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The whale has prevailed!! Very exciting! While some of you may have read this before I believe this is a book you could read a thousand times and always learn something new, and particularly with this group!

Wiki notes the following about Moby Dick:

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is a novel by American writer Herman Melville, published in 1851 during the period of the American Renaissance. Sailor Ishmael tells the story of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaler Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, the white whale that on the previous whaling voyage bit off Ahab's leg at the knee. The novel was a commercial failure and out of print at the time of the author's death in 1891, but during the 20th century, its reputation as a Great American Novel was established. William Faulkner confessed he wished he had written it himself, and D. H. Lawrence called it "one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world", and "the greatest book of the sea ever written". "Call me Ishmael" is among world literature's most famous opening sentences.

The product of a year and a half of writing, the book draws on Melville's experience at sea, on his reading in whaling literature, and on literary inspirations such as Shakespeare and the Bible. The white whale is modeled on the notoriously hard to catch actual albino whale Mocha Dick. The detailed and realistic descriptions of whale hunting and of extracting whale oil, as well as life aboard ship among a culturally diverse crew, are mixed with exploration of class and social status, good and evil, and the existence of God. In addition to narrative prose, Melville uses styles and literary devices ranging from songs, poetry, and catalogs to Shakespearean stage directions, soliloquies, and asides.

Dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne, "in token of my admiration for his genius", the work was first published as The Whale in London in October 1851, and under its definitive title in New York in November. Hundreds of differences, mostly slight and some important, are seen between the two editions. The London publisher censored or changed sensitive passages and Melville made revisions, as well, including the last-minute change in the title for the New York edition. The whale, however, appears in both editions as "Moby Dick", with no hyphen.

I like the new group banners, Dianne! :)

I have not read this before, so I'm looking forward to starting 2018 with a "beast" of a classic!

I've just ordered my copy. Only hope I'll be able to keep up!!

I hope to participate in this one, but I am not promising until I actually have a copy. Unlikely to be ready to start on January 1st, but you never know...

I’m hoping to participate in this one. I have a Barnes and Noble classics copy. I need to make sure that is unabridged. I have seen people post that the best way to get through “the boring�� parts is to do a combination of print and audio. If you are an audible member there are several ways to combine this with the kindle version and get it cheap. Even if you don’t want the kindle version it appears to be the cheapest way to get the audio.

There is always Delphi Classics for digital Melville fans..

Amanda wrote: "I’m hoping to participate in this one. I have a Barnes and Noble classics copy. I need to make sure that is unabridged. I have seen people post that the best way to get through “the boring�� parts i..."

what? boring parts? this cannot be. I cannot believe it. For example, the chapter on Cetology. Did you know this was a real thing? The study of whales? I bet you did not! (well, I did not) But there is, and now you will learn all about what the study of whales was like in the 1800s. Critical information. And in this chapter, and I trust this does not require a spoiler alert, our narrator describes ALL of the whales he knows, as well as the "rabble of uncertain, fugitive, half-fabulous whales, which, as an American whaleman, I know by reputation, but not personally."



so there you go. fascinating stuff. and this is not to mention the chapters on 'fast and loose' fish, 'of whales in paint in teeth &c' as well as 'monstrous pictures of whales' and 'less erroneous pictures of whales'

who read this in school besides me? you know I realize I learned NOTHING about this book in college. Doesn't so much more resonate when you read the classics as an adult? (older adult, anyways)

My brother had to read this in 10th Grade, and he was not happy.

I never got past the sermon, audio or otherwise, but I saw the John Huston movie with Gregory Peck as Ahab, and have used that as a 'crib' all my life.

You used to be able to see the top highlights at Kindle.amazon.com (and for all I know you can do that on GR now), and the sermon (ch. 9) is where most people stop reading.

Dianne wrote: "who read this in school besides me? you know I realize I learned NOTHING about this book in college. Doesn't so much more resonate when you read the classics as an adult? (older adult, anyways)"

Current high schools seemingly never assign anything longer than 300 pages nowadays and certainly nothing written before the 20th century (apart from Shakespeare).

Dianne wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I’m hoping to participate in this one. I have a Barnes and Noble classics copy. I need to make sure that is unabridged. I have seen people post that the best way to get through “the ..."

Fast and loose whales? Ok, I just got an image of pole dancing, stripper whales - which I think will stay with me.

Haaze wrote: "Current high schools seemingly never assign anything longer than 300 pages nowadays and certainly nothing written before the 20th century (apart from Shakespeare). ."

Even "honors" or AP English?

Yes - so far. This school district is one of the "best" in California (top 10 %). They do read a good variety of international/cultural diversity type of authors, but neglect the past severely. :(

I like the fact that they focus on diverse fiction. My English lit reading in the sixth form (high school here in the UK) was far too limited to the Anglo-Saxon canon. Granted we studied Chaucer, but the scope was far too narrow. I think a mix of classics + diverse voices is key. Sigh.

I agree with you Sofia! I really like the diversity of books - e.g. a semi-autobiographical book by a North Vietnamese soldier (
The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam by Bảo Ninh). Like you I just wish that the diversity also included the past classics/canon in an appropriate blend. Regardless, Melville has certainly been in the required curriculum many decades. I presume this has changed a little bit at this point in time?

Wait! This could be fake news...

Haaze wrote: "Wait! This could be fake news...

"

Well of course moby dick is real.

Dianne wrote: "Haaze wrote: "Wait! This could be fake news...

"

Well of course moby dick is real."

No doubt about that!

I've just bought myself the Penguin clothbound classics edition with a cover full of whales. Just trying to work out which of them look fast and loose!!

