Welcome to Moby Dick Monday! This is where we read four pages a day and then post about what we’ve read. Consider it an adventure of sorts!
My Story Re-Cap:
This week’s reading takes me through the last 25 chapters.
It’s clear to the crew that Ahab has lost his mind. This is apparent when Starbuck stumbles upon a sleeping Ahab, and for a moment considers murdering him in order to save the rest of the crew. He goes as far as raising the musket to Ahab, but then thinks better of it. As you can imagine this is a very intense scene. As Starbuck considers the worst, Ahab begins to call out in his dreams, and this somehow snaps Starbuck out of his reverie.
The yet levelled musket shook like a drunkard’s arm against the panel; Starbuck seemed wrestling with an angel; but turning from the door, he placed the death-tube in its rack, and left the place.
*No Spoilers*
For me, the other exciting part of this week’s reading is the last three chapters. Why? Because we finally get to meet Moby! Yes, after 130+ chapters the chase is on. I won’t go into detail because if any of you plan to read it, I want you to experience it for yourself but these last three chapters brought it all home for me. It was while reading these chapters that I actually stepped into Ahab’s shoes (well, shoe…I know bad joke). There’s heartache, and rage and madness but it all comes together to be very satisfying in the end.
My Rambling Thoughts:
I can’t believe it, but I made it! I finally finished this behemoth of a book. Here are some very random thoughts:
- Should have been given the title of “Leviathan” instead. The word “leviathan” appears over 130 times and Moby doesn’t even make an appearance until the last few chapters.
- As tempting as it is, do not read the abridged edition. I went with the unabridged edition and although it’s extremely long and detailed, you want to have the full experience when reading this book.
- Keep a dictionary by your side, you’ll need it.
- A book or web reference on whale anatomy would be useful as well.
- I was surprised that Melville had a sense of humor. It still shocks me a little bit.
And the question that many have asked me… “Was it worth it?”
Yes, it was worth it. Some of the chapters were harder to get through than others and there were times when I wanted to skip to easier reading, but since I read most of this novel in small chunks, I was able to appreciate Melville’s style of writing. Much if it is so beautifully written but it is weighed down by a lot of detail, more detail than I expected.
I won’t list this one as one of my faves, but it is worth reading and if you can get a couple of your friends to read it along with you (thank you guys) then you’ll enjoy it a lot more.
Now I am off to dance a jig.
Reading Along With Me:
Jill of RhapsodyinBooks
Dar of Peeking Between the Pages
Eva of A Striped Armchair (completed!)
Wisteria from Bookworm’s Dinner
Gavin from Page247
Claire from kiss a cloud
Sandra from Fresh Ink Books
Past Moby Dick Posts:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Book Chatter 
Go you for finishing! 😀 I enjoyed the last few chapters too, although I expected the chase to be a bit more drawn out after all of that build up.
Thanks for reading this. Even though I don’t have a blog I read along with the group. I always wanted to read this and finding this blog on the web doing a read along was wonderful. I don’t know if I would have made it thru without the fun of reading others write ups. So thank you and to everyone else. I finished it this weekend as well and It feels like such a huge accomplishment to be done!
Thank you for posting this comment. This means a lot to me. I’m so glad that you read along with us and hope you will visit again.
Ti
Yay Ti! I’m so happy for you. I know how many times you tried this before, and now you did it!! Thanks for hosting!
(My post will be up in a bit.)
Wow.. I am jealous that you did it!! Great job..not only did you finish but you really put out some great material for the rest of us. Thank you so much. I can’t begin to describe how wonderful this blog segment was. Good Job..way to go!!
Thanks Toni!
This readalong was really fun! Thanks for organizing it! I wouldn’t have read it without you!!!!!!!!!
Fantastic job, Ti! I think this was a brilliant way to read Moby Dick – with a great group of fellow readers. I agree that it’s a book worth reading but it’s a tough go so ding it with some good fellow readers is the way to go. I read Moby Dick a long time ago and I can’t say I’ll ever read it again (But I might) but there are many parts of it I enjoyed and much of the book has stayed with me all of these years.
Congratulations & great job!
Yeah! It feels great to be finished, doesn’t it? I really enjoyed reading this with other people. It kept me from giving up when things got tough. Now I have to go find a good Melville biography to read!
You should feel great and such a sense of accomplishment! I’m standing up clapping for you!!!
Congratulations on completing your project! I’ve enjoyed following your progress, but still don’t have any desire to read MOBY DICK myself :-).
**bowing down to you** Congratulations! Very impressive feat. I’m glad when you got to the end, you decided it was worth it.
Congratulations!
It is a real accomplishment to finish a book like Moby Dick — maybe I’ll be brave enough to try it one day.