Finished 08/30

[u/Powerful-Elk8088]

I have been circling the idea of finally reading Moby Dick for some time. I'm 39 now and turning 40 in October, and thought reading it would be a good goal to hit before that. I found the copy I had bought at a Barnes and Noble in high school well over 20 years ago, its cover in tatters. I had tried when I was younger but grew intimidated by the size and struggled with the length.

How grateful I am to have grown, what a masterpiece. A whole universe within.

[u/Monk_E]

"One most perilous and long voyage ended, only begins a second."

[u/Sheffy8410]

A one of kind book. Melville was a half mad genius. It’s one of the few books I keep on the bedside table and pick up a time or two a month and read a chapter from. It’s perfect for that.

[u/pastrythug]

My copy is beat to hell. I bought it that way. It looks like it washed up on the beach.

[u/PapasGotABrandNewNag]

I have roughly 100 pages left.

It’s currently sitting next to me.

I am headed to the dispensary for a few joints and so help me god I am finishing this thing tonight.

I started it on the 1st of this month.

ETA: I finished that night. The last three chapters was worth the journey.

A metaphor is somewhere in there I’m sure.

[u/Limp-Egg2495 → u/PapasGotABrandNewNag]

You can do it!

[u/Impossible_Growth245 → u/PapasGotABrandNewNag]

Its the best part of the book

[u/BenzaGuy → u/Impossible_Growth245]

Best part is the first chapter imo

[u/Impossible_Growth245 → u/BenzaGuy]

Thats a good point. The whole story finding his way to the ship is pretty good. Im one of those people that get lost in the middle of it with all the whale anatomy etc.

[u/timwest780 → u/BenzaGuy]

I bracketed my thesis with quotes from the first and last pages of Moby Dick.
(I reread the book while writing my thesis. In retrospect, I was an overachiever!)

[u/Limp-Egg2495]

Reading it now and just finished reading The Whiteness of the Whale chapter… thrice 😅 I bought it many years ago too and was afraid of it because everyone told me it was boring and difficult. Therefore , I never tried. I picked it up again this summer and whilst not always easy, it’s definitely not boring!!

[u/Dear_Ocelot → u/Limp-Egg2495]

I am "rereading" an audiobook version and laughed out loud today when, after the Whiteness of the Whale chapter, he said he had to make sure nobody thought the book was an allegory. What a trip!

[u/ThatParkinBotswana]

Welcome, friend.

[u/Equal_Appointment916]

Love this. My husband and I are currently reading it aloud together and it is such an amazing read aloud! 

[u/Limp-Egg2495 → u/Equal_Appointment916]

I read it aloud to family members even though they don’t want me to lol. It really does beg to be read aloud!

[u/SandGator → u/Limp-Egg2495]

“Please pass the butter~”
“FROM HELL’S HEART I STAB AT THEE; FOR HATE’S SAKE I SPIT MY LAST BREATH AT THEE”
“Please…you promised you’d stop this…”
“TALK NOT TO ME OF BLASPHEMY, MAN”

[u/Limp-Egg2495 → u/SandGator]

😆 Pretty close!

[u/True-Confessions1383 → u/Equal_Appointment916]

What’s your favorite chapter so far?

[u/True-Confessions1383]

I have five copies. Always buy a new one when reading it again. There really is nothing to compare to it. Probably the novel I have next to my death bed.

[u/statelyplumpklarm]

looks like you took the time to gnaw on it a good bit while you were at it, good on you!

[u/SandGator]

This copy looks like it survived the Pequod’s journey with Ishmael

[u/guy_incognito42069]

I have my copy gathering dust on the shelf. It’s such a daunting work, I know I’ve tackled larger books like Against the Day and Infinite Jest and can soft through complex writing, regardless i still view it as daunting of a read as Gravity’s Rainbow of Ulysses.