Today, I’m starting another read-along. Yep, call me crazy, but I’m going to (try to) read Moby Dick. However, Ti has come up with a beautiful plan…4 pages a day. I figure I can handle that. Maybe. I fell asleep over page 3 the other night. Anyways…we hope to finish this chunkster some time next year. And we’ll be providing periodic updates on Mondays, so you can follow along with what could be either the agony or the ecstasy.
To start off though, I thought I would share with you all my one True Story about Moby Dick. While I’ve never read it, I was pretty much scarred for life by it back in high school.
Imagine. A class full of 10th graders. Advanced English. A teacher who was young, handsome, and knew it. We were discussing something (all but one lingering detail has faded from my mind) and the teacher made a comparison to Moby Dick. Only, he didn’t say Moby Dick. He said Moby the Dick.
And that was all he said, until he managed to choke out “class dismissed.”
Poor guy. To say he was embarrassed is an under-statement. And you can bet I’ve always thought twice about what I’m about to say everytime I have to say Moby Dick.
How about you…now that I’ve ruined Moby (the) Dick, do you have any literary slips of the tongue to share?
I have to admit this is one book I’m not in the least bit interested in. My husband read it last year, though, and loved it.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..GLBT Challenge 2010 =-.
At least there’s someone out there who would recommend it!
ah,… Truly is one of the fears I have abt subbing in HS; wondering what I say and what it ‘means’ in today’s youth’s vernacular.
and I really really really want to read this! but I’m just swamped right now! ugh. (in other words, I really DON’T want to read this.) Did I tell you have the copy and notes from my FIL’s college days?
Go you. good luck.
.-= Care´s last blog ..John Cusack Reading Challenge =-.
That’s the thing about teaching…you’re doomed to be uncool. And kids can be merciless.
I don’t know if I’ll be reading this one. I feel like I should at least give it a chance but I am not sure I have it in me!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
I’d don’t know if I have it in me, either…we’ll see!
LOLLLL! That’s right up there with the young, crushworthy coach I had in high school who made reference to “A Tale of Two Titties” in his history class one day. Not sure if we were more embarrassed or if he was.
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Blog Tour: A World Without Ice =-.
OMG, that’s even better! Or worse, depending on how you look at it.
Oh, and I hate Moby Dick. I had to read part of it in high school, and I couldn’t even get through the excerpt in our lit textbook. Same thing in college. I might try it if I’m in the mood for torture because my fiance has a copy on our shelves. Not sure where the heck he got it because I know for a fact he’s never read it.
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Blog Tour: A World Without Ice =-.
Torture is illegal, so you’re excused.
I’ve got one – it’s not a “the” mistake though… I worked in a bookstore for almost 6 years, and one of the funniest requests I ever recieved was for a book entitled How to Kill a Mockingbird.
.-= Susan B. Evans´s last blog ..Isis: A Book Review =-.
Poor mockingbirds.
I don’t think what he said was that bad… a lot of people may agree with the statement actually.
There was a slip-up in my community college English class but for the life of me I cannot remember what it was. I recall Orwell but if it comes back to me I’ll buzz ya.
Oh, and thanks for taking the plunge. It won’t be so bad. I promise.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Moby Dick Monday: The Kick-off! =-.
You promise? I may be holding you to that.
Good luck with the read-along! This is one book that I’d like to try, but I admit that the size completely intimidates me. I think I’ll have to work my way up to it!
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Week 2 Winner & Week 3 Giveaway! =-.
It’s only 4 pages a day! And misery loves company…you should join us!
I am SO tempted to actually read Moby the Dick with y’all :p Seriously, I’ve never read this before. I’ve always assumed that I would hate this book, but it may be worth a try…and I could do 4 pages a day…hmmmm
.-= Chris´s last blog ..Peeking Out Of The Hole =-.
Aww, come on…all the cool kids are doing it.
I’ve decided to join you all in reading this. I’ve always wanted to say I read it so now I’m going to try. lol.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..GIVEAWAY: 5 copies of Now & Then by Jacqueline Sheehan =-.
yay!
What a great idea! I keep picking up used copies of classic novels hoping someday I’ll feel inspired and start reading them. So far…nothing. I’ll have to look and see if Moby (the) Dick is in the pile because I might read along at the 4-page-a-day rate.
This isn’t a literary slip but in my high school biology class we were talking about organisms. A classmate joined the discussion and repeated said “orgasms” instead of “organisms”. The teacher managed to keep a straight face but the rest of us couldn’t. I bet 90% of us didn’t even know what it meant but we knew it had to do with S-E-X so it had to be funny!
LOL…I can just hear the snickers.
I haven’t read Moby Dick, but it is something I always feel I should have read. I knew that it was long, but didn’t realise it was dull too! I am sorry to hear you fell asleep at page 3 and hope it picks up soon.
.-= Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog ..The Magicians – Lev Grossman =-.
If nothing else, I can use it as a sleeping aid
My parents have this book as part of one of those super-fancy leather-bound gold-embossed sets that you order just for decoration and never actually read. Then I actually had to read Moby Dick for a college course. Needless to say, I had the best edition around!
You thought “Moby the Dick” was hilarious? My professor talked a lot about homoeroticism and the “seamen.” Um, yeah.
.-= EL Fay´s last blog ..Something Purple. . . =-.
Oh, that’s just bad. (The “seamen,” not the lovely edition of MB.)
I talked on my blog before about how I’m never going to read Moby Dick
. Moby Dick is often mentioned in Bones the graphic novel in very cute ways. But still, it doesn’t change my decision. There was also another blog I followed who failed at reading Moby Dick (though he failed reading Lolita too — note: he’s not a book blogger). Anyway, hope you enjoy it in some ways! 
.-= mee´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Mixed Bookish Things Feat. Two Children Books and Fight Club =-.
After Lolita, I’m feeling victorious.
Okay, okay, I’ve been hinking of reading MD this winter so I’m joining you as soon as I’m done with KL.
.-= Gavin´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Just One Year Ago =-.
Excellent!
Lol, no literary slips of the tongue to share, but loved your poor teacher’s! I also love Ti’s plan, since 4 pages a day of Moby Dick is about all I could manage. I’m going to be following your progress!
.-= gentle reader´s last blog ..My Wish List Grows Longer… =-.
No can’t say that I do but I never was able to get through Moby Dick.
.-= Ladytink_534´s last blog ..One Thousand and One Nights Retelling =-.
You always make me laugh. and did you really fall asleep on page 3?
.-= Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last blog ..Thoughts: Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones =-.