tonycomputer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This took me about two full calendar years to read, so it had a long time to steep in the background of my brain. Not knowing much about it going in, I was surprised by how structurally weird it is: lots of chapters-long digressions into dubious whale and whaling facts, often just when I thought the plot was about to pick up; scenes presented with theatrical stage directions seemingly at random; etc. It was also incredibly funny, which I wasn't expecting, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the climax and conclusion to be emotionally wrenching, even though I more or less knew what was going to happen. Giving a star rating to a literary classic feels like kind of a pointless endeavor, but I really did love this book in ways I didn't anticipate.
impla77's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- 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
1.75
no one fucking cares
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Racism
trent24's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't mind the parts about whale anatomy but it was far too long for such a basic plot.
andykmcc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
ngrohol's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hayleysf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
enbyglitch's review against another edition
2.0
First off, this book is absurdly racist and I personally don't think being written 150 years ago is an excuse. The choice in the audiobook to portray black characters with *that* voice was egregious.
I think this could have been a genuinely fun short story or novella. As a 27-hour odyssey, it is hard for me to believe that a single reader actually paid close attention to every word, let alone millions of them. I can perhaps see how a complete guide to whaling might have been interesting to people in the 19th century, but today?
I enjoyed Ahab and a few lines here and there. Some of the other characters had fun moments, but they were few and far between.
Finally... I haven't looked into this yet, but surely Melville intended at least *some* of the homoeroticism in the book, right?
I think this could have been a genuinely fun short story or novella. As a 27-hour odyssey, it is hard for me to believe that a single reader actually paid close attention to every word, let alone millions of them. I can perhaps see how a complete guide to whaling might have been interesting to people in the 19th century, but today?
I enjoyed Ahab and a few lines here and there. Some of the other characters had fun moments, but they were few and far between.
Finally... I haven't looked into this yet, but surely Melville intended at least *some* of the homoeroticism in the book, right?
joeyoudan's review against another edition
5.0
Moby Dick doesn’t get 5 stars because I loved every single one of its 500-odd pages. The book is totalistic- nothing escapes Melvilles attention, and so a lot of the book is filled with intricate contextual information unflinchingly feted out to you. Rather than undermining the narrative, however, all of the prose webs together to form a brilliant action adventure novel that has a lot to say about madness, obsession and violence.
gosia_maria99's review against another edition
4.0
What a strange, strange book. What ramblings, what odd language, what funny quotes, what doom looming slowly yet surely until the last few chapters of a culmination. The last three chapters plus the epilogue make it all - the slightly tedious and boring descriptions, the weird first few events and relationships described, ALL worth it.
If you're expecting an action packed novel, you'll be disappointed. But if you're prepared to be strangely fascinated and spellbound and horrified at times, and also slightly entertained by "Ishmael's" observations, you will appreciate this masterpiece.
I'm not ready to say I love it - it is certainly a classic that I am very glad I read though.
If you're expecting an action packed novel, you'll be disappointed. But if you're prepared to be strangely fascinated and spellbound and horrified at times, and also slightly entertained by "Ishmael's" observations, you will appreciate this masterpiece.
I'm not ready to say I love it - it is certainly a classic that I am very glad I read though.