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I really wasn’t sure how to rate this book, or if two stars is truly fair. Moby Dick is one part adventure story, one part “everything you ever wanted to know about whales and whaling,” and one part “random side stories.” So here it goes…
Whale/Whaling Info
Rating: ⭐️
Somewhat interesting, but there is way too much of it. It’s not something I ever would’ve read, if I hadn’t read Moby Dick. I knew in selecting the book, it would be there, but I had no idea how long and tedious it would get. We have the (probably infamous) sperm whale squishing bit that... I don’t even know what to say about that. An obvious “does this remind you of anything” chapter that goes on so long, it becomes hilarious. Unfortunately, most of these chapters were a chore to get through.
Random Stories
Rating: ⭐️ 1/2
Each one is a hit or miss, and most feel out of place in the book. Probably the only one I truly appreciated was the story of the Essex, which is a nod to the true story that the book is partly based on. Given how long the book is already, I wish there had also been a chapter for Mocha Dick, the real albino whale that the Moby Dick character was based on. RIP Mocha, you were a true hero.
The Adventure
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I put this last because it honestly feels last in the book itself. While I enjoyed the story, it gets buried. It does get a bit long-winded, but I don’t think that would have been an issue if the above two parts hadn’t been there in the first place. I’d be curious to try giving the abridged version of Moby Dick a try. My biggest issue here was the end, the final battle, which...
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...was strangely somehow long winded and too short. Long winded in that is the style of writing. Too short in that most of the characters just sort of disappear, and I don’t just mean into the sea. Even the way Ishmael survived is sort of an afterthought.
Whale/Whaling Info
Rating: ⭐️
Somewhat interesting, but there is way too much of it. It’s not something I ever would’ve read, if I hadn’t read Moby Dick. I knew in selecting the book, it would be there, but I had no idea how long and tedious it would get. We have the (probably infamous) sperm whale squishing bit that... I don’t even know what to say about that. An obvious “does this remind you of anything” chapter that goes on so long, it becomes hilarious. Unfortunately, most of these chapters were a chore to get through.
Random Stories
Rating: ⭐️ 1/2
Each one is a hit or miss, and most feel out of place in the book. Probably the only one I truly appreciated was the story of the Essex, which is a nod to the true story that the book is partly based on. Given how long the book is already, I wish there had also been a chapter for Mocha Dick, the real albino whale that the Moby Dick character was based on. RIP Mocha, you were a true hero.
The Adventure
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I put this last because it honestly feels last in the book itself. While I enjoyed the story, it gets buried. It does get a bit long-winded, but I don’t think that would have been an issue if the above two parts hadn’t been there in the first place. I’d be curious to try giving the abridged version of Moby Dick a try. My biggest issue here was the end, the final battle, which...
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
...was strangely somehow long winded and too short. Long winded in that is the style of writing. Too short in that most of the characters just sort of disappear, and I don’t just mean into the sea. Even the way Ishmael survived is sort of an afterthought.