After lagging on my reading last week, I’ve now caught up and am back in the game. I’m on page 90 of Moby Dick, and while it’s a bit (okay, a lot) long winded at times, and there are biblical references up the wazoo that I’m not getting, it’s not as torturous as I expected.
Billy, on the other hand, was reading along with me until page 86, when we got to this line:
“Bildad, say that again to me, and start my soul-bolts, but I’ll – I’ll – yes, I’ll swallow a live goat with all his hair and horns on.”
Billy is now boycotting Melville. In fact, I think he’s making a picket sign.
So. A few random thoughts…
- 90 pages, and still no Ahab. No whale, either. There has been mention of both, but Melville is still setting the stage.
- There seems to be some heavy foreshadowing…an inn-keeper named Coffin, the shadow of the gallows, a painting of a whale attacking a ship, a sermon about Jonah and the whale. If I were a betting gal, I’d say something bad is going to happen.
- Melville likes to flip his word order (“the night previous”). He’s also fond of alliteration.
That’s all I’ve got. Maybe by next week we’ll have met Ahab. I’m not holding my breath, though.
I did manage a glance at the book and a slight pause while I considered picking it up. I left the room instead. I am enjoying these posts on the process, though!
.-= Care´s last blog ..Juckets by Joyce Keller Walsh =-.
So Bildad, it seems, is not a vegetarian.
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Moby Dick Mondays – Week 4 =-.
I think the reason I have stayed away from Moby Dick this long is the amount of time it takes for the set up. Four pages a day definitely seems like the best way to go. I might get a little crazy otherwise.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Review & Giveaway ~ When She Flew, by Jennie Shortridge =-.
Poor Billy. I certainly did not mean for him to become traumatized.
I love how the one captain made Ahab out to be moody but when Ish showed concern he changed it around and said something like “better to have a moody captain that knows what he is doing, than a more agreeable one that does not.” Yep, some foreshadowing there.
And Queequeg..what a big, lug of a savage he is.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Moby Dick Monday: December 7, 2008 (Week 4) =-.
I’ve never read this, but my brother-in-law read it to my nephews when they were, like, 4, 6 and 9. The 9-year-old loved it (and is now a brilliant 16 year old, despite the fact that for a long time his favorite book was The DaVinci Code for a long time).
That is QUITE the line. Can’t say I blame Billy
Your books have been vocabulary zingers recently!
.-= Aarti´s last blog ..Review: The Crown Conspiracy =-.
This book have I read never. But Billy bring back bad bookish memories of slaughter goatly.
The end.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Last Angelic Links =-.
oh my !! Billy, i m boycotting this one too, how could Melville say this out loud!
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Along Came a Spider by James Patterson =-.
i already admitted this on ti’s blog…but i’m an english major and have never read moby dick. commence the stoning.
Seriously don’t hold your breath about it. THe main thing I remember from reading Moby Dick was the fact that Melville described a set of pots for 2 entire pages. 2 entire pages with tiny font. After that my mind was just numb to him haha.
Just found your blog and am excited to read more!
.-= Prongs´s last blog ..Take ANOTHER Chance challenge =-.
I still think you’re very, very brave to be attempting this. My eyes glaze over even thinking of reading it!
.-= Ladytink_534´s last blog ..Discovering Themselves Through the Past =-.
Billy, don’t be a hero! Walk away from Melville now; no need to torture yourself with that ninny … don’t let him get your goat.
(those are the only groan-worthy goat references I could muster)
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesdays: You better watch out, you better not cry … =-.
Good for you getting all caught up. Instead of reading and catching up I’m here reading blogs. lol.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..GIVEAWAY: 3 copies of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker =-.