So I've never written a review on Goodreads before, but I feel compelled to after finishing Moby Dick.

It's just that good.

What impressed me most was the style. As long as Ishmael is on land, it's straightforward, clear, and heading toward a goal, like walking down a path. Once he and Queequeg board the Pequod, everything is up for grabs. Sometimes the fog rolls in, sometimes the waves churn, and sometimes we're becalmed for chapters at a time. When there's a particularly dramatic moment coming, it turns Shakespearean; even to the extent of having stage directions and dialogue.

I was afraid it would be dense and ponderous, but particularly in the action scenes, it really moves quickly. I was also expecting Ahab to be a bit of a caricature, but maybe I've been reading too much Dickens. He's a really interesting character, especially when we see him in a quiet moment and can tell what he's feeling.

A great read. I'm glad I did it.

There is a reason that this book is long. Whaling takes a long time to do and it is not always exciting. Melville shows you through the mundane life of the sailor what it was like to be on the ship. The story up to him getting on the ship is some of the best fiction writing in English history.

Had to do it. Parts of Moby Dick were good and engaging, but, hey, I am a modern reader. Move on with it. I need to digest it a bit more before I say anything useful, but the character names are superb.

I finally finished Moby Dick. For me, it had a whole lot of whale detail sandwiched in between some really interesting character development and tragic action scenes. I guess I was mostly frustrated by all the detail. Just when I was getting into the characters and story, it would get interrupted with yet more information about whales.

oh, it's allegorical

While parts of this were a slog--does anyone love the Cetology chapter?--I found Melville's construct fascinating. He seems to try on various writing styles throughout the book--from research and reportage to free-form stream of consciousness. It's amazing to me that even today, this novel still feels experimental and daring.

I was also amazed by Melville's descriptions of the cultural diversity of the sea ports and whaling crews at that time... whatever sense of openness and diversity we have now seems pitiful compared to the Melville's eastern seaports.

(more on both of these points, w/ quotes to come)

Truly great book. What else can I say?

I didn't get to Melville until a few years ago. My mind is blown.

How can one rate Moby Dick less than five stars? What greater quest is there than following Ishmael, a year out at sea with the monomaniac Ahab, after that omnipotent white whale? This novel is so rich in detail, drawing on ancient history, the Bible and modern-day (19th century) social issues, to create a work that truly stands on its own.

This novel portrays a simple quest, yet on a deeper, philosophical level looks at issues such as the role of the individual within his social (racial) class and fate vs. free will. While Melville goes into elaborate detail on the specifics of whaling (making for some slow reading in the middle chapters), the journey is worth while.

One of my favorite gay sailor books.

one, if not my favorite book of all time. My father used to read it to me when i was little, and its has left a profound effect on my life.

Not the edition I recommend!