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gauriraut's review against another edition
4.0
Did I understand what I read?
Mostly no.
Did I enjoy what I read?
Mostly yes.
Would I reread?
Mostly yes.
ETA:
Herman Melville said a whale's head and tail are like two halves of an apple. Thereby implying that the middle is completely useless.
This book, in the sense of the idea of a 'novel', is indeed much the same. The plot exists only in the first and last couple of chapters. The rest of it, the middle, the flesh of the book is simply Melville going off about absolutely EVERYTHING related to whaling and sometimes if he wants, about other things too. And I LOVED it.
Some of my favourite chapters/ things were:
1. His ridiculously awesome categorisation of whales based on god knows what.
2. Fast-fish and loose-fish
3. Whaling laws.
4. Having a mini euphoric attack on eating excellent chowder.
5. Ishmael being in love with Queequeg.
6. The atmosphere he created making me feel like I was on a whaling adventure too.
7. Schools and Schoolmasters.
8. The contrasted view of the whales' heads.
9. When he said:
"A nose to the whale would have been impertinent"
"Why is almost every robust health boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or other crazy to go to sea?" Girls too.
"I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote"
"For we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending"
"I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does not kill or insult any other person, because that other person don't believe it also. But when a man's religion becomes really frantic; when it is a positive torment to him; and, in fine, makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to lodge in; then I think it high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him"
"But what is worship?-to do the will of God-THAT is worship. And what is the will of God?-to do to my fellow man what I would have my fellow man to do to me-THAT is the will of God"
Some of my not favourite things:
1. When he said I as a reader and my country both are loose fishes. Idk what to feel about that.
2. Some of the words were way above my reading level (so glad I read an ebook and could use the web dictionary)
3. Most of the references he made went over my head.
4. When that lawyer compared a wife to a whale and a fast and loose fish and won the case. Lawyers being lawyers since forever.
About 30% through I didn't think I would ever want to reread this book, seeing as it wasn't getting over. But now that I know what to expect and I know the end, I think rereading it would be even more delightful. When I do reread some 5-10 years later, I think I will take a good year to read and understand all the references. And also, a physical copy to annotate.
Mostly no.
Did I enjoy what I read?
Mostly yes.
Would I reread?
Mostly yes.
ETA:
Herman Melville said a whale's head and tail are like two halves of an apple. Thereby implying that the middle is completely useless.
This book, in the sense of the idea of a 'novel', is indeed much the same. The plot exists only in the first and last couple of chapters. The rest of it, the middle, the flesh of the book is simply Melville going off about absolutely EVERYTHING related to whaling and sometimes if he wants, about other things too. And I LOVED it.
Some of my favourite chapters/ things were:
1. His ridiculously awesome categorisation of whales based on god knows what.
2. Fast-fish and loose-fish
3. Whaling laws.
4. Having a mini euphoric attack on eating excellent chowder.
5. Ishmael being in love with Queequeg.
6. The atmosphere he created making me feel like I was on a whaling adventure too.
7. Schools and Schoolmasters.
8. The contrasted view of the whales' heads.
9. When he said:
"A nose to the whale would have been impertinent"
"Why is almost every robust health boy with a robust healthy soul in him, at some time or other crazy to go to sea?" Girls too.
"I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote"
"For we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending"
"I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does not kill or insult any other person, because that other person don't believe it also. But when a man's religion becomes really frantic; when it is a positive torment to him; and, in fine, makes this earth of ours an uncomfortable inn to lodge in; then I think it high time to take that individual aside and argue the point with him"
"But what is worship?-to do the will of God-THAT is worship. And what is the will of God?-to do to my fellow man what I would have my fellow man to do to me-THAT is the will of God"
Some of my not favourite things:
1. When he said I as a reader and my country both are loose fishes. Idk what to feel about that.
2. Some of the words were way above my reading level (so glad I read an ebook and could use the web dictionary)
3. Most of the references he made went over my head.
4. When that lawyer compared a wife to a whale and a fast and loose fish and won the case. Lawyers being lawyers since forever.
About 30% through I didn't think I would ever want to reread this book, seeing as it wasn't getting over. But now that I know what to expect and I know the end, I think rereading it would be even more delightful. When I do reread some 5-10 years later, I think I will take a good year to read and understand all the references. And also, a physical copy to annotate.
byejohn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“…to the last gasp of my earthquake life…”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Racism, Violence, and Animal death
goobdiddy's review against another edition
3.0
I can't say much that hasn't been said before about this one. It took me forever to read, due to the fact that it contains so many references to other works and information that I just don't know, even though I was reading a highly annotated edition. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it though...
megobrien81's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Tried again as an adult - this just isn’t my jam. 🤷🏼♀️
isabeldelpha's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
i’m all for slow burn but did it really have to take almost 600 pages for mr. moby dick to appear in the flesh
salableohio's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a pretty long book, and while I was occasionally charmed by the tangents about whales it would often go on I also often found myself wishing it would get on with it. At it's best, it's an extremely compelling story about the mad captain Ahab and his doomed voyage, at it's worst it feels like reading a dry encyclopedia
hanzy's review against another edition
2.0
I really think this book could've been condensed to one a lot less thicker
lfpbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
jobustitch's review against another edition
3.0
It was not my favorite, but I appreciate the book as a piece of history and as a study of religious themes.