Well done! I most appreciate how expansive your reading of the novel is, where previously I'd only seen Ahab and the Whale as manic human arrogance versus untouchably divine Creation, trapped in all the bits and bobs that Melville found fascinating. But your reading—curious openness to perspective opposed tragically to narcissism—better unifies all the novel's parts.
Hard to say, on the man’s long-windedness. Partly, I admire the gall and the era of baggy monsters that could so audaciously include so much. Partly, I appreciate wanting to escape tangential monologues.
Congrats. I read it ages ago and enjoyed the first third, which was so human and interesting, esp the relationship between queequeeg and ishmael. And then for the rest it was just about whales. But I should give it a reread sometime
I almost gave up a little halfway through. Highly recommend the Audible version if you take a second crack, couldn’t have done it without the lively narration.
Very thoughtful and cogent take just for the first read. Give it a year and then read again. Then another year. And another year. Thank you for this post. And remember - Moby Dick has no face.
Thank you - and absolutely this is not a “one and done” book! This first time I listened to the William Hootkins narration on Audible and he was a force of nature, bringing even the dull parts to life. Next time I’ll tackle reading the text.
Absolutely excellent! You've convinced me. One question, though . . . I've always been struck by the foreboding, the sense of dread, the overall feeling of impending doom that the book projects (you pick up on it a little also, when you talk about Melville's "foreshadowing"). To me, much of the foreboding comes from the "extracts" and "etymology" sections at the beginning. What do you make of them? How do they fit in with your metaphor-for-life reading?
I’d have to review those, but I recall them definitely alerting the reader to get ready for much more than just a whale hunt. For me a strong foreboding came from the chapter on the alcoholic blacksmith - feeding his addiction became the only reality for him, so lots of parallels with Ahab.
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I remember discovering a couple hundred pages in that the book was FUNNY, which thing I never had supposed. That, too, transformed the experience.
That was a surprise for me, too!
I hope the person who read your audiobook knew?
Well done! I most appreciate how expansive your reading of the novel is, where previously I'd only seen Ahab and the Whale as manic human arrogance versus untouchably divine Creation, trapped in all the bits and bobs that Melville found fascinating. But your reading—curious openness to perspective opposed tragically to narcissism—better unifies all the novel's parts.
Thanks for the kind words! Although I often found myself wishing Melville had an editor . . .
Hard to say, on the man’s long-windedness. Partly, I admire the gall and the era of baggy monsters that could so audaciously include so much. Partly, I appreciate wanting to escape tangential monologues.
Congrats. I read it ages ago and enjoyed the first third, which was so human and interesting, esp the relationship between queequeeg and ishmael. And then for the rest it was just about whales. But I should give it a reread sometime
I almost gave up a little halfway through. Highly recommend the Audible version if you take a second crack, couldn’t have done it without the lively narration.
Very thoughtful and cogent take just for the first read. Give it a year and then read again. Then another year. And another year. Thank you for this post. And remember - Moby Dick has no face.
Thank you - and absolutely this is not a “one and done” book! This first time I listened to the William Hootkins narration on Audible and he was a force of nature, bringing even the dull parts to life. Next time I’ll tackle reading the text.
Absolutely excellent! You've convinced me. One question, though . . . I've always been struck by the foreboding, the sense of dread, the overall feeling of impending doom that the book projects (you pick up on it a little also, when you talk about Melville's "foreshadowing"). To me, much of the foreboding comes from the "extracts" and "etymology" sections at the beginning. What do you make of them? How do they fit in with your metaphor-for-life reading?
I’d have to review those, but I recall them definitely alerting the reader to get ready for much more than just a whale hunt. For me a strong foreboding came from the chapter on the alcoholic blacksmith - feeding his addiction became the only reality for him, so lots of parallels with Ahab.