Review
WL Rating
“Call me exhausted,” should be the introductory line to Melville’s Moby Dick instead of the more famous “Call me Ishmael.” Now considered one of the greatest works in the English language, Melville’s masterpiece is a huge, deeply symbolic work written in heavily laden 1800’s prose. Simply put, this book is a brutal but satisfying read. Moby Dick is the story of New England whaler Ishmael’s journey aboard the Pequod captained by the obsessive Captain Ahab. Signed aboard the ship with his new friend, a Polynesian harpooner named Queequeg, Ishmael watches in vain as Captain Ahab blindly hunts for a white sperm whale named Moby Dick who previously destroyed Ahab’s ship and tore off his leg. Ahab’s singular obsession to catch and kill the whale ultimately comes at the expense of everyone’s safety, including his own. Readers with a love for symbolism won’t be disappointed given how thick Melville slathers it on, and if you’re in need of some deeply philosophical analyses a la Emerson or Thoreau, then Melville’s your man. While Moby Dick is clearly a classic five-star book, it’s density and non-contemporary ramblings make this an incredibly tough read for all but the most dedicated reader, i.e. I couldn’t in good conscience make this a Waterman’s Library Essential. So, for me, it’s a great four-star book that’s worth the effort provided you have a combination of time, patience and, well, more time. (November 2009)
Moby Dick - Herman Melville
