I once had a film professor who exclaimed in class, “Why would any female want to read Moby Dick? There aren’t any women in the book!” Well, actually, there are. But you get the point. Once the whaling ship goes to sea, the all-male cast of characters dominates the book. Nathaniel Philbrick writes a moving tribute to Moby Dick (his favorite novel). Why Read Moby Dick? is a love letter to readers about this quirky book. I’m amazed Philbrick found someone to publish it. In these times of ebooks and neglect of the classics, Philbrick’s argument for reading Herman Melville’s odd novel is compelling. I know I wanted to drop everything and reread Moby Dick after finishing Philbrick’s insighful book. GRADE: A
One of the many books, I have tried to read and failed. Sea lore just doesn’t speak to me, I guess. One of Phil’s favorite though so your film professor may be right.
MOBY DICK is one of my favorite novels, too, Patti. But it is a strange book.
I’m one of those dorks who kept a notebook when he read Moby Dick and, oddly, I can find others who did something similar in any crowd.
Why read Moby Dick — there are no college professors in it, no stock brokers and no mid-level managers. There’s a hotel owner in it but that’s not really the point. There’s a bunch of minorities in it who all have dangerous an underpaid jobs.
There are people nuts on Proust or Joyce — fine have fun with them. I dig Moby DIck. And, no, not one of his other books is nearly as good. A few short stories maybe but his other books can be pretty okay or a slog.
Well said, Dan! I took a course in Melville so I’ve read the entire oeuvre. MOBY DICK is the classic. PIERRE is very weird, but worth reading. As you point out, some of the short fiction is powerful. And Melville’s poetry is worth a look, too.
One of my favorites as well. the use of language and symbolism is astounding.
One of my favorites as well. the use of language and symbolism is astounding.
Part of WHY READ MOBY DICK? features plenty of Melville’s astounding prose from MOBY DICK, Scott. Philbrick delights in quoting his favorite passages.
Sorry–once was enough for me. However, I’ve liked other Melville work I’ve read, particularly BENITO CERENO (to me, Melville’s most interesting work, about a ship mutiny/slave rebellion), BILLY BUDD, and BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENER. But when it comes to reading MOBY DICK, let’s just say, I would prefer not to.
Plenty of readers have the same reaction that you do, Deb. MOBY DICK is a dense book. Philbrick admits some parts make his eyes glaze over.
Funny, I jsut read a review of this and thought…why not?
It’s one of those books I keep meaning to reread (like WAR AND PEACE); maybe someday.
If it’s one thing I’ve learned in reading the “classics” it’s that they are not all going to be to your taste, Jeff. MOBY DICK falls into that category. People love it, people hate it.
Why, indeed. This book was torture in my senior year of high school and the very thought of re-reading it sends chills (not the good kind) up the spine. By the way, this Philbrick guy is a triple agent, you know, having also written “I Led Three Lives”. Or something like that. Heh.
Philbrick points out that sometimes you have to be the right age to appreciate a book, Rick. I know I was tortured in high school by LIFE OF JOHNSON, Boswell’s fabled biography. Years later, I picked it up and was delighted by it.
To be honest, I’m way more interested in reading WAR AND PEACE than MOBY DICK.
The problem with WAR & PEACE is which translation to read, Jeff. I have about five different translations and when I get a big chuck time, I’ll tackle one of them.
If you do read Tolstoy try to always get the Maude translations. They were contemporaries of Tolsoy’s and, I believe, acquaintances of his.
I have the Maude translation, Dan! Thanks for the tip!
Is this the same Philbrick that wrote the half-assed Little Big Horn book?
Yes, Bob, Philbrick wrote that Little Big Horn book (THE LAST STAND). Philbrick is better when he writes about the sea.