My copy is at the library and I pick up tomorrow. I cleared all my reading challenges for this year yesterday. I am hoping to ease myself into the book a bit ahead as I personally want to start focusing on one book at a time. I too like diverse but I feel I want to stay with each voice for the duration and then really be able to contemplate it rather than just be able to say "I read it"

I have never read it and based on what I had heard, never wanted to. But I am one of those people who when extended a challenge which I think might be painful, I like to get on with it as soon as possible. This being said, I have already started reading and am halfway through week 1 and am getting worried. Why? Because I am enjoying it and am wondering when the really boring bits are coming that will so disappoint me...I hate enjoying a book only to want to throw it at the wall at the end :)

Tracey wrote: "I have never read it and based on what I had heard, never wanted to. But I am one of those people who when extended a challenge which I think might be painful, I like to get on with it as soon as p..."

"Boring" is very much a relative concept - perhaps you will enjoy all of it, Tracey! :)

Haaze wrote: "Tracey wrote: "I have never read it and based on what I had heard, never wanted to. But I am one of those people who when extended a challenge which I think might be painful, I like to get on with ..."

Maybe. Also it is age dependent. What I would not have countenanced in my 20s I find love in my 50s.

Sofia wrote: "I like the fact that they focus on diverse fiction. My English lit reading in the sixth form (high school here in the UK) was far too limited to the Anglo-Saxon canon. Granted we studied Chaucer, b..."

I am wondering if this need for diversity is because we all of us are 'endlessly searching through oceans of night' Seeking answers to eternal questions...

Is Moby Dick a novel about such and not a story about a whale at all? The quest of each human on his own search.

Tracey wrote: "I am wondering if this need for diversity is because we all of us are 'endlessly searching through oceans of night' Seeking answers to eternal questions...."

I think you are on to something, Tracey! Definitely searching....

I have just read the introduction and sadly I am none the wiser! Think I'll just stick to me tried and trusty formula if reading the book then going back to the Intro and as for the Etymology!!!!

I have a copy, but I am unlikely to start reading early

Julie wrote: "I have just read the introduction and sadly I am none the wiser! Think I'll just stick to me tried and trusty formula if reading the book then going back to the Intro and as for the Etymology!!!!"

I didn't find the intro helpful in my copy so I just dived in and am enjoying it very much. I would give it 4 stars at this point.

I've read to a point where Ishmael met Queequeg and remember laughing out loud. I was surprised to find so much delightful humour in a notoriously "boring" book. I can't wait to continue. Tangential chapters on whales in history, biology, art, etc. do not worry me at all, because I love whales and would love to learn more.

Dianne wrote: "Haaze wrote: "Wait! This could be fake news...

"

Well of course moby dick is real."

Depends on your definition of real.

My review of Moby Dick. I posted it as a comment in the voting comments, but now that it's won the ballot it is probably worth posting it here.

/review/show...

Everyman wrote: "My review of Moby Dick. I posted it as a comment in the voting comments, but now that it's won the ballot it is probably worth posting it here.

/review/show..."

This was an excellent review, I recommend everyone read it.

Did you know the plot of the film, "Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan" is based on Moby Dick?

My copy is from Quality Paperback Book Club, 1996, 507 pages.

Joseph wrote: "Did you know the plot of the film, "Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan" is based on Moby Dick?"

Would that make Shatner the great white whale?
(Could. not. resist. lame.. joke..)

eta:

Aargh - just looked at my edition of Moby Dick (Simon & Schuster) and it has 135 chapters + epilogue - and the same for the audiobook version I've got - the reading schedule has only 106 chapters so I'm wondering if there are two textual variants?

Hope I'm not the only one here with this 'version'?

Roman Clodia wrote: "Aargh - just looked at my edition of Moby Dick (Simon & Schuster) and it has 135 chapters + epilogue - and the same for the audiobook version I've got - the reading schedule has only 106 chapters s..."

The last week of reading is from chapter 106 through to epilogue which includes chapters 106-135 + epilogue.

Thanks, Tracey - too much holiday spirit has clearly killed off all my brain cells!

Mine has 135 chapters+epilogue also.

Gotta love Star Wars references in a moby dick thread! See, moby dick is real! And universal!

Wikipedia has some interesting information about the novel's publication history in the US and the UK. The revisions and the story of the epilogue could be of interest....

Ok, I picked up my copy today! I nabbed an old Norton Critical Edition that has an additional 200+ pages of material, just in case I happen to have some spare time on my hands and need more to read. 😄

Linda wrote: "Ok, I picked up my copy today! I nabbed an old Norton Critical Edition that has an additional 200+ pages of material, just in case I happen to have some spare time on my hands and need more to read. 😄"

this is the version I have too, Linda. I haven't read any of the extras yet, but will be interesting!

Yes, I’m going to have to take a closer look at what’s included. I saw a bunch of cool illustrations upon a quick glance.

Tell me Yoda never taught the force without enlisting in the help of supportive whales!!! Go ahead, say whales have never wanted to be lifted out of water, flapping their flippers like wings? Now that's an episode of Fantasia Disney missed out on!! Everyone knows Whales have more fun than Hippos!

Moby Dick

Some observations: Moby Dick gets more bad notices than any other book in the whole goodreads library!

I have had people tell me, prior to GRs, that they loved the whaling story and hated the melodrama. I have had an equal number of people tell me they loved the melodrama and hated the whaling story!

Personally, I think it is great with the two aspects woven together; and that the book's greatest strength his Melville's wonderful writing! I think the theme is hubris.

Researching the Orson Welles clip, got me Harold Bloom on Moby Dick:



I haven't listened to the whole thing, but bear in mind "spoilers."

He says Moby Dick is 'not a novel It is a Shakespearean prose epic."

Lots of analysis of the Biblical names.

You Tube has a lot of MD videos.

Look what i found:

Tilda Swinton starts this off?! Bless your little bookreader's heart for finding this and sharing it here ^.^