theologize's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Racism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Racial slurs
ccpetrikas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Gore
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, and Animal death
Moderate: Medical content, Cannibalism, Death, Slavery, and Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism and Grief
voilajean's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Racism and Animal death
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Cannibalism, and Death
Minor: Antisemitism
catmisae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal death and Racism
kibbles15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content and story-wise, the book starts out okay and you get prepped for an exciting journey on a whaling ship...but that is pretty much where an excitement stops until the last 100 pages of the book. Everything in between was dull shop talk and unnecessary history. (I mean, there were three chapters about art involving whales. Why?) It was interesting, but did not contribute to the story that much. I truly feel you could take the 1st 100-200 pages and the last 100 pages and skip everything else in between and get the same thing out the story. That being said, if you are into the history and symbolism of whales, and the process of Whaling, this book has a lot of it and you might enjoy this more than I did.
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Cursing, Gore, Racism, and Sexual content
tomtomonomtom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The first part (around ⅓) is interesting and Melville's humor is hilarious. The second part is dry and the plot moves slower than before, it's just pure whale facts– Melville basically bludgeons you into submission with an encyclopedia. The latter part of the book (thankfully), the action picks back up.
Also, the prose can sometimes cause a headache or two so you may need to list down (and search) some of the maritime terms used to avoid future confusions.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Colonisation, and Cursing
Minor: Injury/injury detail
starsreside's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
ran_sophia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
Graphic: Animal death, Racism, Injury/injury detail, Death, Animal cruelty, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Alcohol
novelyon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Racial slurs, Violence, and Cannibalism
Minor: Slavery