At uni, another great teacher who made us see through the bulk of it to the point of it…all about how you can never really get to the truth of anything at all ie here the whale. Made sense of the whale classification chapters! Might help to remember Melville worked on a ship so knew the job, not making up the details…hard book to get thru but work with it and it’s worth it!
Me. For a class two years ago. Not my favorite, but I enjoyed all the innuendo a lot of people don’t realize is there. My history teacher really made us analyze it for a senior level university class. The story of the ship that inspired it, The Whaleship Essex, was more interesting.
There was a very short chapter about how it felt to have their hands in whale cum, together, like all of these men had their hands in whale cum at the same time. Definitely sexual tones. Plus, I didn’t go ‘hey this is sexual’. The professor actually asked us what we thought some of the first chapter was alluding to and then was like ‘you are seniors at a really good university. You can say it. Sex. It’s about sex. These men are at sea for long periods of time. This book is about a lot more than a whale or the chase. It’s about how people feel and change and what they go through’.
I started reading it many years ago but stalled. The book is still on my bookshelf (with bookmark still in place) so I guess I’m just taking a very long time to read it!
One of my favorite books, you have to push through the arcane way it reads and actually fall into the time period and let his persepctive on the journey sweep you along.
What a read! The scope of the book, everything about whales, connecting the workd to whales, the imagery!, them final days chasing the white whale, that ending!
I read it on my own in my 30s and loved all of it, even all the details about whaling. I loved the captain’s obsession with the white whale, the Biblical language, Starbuck v Ahab, the window on a major nineteenth century industry the diverse and strange crew and the narrator Ishmael; and I survived to tell the tale.
Yep and hated it. It was boring, the cruelty to animals made me feel sick and I was punching the air when I finished it as I didn’t have to go through it again. Would never read again
@Harry I didn’t like this book. But it was written back in the 1850’s… I’m not surprised none of us liked it. But, back in the 1850’s I think this book had a lot of ideas written in it that were new at the time. A man, obsessed with a whale that took his leg… the story I think was great for it’s time, but like a lot of classics, I didn’t relate to the character or appreciate the writing style. I’m sure a lot of people would disagree with me. But I always struggle with classics like this.
I have.
I have. Not my cup of tea.
I did as a little kid. Then again for high school. It’s a slow read.
I did. I kind of liked it, but was a slow read. (Not a fan of whaling, but I won’t hold that against the book.)
Me and I got the book of Moby Dick
I have, for a graduate poli sci class.
@Brenda was anything said about equality?
It has been decades and I don’t remember that aspect of the book.
I have, last year. I started it 4 times before I could trudge through it.
I have to read it this semester for 19th-century American lit and I am quite intimidated by the sheer volume of it.?
Ug!
Me! I loved it!
Are we going to have to take a quiz?
I watched the movie. Lol
I have. Good book. Could have been great if it lost a few chapters on whale classifications etc ?
@Sean agree! I know too much about the difference between sperm whales and right whales!
Me. High school. Had a great teacher who captivated the class teaching it.
At uni, another great teacher who made us see through the bulk of it to the point of it…all about how you can never really get to the truth of anything at all ie here the whale. Made sense of the whale classification chapters! Might help to remember Melville worked on a ship so knew the job, not making up the details…hard book to get thru but work with it and it’s worth it!
Me. For a class two years ago. Not my favorite, but I enjoyed all the innuendo a lot of people don’t realize is there. My history teacher really made us analyze it for a senior level university class. The story of the ship that inspired it, The Whaleship Essex, was more interesting.
I disagree if you mean sexual innuendo. I also discussed it with a professor who pointed out the theme of equality and true friendship. Real love.
You’re entitled to your opinion on it, but yes I mean sexual innuendo.
yes, homoerotic. i concur.
