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quoteradar 's review for:
Moby-Dick: Or, the Whale
by Herman Melville
I finally finished this, thanks in no small part to the ”Big Read” audiobook project that featured readers like Tilda Swinton for each chapter.
I can still say this: Herman Melville cares a damn sight more about whales and the men who hate them than I do.
I can further say that I firmly believe you could split Moby Dick into no less than four different books of varying genres:
An approachable microhistory of whaling for the person who despite having never been to sea has an avid interest.
A ripping adventure yarn about a sea captain who might be no more mad to chase whales for revenge than your average Nantucketer does for money, lamp oil, whale steaks, prestige, or bookmarks.
One of those brightly-colored Zoo Books about whales and their majestic flukes and expressive eyes.
A very specific cross-reference guide outlining all references to the mighty leviathan in other works both literary and biblical.
Any of those single books might have served their purpose handily. Herman Melville, however, took those books and possibly a few more for good measure, tossed them in the proverbial (being as yet uninvented) blender, and floated an ill-fated boat on the resulting slurry.
I can still say this: Herman Melville cares a damn sight more about whales and the men who hate them than I do.
I can further say that I firmly believe you could split Moby Dick into no less than four different books of varying genres:
An approachable microhistory of whaling for the person who despite having never been to sea has an avid interest.
A ripping adventure yarn about a sea captain who might be no more mad to chase whales for revenge than your average Nantucketer does for money, lamp oil, whale steaks, prestige, or bookmarks.
One of those brightly-colored Zoo Books about whales and their majestic flukes and expressive eyes.
A very specific cross-reference guide outlining all references to the mighty leviathan in other works both literary and biblical.
Any of those single books might have served their purpose handily. Herman Melville, however, took those books and possibly a few more for good measure, tossed them in the proverbial (being as yet uninvented) blender, and floated an ill-fated boat on the resulting slurry.