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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
The author writes in long sentances that drip with poetry. Personally I think they sound/feel a bit like shakespear. There appear to be more words than are needed, but at the same time they have a musical quality that forgives the excess.
Chapter 42: The Whiteness of the Whale: Oh golly, I can't believe how this chapter drags as the author spends 9-10 pages making an argument for why the color/hue white should be menacing versus calming (assuming you thought it was calming in the first place).
Chapter 43-44: Really nice writing that continue to build the sense of menace and foreshadowing of the plot. As much as I was dragged through chapter 42, I really like the pacing of these chapters which refresh me and keep me in the story.
There is quite a bit of foreshadowing, lots of references to dark and dangerous things he will need to tell you in the future.
Chapter 42: The Whiteness of the Whale: Oh golly, I can't believe how this chapter drags as the author spends 9-10 pages making an argument for why the color/hue white should be menacing versus calming (assuming you thought it was calming in the first place).
Chapter 43-44: Really nice writing that continue to build the sense of menace and foreshadowing of the plot. As much as I was dragged through chapter 42, I really like the pacing of these chapters which refresh me and keep me in the story.
There is quite a bit of foreshadowing, lots of references to dark and dangerous things he will need to tell you in the future.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The important thing to keep in mind when reading this book is that, similar to "Hunchback of Notre Dame," it has very little to do with its title character. In fact, the whole book is essentially a long love letter to the art of whale-hunting and, more significantly, to the very being of whales themselves: "The more I dive into this matter of whaling, and push my researches up to the very spring-head of it, so much the more am I impressed with its great honorableness and antiquity; and especially when I find so many great demi-gods and heroes, prophets of all sorts, who one way or other have shed distinction upon it, I am transported with the reflection that I myself belong, though but subordinately, to so emblazoned a fraternity" (351). The presence of Moby Dick is generally used as a plot device in order to keep the story interesting and focused.
(SPOILER: Moby Dick does not actually show up until the last 20 pages).
While I enjoyed the language and use of symbolism to depict what obsessive revenge can do to an individual, it was challenging to get through all of the history of whaling, the ramblings on the majestic form of the whale (from its uses for society, its skeletal structure, the way it swims, how it breathes, etc.), and the long-winded rants of the characters.
(SPOILER: Moby Dick does not actually show up until the last 20 pages).
While I enjoyed the language and use of symbolism to depict what obsessive revenge can do to an individual, it was challenging to get through all of the history of whaling, the ramblings on the majestic form of the whale (from its uses for society, its skeletal structure, the way it swims, how it breathes, etc.), and the long-winded rants of the characters.
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this was a Tough read. "slow-paced" doesn't quite do it justice, the majority of the book is ishmael's dense philosophising and whaling facts. i'd recommend it only if you think you'd enjoy that, it was a bit too much for me personally. that being said, there were some Amazing chapters, especially towards the end. i ended up really enjoying ahab's relationships with starbuck and pip
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Racism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where do I even begin? I decided to listen to the version of this book narrated by William Hootkins at a friend's suggestion, and I'll admit that I had no idea what I was getting into. This novel was one of the main reasons why I stayed away from AP English in high school; I had heard horror stories about how boring and interminable it was, especially the chapters relating to cetology. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised at how modern the language is and how captivating the story was. In truth, I did find the expository sections rather dull, but the narrative sections were electrifying. What a great way to spend my commutes for the past few weeks.