There was a very short chapter about how it felt to have their hands in whale cum, together, like all of these men had their hands in whale cum at the same time. Definitely sexual tones. Plus, I didn’t go ‘hey this is sexual’. The professor actually asked us what we thought some of the first chapter was alluding to and then was like ‘you are seniors at a really good university. You can say it. Sex. It’s about sex. These men are at sea for long periods of time. This book is about a lot more than a whale or the chase. It’s about how people feel and change and what they go through’.
@Nat yes! it is a beautiful human novel.
Exactly! A bit slow, but so much deeper than so many realize.
I read the entire book in college and enjoyed every detail!
I started reading it many years ago but stalled. The book is still on my bookshelf (with bookmark still in place) so I guess I’m just taking a very long time to read it!
Read it? I’ve never even heard of it.
Me, but a very long time ago!
A long time ago also!
I read it last year for the first time and enjoyed it. It is a classic tale of obsession and revenge!
@Paul and equality. And love, like trench warfare love, platonic.
I did at Uni, very long but liked the dual between the whale and the Captain even if he was obsessive.
I did in High School. Do I remember it? No. ?
Have never finished it tried more than once lol.
I did in high school. It was required reading but I actually wanted to finish it.
Wow surprised so many people liked it! Maybe I should try it someday
@Febinger
Oh yeah! Last year, three months, every word. ( plus google and dictionary) I loved it.
One of my favorite books, you have to push through the arcane way it reads and actually fall into the time period and let his persepctive on the journey sweep you along.
Read it in high school, required reading
Yes I’ve read it and can’t say I enjoyed it – found it quite boring! ?
Found it to be a whale of a tale
YES!
What a read! The scope of the book, everything about whales, connecting the workd to whales, the imagery!, them final days chasing the white whale, that ending!
the beginning w the cannibal and shrunken head!
Hell no. I have to read that book impaired
I have got the book on my tbr pile. Is it worth a reading??
@Roy thank you
@Maura Yes! It’s one of America’s greatest novels.
Haven’t read a word of it. Ever.
I tried. I really did. I rarely give up on books but I just couldn’t get through this one.
I read it on my own in my 30s and loved all of it, even all the details about whaling. I loved the captain’s obsession with the white whale, the Biblical language, Starbuck v Ahab, the window on a major nineteenth century industry the diverse and strange crew and the narrator Ishmael; and I survived to tell the tale.
Call me Ishmael…that’s all I remember from 1972
I’ve read it and I hated it. Wouldn’t recommend
Nope can’t say I ever plan to either
Read it in school and last year as an adult! I loved every word of it!
Yep and hated it. It was boring, the cruelty to animals made me feel sick and I was punching the air when I finished it as I didn’t have to go through it again. Would never read again
I started to read this when I was a kid. Way over my head!
I am currently reading this on my phone
Me.
I read it three times. It gets better each time.
@Sandy nice, I’ll remember this. I read it once last year, I’m a big rereader, I think I’ll do it
Me. Xxx
In my tbr list. Would like to read it this year.
No, I started it as a kid and didn’t finish it because I don’t like it ?♀️ I’ve never had an interest in picking it up as a adult.
In school and no desire to open it again.
From the responses, why is this considered one of the Great American Novels ?
I cannot answer as I did not like this book, it took me over a week to get through. To be fair I was in a crap place but I didn’t enjoy it at all. Xxx
@Harry I didn’t like this book. But it was written back in the 1850’s… I’m not surprised none of us liked it. But, back in the 1850’s I think this book had a lot of ideas written in it that were new at the time. A man, obsessed with a whale that took his leg… the story I think was great for it’s time, but like a lot of classics, I didn’t relate to the character or appreciate the writing style. I’m sure a lot of people would disagree with me. But I always struggle with classics like this.
it was on my list of things to do before 50….5 years later…still on my list…..an d i own 2 copies hahaha….soon …maybe by 60?
I did, long ago. Don’t remember anything 🙂
Currently reading!!!
It was awful.
A very long time ago.
I loved it!
I did back when I was in school
Moby Dick is the only book I could not finish.
It’s great. Totally readable more than once.
I did. It was hard work.
Yes, but long time ago