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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
And I finally got to read this classic. I want to make it clear that I was rooting for the whale. Moby Dick was in her natural habitat, and the whale who is swimming happily doesn't want war with anybody.
Then comes Ahab, this absolute idiot. He is out there trying to kill her, and of course Moby Dick smart as she is, defends herself. He ends up without a leg - and it is hinted, without other male parts as well - and instead of being happy that he got away with his life, decides to go back to take revenge on Moby Dick.
Ahab is paranoid, obsessed and manipulates the crew to get revenge on Moby Dick, even though the only one he should blame for his status is himself. So no sympathy for him or the fools that followed him in this doomed endeavour.
I have to compliment Herman Melville for his totally subtle homosexual undertones. It wouldn't be acceptable at the time, so he puts hints everywhere: from the "marriage" and sleeping in the same bed of Ishmael and Queequeg, to the many commentaries and allusions about the male sexual organ and at times it is hilarious. This is a book about men and their adventures, how important it is for them to be together and their relationships. The few women are mentioned in the beginning of the novel: brief and they have no personality or impact on the story whatsoever, not even as an inspiration for the men.
There are long analysis of the whale - the different kind of whales, their nature, how they are seeing in history, and he tries hard to show the noble nature of whaling. It didn't work for me - in the end of the day, the whales are wonderful beings and I do understand that at this time they needed their oil for lamps, but still, it was a horrible profession to hunt those wonderful mammals, kill them through a lot of suffering for them and then take the few portions of them that are of use to them and throw all of their meat away. Just leave the poor animals alone already!
Melville explores themes such as fate: Ahab manipulates the Prequod crew and their superstitions to make sure they follow him in his craze quest for revenge. Also religion: Ishmael is a biblical name, the 3 day final confrontation with Moby Dick remites to Biblical themes like Jonah spending 3 days inside the belly of the big fish and Christ resurrecting after 3 days inside the tomb. Ahab is also a Biblical name: in the Bible he was one of Israel's wicked king and Jezebel's husband. Fedallah has a prophecy that Ahab misinterpret as he will be successful on his quest and in the end we understand that it is not so and it's fascinating to see Ahab understanding that the prophecy meant the opposite and still he cannot refrain himself for going until death through the course he set himself to, bringing the entire crew with him with the exception of Ishmael.
The pairing of the workers in the Prequod is quite interesting: Starbuck represents New England and, just as this region depends on the Chinese/South Sea trade, he depends on Queequeg. Stubb represents the American West, and his power derives from his subordination of the Native American Indian, Tashtego. Flask represents the South and both controls and depends upon the African, Daggoo.
I think the book is amazing but very long. Melville goes on and on about the details of the whales, differences and for a great part of the book, nothing really happens. However, I was rooting for the whale and I loved that this book had a happy ending.
Then comes Ahab, this absolute idiot. He is out there trying to kill her, and of course Moby Dick smart as she is, defends herself. He ends up without a leg - and it is hinted, without other male parts as well - and instead of being happy that he got away with his life, decides to go back to take revenge on Moby Dick.
Ahab is paranoid, obsessed and manipulates the crew to get revenge on Moby Dick, even though the only one he should blame for his status is himself. So no sympathy for him or the fools that followed him in this doomed endeavour.
I have to compliment Herman Melville for his totally subtle homosexual undertones. It wouldn't be acceptable at the time, so he puts hints everywhere: from the "marriage" and sleeping in the same bed of Ishmael and Queequeg, to the many commentaries and allusions about the male sexual organ and at times it is hilarious. This is a book about men and their adventures, how important it is for them to be together and their relationships. The few women are mentioned in the beginning of the novel: brief and they have no personality or impact on the story whatsoever, not even as an inspiration for the men.
There are long analysis of the whale - the different kind of whales, their nature, how they are seeing in history, and he tries hard to show the noble nature of whaling. It didn't work for me - in the end of the day, the whales are wonderful beings and I do understand that at this time they needed their oil for lamps, but still, it was a horrible profession to hunt those wonderful mammals, kill them through a lot of suffering for them and then take the few portions of them that are of use to them and throw all of their meat away. Just leave the poor animals alone already!
