Yes, just once, last year. First 100 pages are hilarious and a rockin’ read. Slows down overmuch once they leave land, and then it’s a bit of a slog in parts, punctuated by astonishing flights of philosophy and mad poeticalisms. But I’m glad to have read it and hope to re-read it again before I Cross Over.
@UncleVinny Billy Budd is one of my favorites! I have heard that the movie version with Peter Ustinov is very good, though I have never seen it. Wonderful book, and a quick read. I have not read Bartelby but I have now added it to my list! Thanks!
@jqubed Well yeah, but to be fair he did read several big books on whales that we’re current at the time. Scientists of his day we’re pretty confused about a lot back then, so I give Melville some credit for doing quite a lot of research for a layman.
His enthusiasm for the subject is kind of endearing, if overwrought.
@UncleVinny Yeah, that makes sense, but eighth grade me was trying to read it and got to those parts and was all “omg this is so wrong” and eventually gave up on it. I’m generally opposed to the idea of abridged books but I’d probably be okay with it in the case of Moby Dick.
@f00l What @UncleVinny said. A bunch of then-current scientific information that any first-grader today could tell you is wrong.
@DVDBZN mostly whaling info, things that didn’t matter overmuch to the story. There were a couple of good, thoughtful chunks that I remember being shocked we skipped, but it was most likely the stuff cut for abridged versions. It was worth the reread, if just to view it without worrying what I’d be tested on.
@simplersimon I did the opposite of this. The first time I read it all way through, barely. Since then if I feel like revisiting it’s just parts one and three. Your teacher was right.
/giphy allegory shmallegory
/giphy Moby dick
Melville is a funny name. Kind of like Milhouse.
/giphy milhouse
Where’s the option for “I thought I had, but after reading today’s writeup, I guess maybe I haven’t?”
Yes, just once, last year. First 100 pages are hilarious and a rockin’ read. Slows down overmuch once they leave land, and then it’s a bit of a slog in parts, punctuated by astonishing flights of philosophy and mad poeticalisms. But I’m glad to have read it and hope to re-read it again before I Cross Over.
Also recommended: Billy Budd and Bartleby.
@UncleVinny Billy Budd is one of my favorites! I have heard that the movie version with Peter Ustinov is very good, though I have never seen it. Wonderful book, and a quick read. I have not read Bartelby but I have now added it to my list! Thanks!
@kathyl Definitely see the Ustinov movie, it’s splendid!
@UncleVinny Agree on the hilarious part - I was completely surprised at how funny he was. You don’t get that in the movies.
Yes, one time. And I plan to sit down with it in the near future.
This was me, but I feel I should add:
@jqubed
More info?
@jqubed Well yeah, but to be fair he did read several big books on whales that we’re current at the time. Scientists of his day we’re pretty confused about a lot back then, so I give Melville some credit for doing quite a lot of research for a layman.
His enthusiasm for the subject is kind of endearing, if overwrought.
@UncleVinny Yeah, that makes sense, but eighth grade me was trying to read it and got to those parts and was all “omg this is so wrong” and eventually gave up on it. I’m generally opposed to the idea of abridged books but I’d probably be okay with it in the case of Moby Dick.
@f00l What @UncleVinny said. A bunch of then-current scientific information that any first-grader today could tell you is wrong.
Had a whale of a time reading it too
@AttyVette I wailed the whole time that I read it.
Read it twice: once for a class, with the teacher having us skip large sections, then once later to see what I had missed previously.
@simplersimon
What had you missed?
@DVDBZN mostly whaling info, things that didn’t matter overmuch to the story. There were a couple of good, thoughtful chunks that I remember being shocked we skipped, but it was most likely the stuff cut for abridged versions. It was worth the reread, if just to view it without worrying what I’d be tested on.
@simplersimon I did the opposite of this. The first time I read it all way through, barely. Since then if I feel like revisiting it’s just parts one and three. Your teacher was right.
Once. And that was exactly enough times.
Both the Classic comics edition and the brick edition. Folks usta like to get there moneys worth out of a book back in them days.
@cranky1950
/giphy "monkey’s worth"
@f00l
There is a Patrick Stewart version???
@smilingjack
Never thought it sounded that interesting before, but after reading some of the comments here maybe I will someday.
Does the audiobook version count? If so, then yes, otherwise, no.
Call me Ishmael, no I’ll call you later…the end.