Okay, this is not the version I read, but I can't find it. Anyway, this is a great book! I did have to start skipping every other chapter (the ones detailing whales) about halfway through due to time constraints. But I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. A great story is a great story.

I read Moby Dick a number of years ago. Now I'm going to take another run at it, for an American Renaissance class. Moby Dick deserves its reputation. It's rather astonishing, especially considering when it was written. There's a scary kind of purity to it. It's all protein.

None

I'm in. But I may need encouragement.

I can now see why readers return to this book again and again. Ishmael's narrative voice is so compelling. What surprised me most is that the book never lags. This is actually Melville's most readable book. Just let him work his magic. If you need more persuading, check out this post I worked up for Reader's Almanac based on reviewers' responses to Nathaniel Philbrick's book Why Read Moby Dick?. http://blog.loa.org/2011/11/nathaniel...

"The past is, in many things, the foe of mankind; the future is, in all things, our friend. In the past is no hope; the future is both hope and fruition. The past is the textbook of tyants; the future the bible of the free." Beautiful words like that, hilarious sketches of yankee sailors, living portraits of wild seas and tropic harbours; that's what Herman gives us.

I just borrowed this from the library to read Moby Dick. So far I really like it, though it can get a bit wordy.

This book was on my summer reading list. It was very intriguing, and I enjoyed it very much, though I found the end to be depressing. However, I don't consider this to be light reading. But if you are in the mood to exercise your mind, this is the book for you.

Based on Moby Dick alone, I'll give this a 5. But Redburn and White-Jacket are definitely shades in comparison. They are by no means bad and they do have their own goals, but they feel barebones in comparison to what Melville achieves afterwards.

This is probably one of those love/hate classics. I read it as a way to clear my mind each night during graduate school. I gave it five stars because it's one of those hand full of books that have stayed with me, which I think about from time to time. And because it's just a damn good book.

Much funnier and more accessible than I expected. Someday I'll actually finish it.

QUEEQUEG