Read chapter three a couple of days ago--all about Ishmael having to share the bed with Queequeg. It was there for a bit of humor and to introduce his friend, on whose coffin Ishmael floats to safety.
Chapter four was just about Queequeg waking up and getting ready for the day, his "toilet" as the book puts it. Woke up with his arm around Ishmael.
Chapter five, entitled "Breakfast," had the guys come downstairs.
Man, is this book slow.
I will get through it this summer. I vow.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Here we go again
I read chapter one last night. Also read the introduction by William Gibson from 1959. I will try to get through that introductory quote section. Melville included a few pages of "whale" allusions to literature and the Bible, I guess to give his subject creedence.
I have to read the intro and quotes so when I finish I won't get laughed at as a technicality.
I have to read the intro and quotes so when I finish I won't get laughed at as a technicality.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Summer vacation--One more chance?
Today is the last day of the school year.
I resolve to read Moby Dick cover to cover by the start of school in the fall.
One more chance. Even though my wife says I can't do it. Even though my fellow English teachers ask me why I am bothering, that it is a horrible book...
I will do this.
I resolve to read Moby Dick cover to cover by the start of school in the fall.
One more chance. Even though my wife says I can't do it. Even though my fellow English teachers ask me why I am bothering, that it is a horrible book...
I will do this.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I couldn't do it
I couldn't even do it.
Here it is January. I started listening to the audio CDs in the car, of which I have two 45-minute drives (to and from work) to get it done.
I couldn't do it.
It bored me to tears. It may have been due to a horrible reading. But I just could not bring myself to put the next CD in. I think I had just met Captain Ahab and I gave up.
I need to try reading it again. A chapter a day, right? I can do a chapter a day.
Right, that's what I've said before.
The really sad part is that I have heard several Moby Dick or white whale references in the past few months that have really gotten my goat. I know the story and the references but have never read it.
Here I go again.
Mrs. Conley, I really despise you.
Here it is January. I started listening to the audio CDs in the car, of which I have two 45-minute drives (to and from work) to get it done.
I couldn't do it.
It bored me to tears. It may have been due to a horrible reading. But I just could not bring myself to put the next CD in. I think I had just met Captain Ahab and I gave up.
I need to try reading it again. A chapter a day, right? I can do a chapter a day.
Right, that's what I've said before.
The really sad part is that I have heard several Moby Dick or white whale references in the past few months that have really gotten my goat. I know the story and the references but have never read it.
Here I go again.
Mrs. Conley, I really despise you.
Friday, September 28, 2007
As the story advances...
Okay, I still don't think Melville knew what a narrative structure was.
I'm up to chapter 43 or so, still listening on audio provided by Librovox. The story is all over the place. There is an entire chapter dedicated to "cetology," the study of whales, where the narrator classifies and lists everything he knows about whales. That simply has to be the most boring chapter in the whole book, completely escaping the narrative. The only thing it might be able to provide is a kind of realness to the whaling background.
The problem is that I could never get this far just reading it myself.
And then it finally gets a bit interesting.
Captain Ahab finally comes out of the cabin. This has to be a great star part, much like Orson Welles in The Third Man.
more later...
I'm up to chapter 43 or so, still listening on audio provided by Librovox. The story is all over the place. There is an entire chapter dedicated to "cetology," the study of whales, where the narrator classifies and lists everything he knows about whales. That simply has to be the most boring chapter in the whole book, completely escaping the narrative. The only thing it might be able to provide is a kind of realness to the whaling background.
The problem is that I could never get this far just reading it myself.
And then it finally gets a bit interesting.
Captain Ahab finally comes out of the cabin. This has to be a great star part, much like Orson Welles in The Third Man.
more later...
Friday, September 14, 2007
Chapters 4-16
Chapters 4-12 went super quick today, as they are pretty short chapters. However, do they really advance the plot at all? Do they really advance any of the themes and images? One whole chapter is dedicated to Melville's ramblings about Nantucket. Is it necessary?
I just looked at my paperback copy and chapter 16, "The Ship," ends on page 109. Say what? 109 pages so far of Ishmael wandering around and being Queequeg the "savage"'s buddy? (I say "savage" because of the context of the novel, but Melville, while admitting that the populace saw Queequeg as a savage, deftly shows the contradiction that Queequeg may be more civilized than the people of Nantucket.) When will the novel move on? THIS is exactly why I have never gotten this far reading it to myself. It doesn't go anywhere. Not 109 pages worth, at any rate. There is some character and setting development but was that much necessary? Actually, there was a time yesterday, driving down Interstate 39/51 in the middle of one of these chapters, that I screamed, "Jesus Christ, get on with it, Melville!" His circumambulatory sentences are like walking on a treadmill--it'll give ya a workout, but you don't go any place!
Chapter 16--finally we hear the name of the famous ship, the Pequod, and the name of its famous captain, Captain Ahab. Finally! The meat of the matter. I don't know why the lesser captains, Bildad and Peleg argued so much yet, but I am sure it will come to a head later.
I am amazed so far. I don't understand how this novel has been applauded for so long. Unless it gets really good really fast, I won't ever find the answer to that question.
I just looked at my paperback copy and chapter 16, "The Ship," ends on page 109. Say what? 109 pages so far of Ishmael wandering around and being Queequeg the "savage"'s buddy? (I say "savage" because of the context of the novel, but Melville, while admitting that the populace saw Queequeg as a savage, deftly shows the contradiction that Queequeg may be more civilized than the people of Nantucket.) When will the novel move on? THIS is exactly why I have never gotten this far reading it to myself. It doesn't go anywhere. Not 109 pages worth, at any rate. There is some character and setting development but was that much necessary? Actually, there was a time yesterday, driving down Interstate 39/51 in the middle of one of these chapters, that I screamed, "Jesus Christ, get on with it, Melville!" His circumambulatory sentences are like walking on a treadmill--it'll give ya a workout, but you don't go any place!
Chapter 16--finally we hear the name of the famous ship, the Pequod, and the name of its famous captain, Captain Ahab. Finally! The meat of the matter. I don't know why the lesser captains, Bildad and Peleg argued so much yet, but I am sure it will come to a head later.
I am amazed so far. I don't understand how this novel has been applauded for so long. Unless it gets really good really fast, I won't ever find the answer to that question.
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