jlworley's review against another edition
4.0
A substantial book, in length but more so in content. Not a quick read, not to be skimmed. Some subject matter was heavy and dark, but the author's way with words won out for me over the dark elements in the story.
compass_rose's review against another edition
5.0
A treasure.
Read first in 2005 and again in 2016. I had forgotten so much of it. And I am glad for that because I could fall in love with it all over again and be surprised by events unfolding. Still, most definitely, one of my all-time favorites.
Read first in 2005 and again in 2016. I had forgotten so much of it. And I am glad for that because I could fall in love with it all over again and be surprised by events unfolding. Still, most definitely, one of my all-time favorites.
bese199's review
DNF
I really wanted to like this book but the pace is too slow for me.
I really wanted to like this book but the pace is too slow for me.
susanlbussey's review against another edition
3.0
What a great first line for this book! "Captain Ahab was neither my first husband nor my last."
I enjoyed this imaginative story, from the point of view of Ahab's wife.
Her experiences, the people she met throughout her life, her family and friends, were all very interesting.
The author is definitely "wordy" and for me this became an issue in wanting to continue reading. I definitely wasn't going to give up on it, and the language and descriptions were very good, but I became ready to move on and have it be a shorter book than it was.
I enjoyed this imaginative story, from the point of view of Ahab's wife.
Her experiences, the people she met throughout her life, her family and friends, were all very interesting.
The author is definitely "wordy" and for me this became an issue in wanting to continue reading. I definitely wasn't going to give up on it, and the language and descriptions were very good, but I became ready to move on and have it be a shorter book than it was.
tacis's review against another edition
3.0
Part of me really enjoyed this book and the story of the girl Una and her life as she becomes a woman and her adventures. However, it was a long book and took me forever to read which may say something about how tedious it got sometimes. Also I got really tired of the author trying to make statements about every moral issue her character encountered, which I thought detracted from the story at times since it was so blatantly obvious and not always put into the flow of the story very well. An interesting read if you have the time to put into it.
aprisky's review against another edition
5.0
I will miss reading this immensely. Exquisitely written, overflowing with symbolism and the themes of the 19th century - religion, abolition, suffrage, literary figures, and much more. At times I had to resort to Google so as not to miss a level of detail. Not for everyone, but the more energy I put into reading it, the greater the reward.
jsh626's review against another edition
2.0
If you are interested in reading Ahab's Wife, let me save you some time - pick up a heavy book, hit yourself in the head with it a couple times. Voila - same result as reading the book.
I've had this book for months and have looked forward to reading it, but kept thinking it might be a bookclub pick one day. Finally, I read it on a plane trip, and BOSS Ladies - you can breathe easier, 'cause I'm never going to bring this book out as a potential candidate again. You're welcome.
In Moby Dick, there is apparently a brief passage mentioning Capt. Ahab's wife, and Ahab's Wife is based on that passage. From the first chapter, Naslund (Jeter Naslund? Jeter? Not sure on the last name etiquette here...) tries to hook the reader in with a dramatic passage in which the heroine loses her newborn baby and mother in the same day. It should also be mentioned that during this same day, the heroine has a bizarre encounter with a dwarf (her words) wearing a wolf pelt, who is searching for a runaway slave girl. Heroine then later - same day her baby and mother die, mind you - discovers said runaway slave girl under her bed, then has a very weird romp with her under the covers. Say what? And that was just the first chapter....
....of 157 chapters. 157 chapters! Granted, some of them were 1 page long, but come on! This book was 140 chapters too long.
The first half of the book was torturous, and mind you, it's about 280 pages to the halfway mark. The second half actually wasn't that bad, but I was so irritated with the author for making me sit through such crap in order to get to a decent story line that it marred the rest of the book for me.
I've had this book for months and have looked forward to reading it, but kept thinking it might be a bookclub pick one day. Finally, I read it on a plane trip, and BOSS Ladies - you can breathe easier, 'cause I'm never going to bring this book out as a potential candidate again. You're welcome.
In Moby Dick, there is apparently a brief passage mentioning Capt. Ahab's wife, and Ahab's Wife is based on that passage. From the first chapter, Naslund (Jeter Naslund? Jeter? Not sure on the last name etiquette here...) tries to hook the reader in with a dramatic passage in which the heroine loses her newborn baby and mother in the same day. It should also be mentioned that during this same day, the heroine has a bizarre encounter with a dwarf (her words) wearing a wolf pelt, who is searching for a runaway slave girl. Heroine then later - same day her baby and mother die, mind you - discovers said runaway slave girl under her bed, then has a very weird romp with her under the covers. Say what? And that was just the first chapter....
....of 157 chapters. 157 chapters! Granted, some of them were 1 page long, but come on! This book was 140 chapters too long.
The first half of the book was torturous, and mind you, it's about 280 pages to the halfway mark. The second half actually wasn't that bad, but I was so irritated with the author for making me sit through such crap in order to get to a decent story line that it marred the rest of the book for me.
mcsayegh's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book - the heroine, the relationships between the women, the feeling of being at sea, of living on Nantucket and at the lighthouse. Maybe a bit rambling, but beautiful.
heykylie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It felt like an epic, in the true literary sense. I came to really love Una and I think a piece of my heart will always wish to live as a lightkeeper.
The pacing of this book is slow, which I didn't mind because the prose and storytelling was interesting and beautiful. This is not one to rush through or to read solely for plot. This is one to really delve into and enjoy.
I will say that I felt that the ending felt both too prolonged and too rushed. It felt prolonged in that too much time was spent wrapping up loose ends through letters, and too rushed in that major things happen to Una without the requisite care that similar things are given earlier in the book.
The pacing of this book is slow, which I didn't mind because the prose and storytelling was interesting and beautiful. This is not one to rush through or to read solely for plot. This is one to really delve into and enjoy.
I will say that I felt that the ending felt both too prolonged and too rushed. It felt prolonged in that too much time was spent wrapping up loose ends through letters, and too rushed in that major things happen to Una without the requisite care that similar things are given earlier in the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Cannibalism
mayawildgoose's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably one of the best books I've read in the past five years. It sort of sneaks up on you but she is an amazing writer and I give kudos to anyone who can inspire me to read "Moby Dick", which I did right after I finished this book...