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A review by dyno8426
Moby-Dick: Or, the Whale by Herman Melville
3.0
So, phew... I was finally able to complete this classic, after a two week journey across the various capes and bays of the world, surprisingly considering that it's not that long a book. Most are aware with the premise that it is, at heart, an adventure tale which our outcast narrator (fortunately and unfortunately both) becomes a part of. And the adventure is a vengeful obsession of a monomaniacal, moody captain Ahab for a legendary, almost mythically regarded ginormous albino sperm whale, Moby Dick. If you are thinking of picking up this book, I think what needs to be shared are the various facets of this book.
I felt that it is not an easy read, and dense enough at times to make you lose grasp of what's happening. Thank that to the arcane language, unconventional sentence structures and plenty of historical references and sailing jargon which most of us will be ignorant about. So, I think it's best to read it continuously, recommended without intermittent breaks, to keep following the journey. Especially because at times, it digresses from an adventure to an encyclopedic catalog about whales, whalemen and the various disinteresting facts about whaling (the process of killing, butchering and reaping all you can out from a whale). This digression I personally found less exciting and instead, diffusing the adventurous thrill.
Now for the good parts though. This book contains that poetic style, which sets this apart from general narratives and defend its literary classicism. It is armed with many beautiful allegories (where one particular example which comes to my mind is the depiction of evil associated with whiteness in the nature). Though this poetic flow to the prose contributes to the same challenge in consuming it smoothly, but it brings out the themes of the book more impressively. Talking about themes, actions of the narrator and other characters repetitively exhibit their ideas about morality and free will associated with the events that concur. Many of its references are mythological and spiritual, and so the philosophy related to such themes also has that God-fearing aspect. And the interesting part of the book spectates the lives of such people with professions at natural extremities of spatial expanse and hostile solitude. When it is not in its profound phase, Melville keeps it enjoyable with a humorous tone with which the story goes.
And from other reviews, I see that there are people who love this work, and others who would rather undergo the same ordeal as Ahab than pick up this book again. I will take the middle path and say that I liked it; though it is trying at times, and this effort takes away some of its charm.
I felt that it is not an easy read, and dense enough at times to make you lose grasp of what's happening. Thank that to the arcane language, unconventional sentence structures and plenty of historical references and sailing jargon which most of us will be ignorant about. So, I think it's best to read it continuously, recommended without intermittent breaks, to keep following the journey. Especially because at times, it digresses from an adventure to an encyclopedic catalog about whales, whalemen and the various disinteresting facts about whaling (the process of killing, butchering and reaping all you can out from a whale). This digression I personally found less exciting and instead, diffusing the adventurous thrill.
Now for the good parts though. This book contains that poetic style, which sets this apart from general narratives and defend its literary classicism. It is armed with many beautiful allegories (where one particular example which comes to my mind is the depiction of evil associated with whiteness in the nature). Though this poetic flow to the prose contributes to the same challenge in consuming it smoothly, but it brings out the themes of the book more impressively. Talking about themes, actions of the narrator and other characters repetitively exhibit their ideas about morality and free will associated with the events that concur. Many of its references are mythological and spiritual, and so the philosophy related to such themes also has that God-fearing aspect. And the interesting part of the book spectates the lives of such people with professions at natural extremities of spatial expanse and hostile solitude. When it is not in its profound phase, Melville keeps it enjoyable with a humorous tone with which the story goes.
And from other reviews, I see that there are people who love this work, and others who would rather undergo the same ordeal as Ahab than pick up this book again. I will take the middle path and say that I liked it; though it is trying at times, and this effort takes away some of its charm.