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[injurai]

It's great literature, but it's long.

 

[wild wild rice]

I've read it several times. Definitely one of my favorites. One of the few books that feels alive and vital every time I pick it up.

 

[120v]

goes without saying, but it's a beast of a novel. as long as you go in acknowledging that you're fine

 

[sparky2112]

The movie shows Melville uncovering the Essex story. Is that true?

Solid movie, but awesome filmmaking.

Moby Dick is The Great American Novel as much as anything else is.

 

[JeffZero]

I didn't care for it. Made it through; enjoyed recognizing the origin of all the myriad associations the book has brought forth over time. But I didn't care for it.

 

[Limited Edition]

Go in expecting to have to slog through parts of it, and its an amazing read. Go in expecting a fast speed tale of the high seas, and you are going to want to rip your hair out halfway through.

But still, read it. Such a good book.

 

[poppabk]

"I squeezed that sperm till a strange sort of insanity came over me; and I found myself unwittingly squeezing my co-laborers’ hands in it, mistaking their hands for the gentle globules....
Come; let us squeeze hands all round; nay, let us all squeeze ourselves into each other; let us squeeze ourselves universally into the very milk and sperm of kindness. "
You sure won't look at the word sperm in the same way again. Or whalers.

 

[themidnightsun156]

Melville has a huge hard on for boats/the sea-a theme that runs through a lot of his stuff.

Some of the descriptions are really long and dry to read. Its good in a way...but i wouldn't recommend it unless you're on an English degree or something.

and don't forget biblical references

 

[braves01]

Yeah, it's really good and still worth reading. It's a very multifaceted work that gives you more than just a plot, which might be an issue dependng on what you want out of it.

 

[Fevaweva]

I thought it was absolute ass cheeks. Incredibly boring!

 

[lastflowers]

great novel, and surprisingly much easier than I thought it would be. I'm planning on a reread soon.

 

[Tizoc]

I'm currently reading it.
It is awesome!
You read Moby Dick not for the story but for the sublime wordsmith.

I plan on reading it myself someday but you gotta appreciate how the first words of the actual story are
"Call me Ishmael."

 

[Ebolarama]

I read this book while deployed on a navy vessel, so I guess in that one aspect is my reading of the novel unique to this thread. I suppose also my interest in the minutiae of seamanship and sailing is more pronounced than many of you.
But as literature goes I regard this as a necessary piece for the well-read.
I also agree with a previous poster that you'll probably never see the word "sperm" the same again.

 

[Kyleripman]

It's an awesome book with gorgeous prose. It starts off fairly tightly focused but then becomes increasingly bizarre as perspectives and formats change (it turns into almost a stage play at one point) - I loved every page.

Ok...quote fishing, are we?

Hmm...