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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
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
"But faith, like a jackal, feeds among the tombs, and even from these dead doubts she gathers her most vital hope"
I LOVE THIS BOOK.
I LOVE THIS BOOK.
Tried this (my Dad’s) paperback a couple of times. Loved the start then interest waned as I got a glimpse of the Gregory Peck movie and a sneak peek at the ending, so when I entered into the more descriptive parts of the book I got bogged down. Two things changed to make me enjoy it more and actually complete it - The first is I realized it is actually a hybrid non-fiction book about the historic whaling industry disguised as fiction (and I like non-fiction). Reading the descriptive parts as if they were text books rather than novels made it interesting rather than wondering why such elaborate detours on an ‘adventure’ story was necessary (though I appreciate some readers would argue it’s all necessary and my attention span is the problem). Secondly,this audio version was unique and lots of fun with a different narrator for each chapter (at least seemed unique - it’s the second audiobook I’ve listened to since my childhood G.I. Joe adventures):
http://www.mobydickbigread.com
http://www.mobydickbigread.com
good for listening to in the car, though I must admit I zoned out a bit.