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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
One of the best books I've read. Profound, engaging, and exciting--well, at the end anyway. Multiple readings reward anyone willing to take the time. Spectacular depth and narrative vision.
For the most part, the novel's structure alternates between chapters about whaling and chapters that advance the plot. The whaling chapters are always symbolic, and Melville's ability to charge his symbols with meaning is perhaps unmatched. The plot chapters are fun and more exciting. The end of this book is one of the most spellbinding I've ever read. I can't heap enough superlatives on this book.
I read the Berkeley edition of this book that features the beautiful woodcut pictures and large pages. I love that edition and highly recommend it.
For the most part, the novel's structure alternates between chapters about whaling and chapters that advance the plot. The whaling chapters are always symbolic, and Melville's ability to charge his symbols with meaning is perhaps unmatched. The plot chapters are fun and more exciting. The end of this book is one of the most spellbinding I've ever read. I can't heap enough superlatives on this book.
I read the Berkeley edition of this book that features the beautiful woodcut pictures and large pages. I love that edition and highly recommend it.
The entire second part was impossibly boring and pointless. I probably could have skipped it and gotten through the story, but it annoyed me so much I couldn't be bothered to try.
“Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me.”
On the one hand: pages, chapters even, of scandalous racism.
On the other hand: a seminal Boys Own Adventure story. Plus, a moderately interesting exploration of obsession.
Okay, so upon my second reading of Moby-Dick, and with wonderful footnotes in this edition, and much discussion about the novel and Melville's historical and personal context in my Melville single author class, I can't help but think this is an amazing book. I know I will read it again.
Lots of sperm talk. Book may be a little gay?
Honestly, great book. STUPID hard to read, for me. Took me two tries and two full years (across both tries) to finish it.
Honestly, great book. STUPID hard to read, for me. Took me two tries and two full years (across both tries) to finish it.
I was pleasantly surprised by how funny and how contemporary the book is, despite the intervening decades. The final two chapters are so staggering, I finished the book and then read them right over again. I admit I started to lose steam about 80% of the way through - I didn't mind Ishmael's discursive topic-hopping so much as Ahab's exhausting religious rants. Unwieldly and fascinating. Melville could really turn a phrase.
Finally read it! Very satisfying at end, some slow going at the start, but it drew me in. Lovely structure (135 chapters of widely varying length, each very focused). Would help if I knew more about ships and boats terminology. Clear antecedent to Blood Meridian which I may have to re-read now. Tempted to quit when I felt the whales were being portrayed with no empathy all. But that evolved and by the end I could almost root for Moby Dick. Also thought the evolution of relationship between Ahab and Starbuck was subtly moving.
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
