I read Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick once sometime just before the COVID-19 pandemic and, while initially intimidated by its reputation, was absolutely blown away as I read. Its descriptions of a bygone industry and associated era seemed so far-removed as to read almost like SFF. It was definitely an undertaking- Ishmael is locquacious to a fault and can’t resist the opportunity to wax on about topics like… well, pretty much everything. But he’s happy to take you under his wing and share, and he is so likeable and silly that I’m all too happy to go along with him. It really feels like going on a didactic adventure with a friend. Soon afterwards I read The Fisherman by John Langan and was pleased to see at least one straight up homage (in the form of the spooky painting from the Spouter Inn), whose inspiration I would have missed had I not read Moby Dick just before- M-D is influential, and for good reason!
I greatly enjoyed my time with the novel and wanted to read it again but knew I’d never survive a second readthrough so soon. Several years later, towards the end of 2023, I felt like I had built up enough stamina to make a second attempt, with a goal of finishing before the end of the year.
I couldn’t do it.
I got almost exactly 25% in and stalled. I’ve read more than a dozen books since then, and after finishing each one thought, “should I go back and finish Moby Dick?” and each time I feel intimidated, which is strange, because as I see it, the first 25% is the hardest.
I think there are three hurdles one must surmount before the Pequod practically even leaves Nantucket in pursuit of white whale Moby-Dick. The first is a bunch of quotes about whales in literature right at the beginning (this I have always skipped). The second is a biblical sermon aimed at the nautical and/or whaling crowd in town at the beginning of the book . The third is a lengthy treatise on every whale that Ishmael knows anything about. I think all are interesting choices to include, sometimes boring, and fun in their own way. I think they’re difficult because they bring the plot grinding to a halt (or prevent it from beginning entirely, I suppose) in favor of getting a little lost in the weeds.
As an aside, this reveals a fear I have in writing this blog, and that is that I might reveal my ignorance in all manner of topics. While I can sense the foreshadowing present in the sermon, is there a deeper meaning I’m too inept to ascertain? Does someone else consider the sermon an essential component to a deep enjoyment of the novel? I guess I’ll never know, because the sermon, while well written and interesting for its whaling twist, is boring. While I read it my first time through, I skipped it my second.
However, Ishmael going on at length about whales is something I really like. It too asks that the reader just forget about moving the plot forward, but Ishmael gets to do the talking and I find him entertaining enough to be worth the push. In the forward of the version I read this time, it’s pointed out that Ishmael initially isn’t quite sure if whales are fish or mammals and, despite stating some strong evidence that they’re mammals basically says, “yeah, but I’m calling them fish anyway.” But seriously, how can you not love this description of the porpoise:
“(Huzza Porpoise).—This is the common porpoise found almost all over the globe. The name is of my own bestowal; for there are more than one sort of porpoises, and something must be done to distinguish them. I call him thus, because he always swims in hilarious shoals, which upon the broad sea keep tossing themselves to heaven like caps in a Fourth-of-July crowd. Their appearance is generally hailed with delight by the mariner. Full of fine spirits, they invariably come from the breezy billows to windward. They are the lads that always live before the wind. They are accounted a lucky omen. If you yourself can withstand three cheers at beholding these vivacious fish, then heaven help ye; the spirit of godly gamesomeness is not in ye.”
And now I too have lost the plot. What was point? Maybe I’m just trying to say that I’m not sure why I can’t regain my momentum, but I need to go pick up Moby-Dick and get through the last 75%.
I’ll read it next, I swear!