As a Literature major at Colorado State, it was almost embarrassing to say that I had never even attempted to read Moby Dick throughout my career. It was joked about in my American Literature class that lit. majors should get patches for their accomplishments, a big white whale to signify the feat of this reputed intense and boring novel.
So I thought I would begin. Actually, my husband started it for me, reading the first chapter in his calm and strong voice. I was hooked. Melville hooks you with "Call me Ishmael" and then continues to describe the reason for the ocean and the calling to sea with such detail alluding to ancient Greek myths and describing the romanticism of the ocean saying, "Yes, as everyone knows, meditation and water are wedded together forever" (4).
Ishmael first embarks to Nantucket to find a whaling ship to set sea with (as the sea has been calling his name) and runs into a most curious bed companion, a cannibal. As Ishmael throws his prejudices to the wind, he sits down with Queequeg the Cannibal and smokes his tomahawk becoming fast and lasting bosom friends for life.
I miss school obviously. Regardless, Moby Dick has turned into not being the most boring and tedious book to read but is captivating with Melville's descriptions of passing characters through Nantucket and the world. If one ever wants to impress other stuffy lit majors at a party, take some time to read this lovely classic! It will probably take me quite a few months though so allot some time for yourself depending on your reading speed.
