Shark Massacre, The Candles
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent monograph on the whaling industry and the biology and behavior of whales, especially the sperm whale. Okay but seriously: this book has me a little torn.
The parts of the book that are story are fantastic. The prose is stunning; the story is wonderfully gripping. But the copious and exhaustive essays about whales and whaling, which are at times hardly relavent to the story and even worse sometimes inaccurate (whales are not fish), were often a slog to get through. Herman, I believe you that whales are real, and I know what whales look like. Back to the story, please.
But oh, what a story! It is at once the quintessential campfire tale told by the quintessential old man campfire storyteller, and a profound exploration of the human experience. While I wish he could have spent more time on the story than describing (at times ironically inaccurate) whale biology, this was truly excellent.
The parts of the book that are story are fantastic. The prose is stunning; the story is wonderfully gripping. But the copious and exhaustive essays about whales and whaling, which are at times hardly relavent to the story and even worse sometimes inaccurate (whales are not fish), were often a slog to get through. Herman, I believe you that whales are real, and I know what whales look like. Back to the story, please.
But oh, what a story! It is at once the quintessential campfire tale told by the quintessential old man campfire storyteller, and a profound exploration of the human experience. While I wish he could have spent more time on the story than describing (at times ironically inaccurate) whale biology, this was truly excellent.