Sea Books: Moby Dick
2/4
Words: Drew Sievers
Literary scholars universally classify Moby Dick as one of the greatest works in the English language. The only problem is that the English language they’re lauding is really old… like “auld” old. And it’s the language in Moby Dick, combined with that era’s penchant for excruciatingly long-winded prose, that makes the book so unapproachable for so many readers. But that doesn’t mean that the book isn’t good. Nor does it mean that it isn’t worth the effort, because it is.
Moby Dick tells the swashbuckling tale of Ishmael, a New England whaler, whose journey aboard the Pequod starts off innocently enough, but quickly descends into a obsessive shame spiral courtesy of the ship’s peg-legged leader, Captain Ahab. Having lost his leg to the white whale Moby Dick (who knew that whalers actually named their quarry?), Ahab morphs into a classic obsessive-compulsive, albeit one with an overdeveloped sense of vengeance to find and kill the white whale.
The best parts of the book, not surprisingly, are the battles between the ship and Moby Dick. Even without Dave Rastovich there to protect him, Moby Dick more than holds his own against the borderline psychotic Ahab. In the end, Ahab’s singular obsession to catch and kill the whale ultimately comes at the expense of everyone’s safety, including his own.
Sadly, not everything in the book is as gripping. There are passages in Moby Dick where Melville digresses into obscure whale lore that would be more suitable as a Wikipedia entry than as a chapter in the great American novel. Feel free to skip these parts since they add no value to the story and will only excite a small group of cetacean scientists.
Ultimately, getting through Moby Dick will require your time and patience, but it will be worth it.
Simply put, this book is a brutal but satisfying read.
Drew Sievers lives and surfs in San Francisco. His website, The Waterman’s Library, features reviews of classic and contemporary ocean-themed books, including surfing literature.
I spent something like 20 years avoiding this book before I finally got past the first chapter. Once you stop your brain from translating the words into contemporary language and just let it flow, it rocks. Nobody ever mentions the fact that, in some places, it’s also freaking hilarious.
A number of people told me to skip the turgid parts, like the chapter on whales. I didn’t. It didn’t kill me.
In the end, I have to say this is the best book I’ve ever read. Definitely number one on the desert island list.
1Heh.
2I was once on a surf trip to Barbados - ended up with 20+ knot onshores the whole time, so I mostly ended up sitting in a hammock, reading, and slurping rum. On about Day 9, I’d read pretty much every damn book in Bathsheba, so I went to the bookstore and got Moby Dick. THAT slowed me down…
Funny you mention this book. I started reading it a couple weeks ago.
It’s rad, but 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was radder.
3Thanks for the recommendation, Kevin–we forwarded it on to Drew. JC
4One of the best ocean themed books I have read is called “A Voyage for Madmen” by Peter Nichols. Its a true story of the 1968 sailing race to circumnavigation the globe in single haned boats.
5