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Aug 08, 2016ArapahoeJeremiah rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Moby Dick is philosophical adventure story, full of information on whales, and meditations on the sea, eternity, and humanity. “Call me Ishmael,” is how the narrator begins the story that leads to his experience on The Pequod whaling ship with its multi-ethnic crew — including Queequeg, Starbuck, and Stubb — all under the burden of Captain Ahab’s fanatical pursuit for the white whale. Melville takes the particulars of whaling to address larger universal truths and concerns, brought forth in rapturous philosophical/theological/existential outpourings on nature and fate. What also impressed me is the realness quality of the story; it’s as if you’re actually there: you can smell the sea, feel the wind in your hair, see the whales. There’s a good amount of action, too: chase scenes and horrific whale-hunting/murder scenes. The language is another highpoint: beautiful eloquent mid-19th century style American English, heavily influenced by the King James Bible and Shakespeare. I’ve never read anything like it.