Melville explores themes such as fate: Ahab manipulates the Prequod crew and their superstitions to make sure they follow him in his craze quest for revenge. Also religion: Ishmael is a biblical name, the 3 day final confrontation with Moby Dick remites to Biblical themes like Jonah spending 3 days inside the belly of the big fish and Christ resurrecting after 3 days inside the tomb. Ahab is also a Biblical name: in the Bible he was one of Israel's wicked king and Jezebel's husband. Fedallah has a prophecy that Ahab misinterpret as he will be successful on his quest and in the end we understand that it is not so and it's fascinating to see Ahab understanding that the prophecy meant the opposite and still he cannot refrain himself for going until death through the course he set himself to, bringing the entire crew with him with the exception of Ishmael.
The pairing of the workers in the Prequod is quite interesting: Starbuck represents New England and, just as this region depends on the Chinese/South Sea trade, he depends on Queequeg. Stubb represents the American West, and his power derives from his subordination of the Native American Indian, Tashtego. Flask represents the South and both controls and depends upon the African, Daggoo.
I think the book is amazing but very long. Melville goes on and on about the details of the whales, differences and for a great part of the book, nothing really happens. However, I was rooting for the whale and I loved that this book had a happy ending.
Whew. Took me over 6 months to finish, but just a week or so to do the last 50%. This wraps up my ultimate reading challenge. Best or tied for top prize too. This had SO many breaks from the story for philosophy rants. So many soliloquies. There was a lot of nice prose, I highlighted so many phrases and passages, I definitely want to go back and look at these later.
This book clearly illustrated for the first time (for me) how older books could so easily be abridged. I also kept thinking about Melville's personal history. Also how hard it is to define a fish today, and he addressed those same concerns with whales! The story was fine. Some interpersonal drama, cool skills, interesting characters (love the blacksmith), I liked the prophecy and tension from that. I think the way they made Ahab seem unstable bears continued inspection. No violence, really. Also, best sleeping pill ever.
This book clearly illustrated for the first time (for me) how older books could so easily be abridged. I also kept thinking about Melville's personal history. Also how hard it is to define a fish today, and he addressed those same concerns with whales! The story was fine. Some interpersonal drama, cool skills, interesting characters (love the blacksmith), I liked the prophecy and tension from that. I think the way they made Ahab seem unstable bears continued inspection. No violence, really. Also, best sleeping pill ever.
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I never thought I'de return to this book. Let alone finish it.
Although not the most boring book I've read, I'd safely label it "unreadable."
Only in the last 26 pages is there any contact with Moby Dick; which leaves 510 pages of whaling and sailing terminology, history, and "cetology." None of which I enjoyed. Nor did I enjoy all the parts pertaining to the story, really.
I do not know why this book is so popular and liked. I hope I can recover from it soon.
Although not the most boring book I've read, I'd safely label it "unreadable."
Only in the last 26 pages is there any contact with Moby Dick; which leaves 510 pages of whaling and sailing terminology, history, and "cetology." None of which I enjoyed. Nor did I enjoy all the parts pertaining to the story, really.
I do not know why this book is so popular and liked. I hope I can recover from it soon.
Can you believe we actually read and discussed this in our Library Book Discussion group? Why not it was a classic! We also hosted a guest speaker a week later who was an expert on Herman Melville and had taught at our local university. It was actually quite the event for both weeks. And quite the discussion. I am constantly amazed what we can learn from these old classic tales.
Moby-Dick is an epic piece of literature. Rich in language and structure. As well as character and story.
It is about a man against a whale. And we can dissect the story philosophically all we want - and of course when we are in a book discussion group, we took our job seriously.
We have a sea voyage. The long, long, long search for Moby Dick, and then the adrenaline-fueled final days of the chase and fight. Man against creature? Man against nature?
Some of the themes of discussion that emerged:
*Human confronting the unanswerable question of existence.
*Grappling with the question of why bad things happen to good people.
*Why there is suffering in the world.
*Betrayal against One's body - even against himself.
Any way you look at it - there is heart in here. And lots and lots of room for discussion.
Moby-Dick is an epic piece of literature. Rich in language and structure. As well as character and story.
It is about a man against a whale. And we can dissect the story philosophically all we want - and of course when we are in a book discussion group, we took our job seriously.
We have a sea voyage. The long, long, long search for Moby Dick, and then the adrenaline-fueled final days of the chase and fight. Man against creature? Man against nature?
Some of the themes of discussion that emerged:
*Human confronting the unanswerable question of existence.
*Grappling with the question of why bad things happen to good people.
*Why there is suffering in the world.
*Betrayal against One's body - even against himself.
Any way you look at it - there is heart in here. And lots and lots of room for discussion.
I thought this was a book on the history of Wales, not a story about a whale
Shockingly delightful. I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes