It was explained to me, when I read it, that all the chapters on whaling, whale carving, the laws governing whaling, etc... all are there to show you how tedious life is on a whaling ship. And that makes a lot of sense.
I read this book for a class, and honestly, my teacher got me through it. He was a very enthusiastic teacher who recorded himself reading each of the chapters with short explanations, which made it a lot more fun (and he let us skip all the chapters on whale blubber). While it wasn't my favorite book of all time, the class made me appreciate it and I am glad I read it!
I believe Victorian writers were paid by the word which would explain why so many classics were so unnecessarily long and tedious. Thus the need for abridged versions for those that just want to read the story without the filler.
Not by the word, they were paid by instalment. Meaning they had to write enough to fill 30 or so pages for each instalment. Is it still tedious to read sometimes? Absolutely. Also Melville was American
I love your little matching buns, so adorable Moby Dick is one those books I decided a long time ago I was never gonna read and this video just confirms it for me! Good on you though for finishing it, the dedication you had to get through it is honestly admirable.
I read Moby in September/october. I read a lot of classics and people on instagram were like “oh it’s so amazing! You’re in for a treat. Enjoy!” The whole time I was reading it I just kept thinking “shoulda been an email”. The actual story was so short.
literally just finished it today because i’ve been reading it with my american lit class. loved the book. I think I matched melville’s whale freak because I found the digressions so interesting lol
I read Moby Dick in an American lit class in college. The professor did a great job of guiding us through the experience of reading the book. In that context, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Watching you two struggle through it and hearing your comments of “why” made me laugh out loud! I applaud your effort. Looking forward to more of your reviews of classics. I understand your decision not to rate the book!
It’s one of my favorite book!! I read this book when I was in 8th grade. Advanced English and all that. I did enjoy the descriptions, bc I need to picture in my mind, what is going on. I also the language in this book. But, I haven’t read it since then. 😂
One of my favourite books of all time and I first read it at16 years old and I was not able to put it down because I loved it 🥰 love ❤️ your Aussie family friend John xx
I wouldn't call it the most difficult book ever written by a long shot, but people have such a hard time with it for the exact reason you said. When Melville tells the story, Moby Dick is fantastic. IT'S ALL THE OTHER DULL, BORING, MIND-NUMBING STUFF YOU HAVE TO SLOG THROUGH TO GET TO THE GOOD STUFF. THAT'S WHAT KILLS IT. It's half the book!!!
Have you read The Book of New Sun? I really recommend it, especially for the prose and general atmosphere. There is a lot of symbolism and layers in the narrative, which is sumptuous as it makes it very rereadable, but I think you would love the characters and how weirdly beautiful it is.
I own Book of the New Sun, and am very excited to read it! I have a hunch I will be making a similar video to this one when I do get around to reading it😂
@ I am SO envious. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time. However, having read both Moby Dick and BOTS, it’ll certainly be a different experience. For one thing, there won’t be any tedious whale facts, haha. There will be some WTFs though. Lots of them. Looking forward to that video!
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley was almost my nemesis. I read it for two years but just didn't want to give up. That was also two years ago now and I'm actually thinking about reading it again and questioning my own sanity!
@@germanletsdrizzle2650Es ist ein gutes Buch, wenn man bedenkt, dass es schon älter ist. Allerdings fand ich persönlich, dass sich der Mittelteil sehr gezogen hat und sie die ganze Geschichte auch kürzer hätte fassen können…
lol, I immedieately went "Ulysses?" but knew that wouldn't be it (too many people rate it as like the best book ever for that). I wasn't expecting this though.
I've been interested but not motivated to read this book for a few years now. Good to know about the tedious chapters, I'll be able to brace myself for when I do eventually get around to it.
Moby Dick is one of my favorite novels. It's a whaling adventure with philosophical reflections weaved throughout. I found it very profound and enjoyable. Looking forward to reading it again.
Same! I really thought Ulysses is the book that has been labeled as the most difficult (not that I necessarily agree because these kind of labels are always very western culture centric but still never heard of moby dick being the most difficult book 😅)
Hi Ian, loved this video and I’m currently reading Moby Dick; my head hurts. Today is Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 and I hope to have this book finished before midnight. - Maris
I finally read this last year and I mostly enjoyed it, but the fact that it’s two books in one is a barrier. It reminded me of Tom Clancy. Hear me out. Tom Clancy stuffs his books with tech manuals, so after reading Hunt For Red October, I had a decent shot at piloting a Russian nuclear submarine.
Moby Dick’s reputation for difficulty is overstated. As if to spit in the eye of English teachers Melville spends a whole chapter telling the reader all the things the whiteness of the whale might represent, and I respect that.
I’m about to pick up on chapter 111 now. Audible makes it much easier. The reason I love classic literature such as this is that each sentence is a fine work of art. The words are like delicious candy to my brain, even though the story can get boring. The metaphorical & philosophical takes feel holy and transcendent. I have to say Dostoyevsky is still my favorite writer, nothing compares to Brothers Karamasov for me- 100% action packed psychological thriller and murder mystery. And it goes psychologically beyond the insanity line, but is easy to read. Fun, crazy, profound, torturous and wild. I could not put it down as my head was spinning with adrenaline for a few weeks.
I can see the lit bros scorn at the video title and realize it's about Moby Dick. I personally find it really interesting to see all the opinions on books from a wide ranging array of type of readers.
I loved watching this video, because I read Moby Dick a couple of years ago. I was prepared to hate it and I ended up loving it and I read it in 2 weeks. Couldn't put it down! 😅 The audiobook also helped a lot, because the narration was marvellous.
I am pretty sure the book I read in 10th grade was the abridged version. Which does include the first 100 pages and then the last few chapters of the chase. I know this because I do not remember reading 100 chapter treatise on whale skin, blubber, etc.
For me, right now, it’s The Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy by Cixin Liu. My emotional journey has been a downhill slide from the first book (The Three-Body Problem) to the last (Death’s End). It’s not because of the complex language, the intricate physics, or the overwhelming number of theories. Rather, it’s the fear and existential dread-the terrifying possibilities of what could happen to us-that make this series the hardest, most challenging read I’ve ever encountered. As for Moby-Dick… I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my list.
I read an abridged version when i was in middle school and there was a picture of a death that tramatized me so much that i have never wanted to read the actual book. 😂 Thanks for reading this so I don't have to!
I'm majoring in English education. I just read Moby-Dick for my American Literature class. Plus, I had to write an essay on it. Very interesting experience.
I swear Moby Dick takes a type of person. I understand everyones hate of it and I understand everyones love of it, its always one or the other. I read it at 16 and was obsessed, I've read it 4 times in my life and you sorta get something different every time. I am obviously one of the ones who loves it. The characters wonderlust and need to be free of a stifling society, the philosophy behind why they even want to do that in the first place, the almost pointless cycle they're all on/Ahabs total waste of an obsession, and the intentional use of tedium about whaling to make you feel almost pissed off the way you would get couped up on working whaling ships. He's sorta doing a Heart of Darkness style descent in his own very specific way. There's more to it but you know... I think its great hahaha but it's ok to hate it.
I agree with you. I read this in 2nd grade when I had a year I was very sick. I just kept getting bronchitis and scarlet fever that I just couldn't shake. My parents had Moby Dick and I thought the whale on the cover was cool, so I tried to read it. It was hard at first, with my reading level not quite there yet, but it enchanted me to learn to get there. I had 2 dictionaries, a notebook for notes and thoughts, and I also read multiple books on the ocean and the creatures that lived there. Staying at home day after day, I had a strong wanderlust and was fed up being confined, so the book was there just when I needed it. It is an amazing book, and as it was my first official novel, I give it credit for the voracious appetite for books that I have today. I plan to read it soon, as I have not read it as an adult. I still have my little notebook with all my childhood notes and thoughts on the book.
Moby Dick? The most Difficult Book Ever WRitten? You are adorable! I hated it when I first read it, I was about 17. It was awful, especially the chapters full of misinformation about whales. A friend of mine recently read it and she said she thought it was hilarious. I’m 64 now. Maybe I should read it again. But, I’m old, and Moby Dick is long, and life is short (for a 64 year old-even shorter!😅). So, maybe not . . .
I'm reading The Hunchback of Notre-Dame right now, and Victor Hugo is going on TANGENTS about the city of Paris and all its bridges, roofs, walls, streets, churches, roads, rivers, views, houses, etc. I feel like I'm reading a nonfiction book at the moment.
I, honestly, thought you were going to try and conquer Ulysses. lol That's the book that first comes to my mind when I hear most difficult book ever written. Heh. I hear that Moby Dick is a great book if you like learning about the whaling industry or ships/sailing.
I also thought about Ulysses. I was surprised that it was Moby Dick. But yes, much info on whaling. I haven't read it since high school, so that's basically all I remember lol
I trie reading this book when I was a teen, no wonder I couldn't finish it, I had no idea it was considered to be one of the most difficult books ever written.
The structure reminds me of Verne and why I gave his books 2 stars. Loved the stories, but hated that he broke them giving me lists of species or going totally out of the story, so when I went back to it, I had already lost interest.
I read Moby Dick in high school for a class project. I had the choice to pick from a list, and I was like "Can't be that bad." I hated it. The teacher took the book off the list after that year.
As you may already know, Richard Melville Hall, aka the singer Moby, is a distant relative of Herman Melville. (Or was it the whale, I can't remember).
Not even close to being the most difficult book ever written. Finnegan's Wake, Ullyses, Infinite Jest & the Malazan fantasy series are some off the top of my head. I would even say some Terri Pratchett books are more of a challenge than Moby Dick. Listening to an audiobook simultaneously helped me get the rhythm of the language. Being familiar with the bible also helps.
I read it thirty years ago, it took me three days. I really enjoyed it. I cannot understand anyone saying that it's a difficult book to read. I'm old and English. We grew up reading Shakespeare etc so the language was no problem. It's a classic based on truth.
@@kellyshaw7271 Listening on audio is simply reading with your ears, but the story is no longer a book when you listen to it on audio. It becomes a recording or podcast or something of the sort. But I'm sure Moby Dick would be just as difficult on Audio as it is on paper, that is assuming, of course that it is unabridged.
@@joekapp6826 next time I can read with my ears, I will let you know. You listened to an audio book you did not read it. I think you will find that reading involves vision. Also listening does not help you to learn how to correctly spell certain words within the text.
@@kellyshaw7271so you’re saying that audio books are easier to get thru than actual books simply because actual books help you spell words better? Also are you now changing your view and saying that audio books really aren’t books at all? And that they are just called books for aesthetic purposes only?
I haven't read Moby Dick yet, but I have read a sci-fi version of it called The Beast of Cretacea, and that was a great read and I do highly recommend it if you want to read Moby Dick but also don't, haha 🤣
I've read this book many times and i genuinely believe to only reason i have is because I am a massive nerd. I loved the info-dumpy sections and I love whales. I also have a dirty mind and was giggling through chapters because of the amount of once normal, now slightly inappropriate words used.
My friend didn’t like this book, probably because it is a difficult book to read. Good job reading the book. I need to read classics. the book didn’t break you both lol
Yeah this is definitely a book I will never read. I’m not really into classics but I’m not really interested in reading about whales lol. But it was very entertaining seeing both of you read it!
It was explained to me, when I read it, that all the chapters on whaling, whale carving, the laws governing whaling, etc... all are there to show you how tedious life is on a whaling ship. And that makes a lot of sense.
I read this book for a class, and honestly, my teacher got me through it. He was a very enthusiastic teacher who recorded himself reading each of the chapters with short explanations, which made it a lot more fun (and he let us skip all the chapters on whale blubber). While it wasn't my favorite book of all time, the class made me appreciate it and I am glad I read it!
This is great! Love seeing Chelsea on your channel!
I thought for sure you were gonna show house of leaves.
That is what I thought too, but then I thought ok that book wasn’t that hard, but that’s the first book that came to mind as well !
me too lol
Pretentious. I guess if you've never read anything you might think this.
That one is not hard. The format is unusual but that's it.
@@hpbecraft And you're calling OP pretentious? Hello, pot.
I believe Victorian writers were paid by the word which would explain why so many classics were so unnecessarily long and tedious. Thus the need for abridged versions for those that just want to read the story without the filler.
Not by the word, they were paid by instalment. Meaning they had to write enough to fill 30 or so pages for each instalment. Is it still tedious to read sometimes? Absolutely. Also Melville was American
Finally read it a few months ago and I LOVED IT! The audiobook helped me through some parts but an all time top 5 now!
I love your little matching buns, so adorable
Moby Dick is one those books I decided a long time ago I was never gonna read and this video just confirms it for me!
Good on you though for finishing it, the dedication you had to get through it is honestly admirable.
WE DID IT!!!!!!
"SQUIRREL!" 😂 You're hilarious! Great job finishing.
Both of your editions are beautiful! Even if it’s hard to read it will look good on the shelves 😊
You should definitely do these videos more often with Chelsea! I love your vibes together!
Great video! I haven’t read the book, but my wife has and she likes it. I’ll have to give it a shot sometime. I’m on my Robin Hobb journey now though.
I low key expected the book to be gravity’s rainbow. I heard that was a beast.
I read Moby in September/october. I read a lot of classics and people on instagram were like “oh it’s so amazing! You’re in for a treat. Enjoy!” The whole time I was reading it I just kept thinking “shoulda been an email”. The actual story was so short.
I see comments about House of Leaves and I would LOVE for you to read it! I really liked the format and it's not like anything I've ever read before!
I loved this video, it was such a fun and relatable experience🤣💕🫂 you two together are so lovely✨ more videos together!
literally just finished it today because i’ve been reading it with my american lit class. loved the book. I think I matched melville’s whale freak because I found the digressions so interesting lol
Maybe Herman Melville was hyper fixated on whales like some people are on planes and buses😂
I read Moby Dick in an American lit class in college. The professor did a great job of guiding us through the experience of reading the book. In that context, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Watching you two struggle through it and hearing your comments of “why” made me laugh out loud! I applaud your effort. Looking forward to more of your reviews of classics. I understand your decision not to rate the book!
Amazing book. I understand that people struggle but it's a true classic about such an amazing story
It’s one of my favorite book!! I read this book when I was in 8th grade. Advanced English and all that. I did enjoy the descriptions, bc I need to picture in my mind, what is going on. I also the language in this book. But, I haven’t read it since then. 😂
What you said about putting all that stuff in the back made think of Tolkien and why enjoy reading his works. Gotta love those appendices lol.
Yayyyyy! Immediate had to watch 👀 couldn't wait
Sorry for the three thousand comments but this is seriously one of the funniest and most relatable videos I've ever seen😅
One of my favourite books of all time and I first read it at16 years old and I was not able to put it down because I loved it 🥰 love ❤️ your Aussie family friend John xx
I wouldn't call it the most difficult book ever written by a long shot, but people have such a hard time with it for the exact reason you said. When Melville tells the story, Moby Dick is fantastic. IT'S ALL THE OTHER DULL, BORING, MIND-NUMBING STUFF YOU HAVE TO SLOG THROUGH TO GET TO THE GOOD STUFF. THAT'S WHAT KILLS IT. It's half the book!!!
Have you read The Book of New Sun? I really recommend it, especially for the prose and general atmosphere. There is a lot of symbolism and layers in the narrative, which is sumptuous as it makes it very rereadable, but I think you would love the characters and how weirdly beautiful it is.
I own Book of the New Sun, and am very excited to read it! I have a hunch I will be making a similar video to this one when I do get around to reading it😂
@ I am SO envious. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time. However, having read both Moby Dick and BOTS, it’ll certainly be a different experience. For one thing, there won’t be any tedious whale facts, haha. There will be some WTFs though. Lots of them. Looking forward to that video!
9:51 Im dying laughing 😂😂 "I DON'T CARE"
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley was almost my nemesis.
I read it for two years but just didn't want to give up.
That was also two years ago now and I'm actually thinking about reading it again and questioning my own sanity!
Now I am scared bc I see it on my shelf looking at me rn 🥲
@@germanletsdrizzle2650Es ist ein gutes Buch, wenn man bedenkt, dass es schon älter ist. Allerdings fand ich persönlich, dass sich der Mittelteil sehr gezogen hat und sie die ganze Geschichte auch kürzer hätte fassen können…
@ Aber es ist ja auch an sich eine recht lange Reihe, also bis ich mir derer annehmen werde, wird es wohl eh noch einige Zeit dauern…😮💨
That is one my favorite fantasy books
I was expecting Ulysses or House of Leaves
Me too, I thought it would be THE House of LEAVES
I was hoping for Finnegans Wake
I was thinking it would be Ulysses.
lol, I immedieately went "Ulysses?" but knew that wouldn't be it (too many people rate it as like the best book ever for that). I wasn't expecting this though.
My guess was Ulysses or Infinite Jest
I honestly thought it was gonna be "Ducks, Newsburyport" cause that's the book I think of as the Goliath of books! 😂
I've been interested but not motivated to read this book for a few years now. Good to know about the tedious chapters, I'll be able to brace myself for when I do eventually get around to it.
Hahah well done! now I know that if I ever get to read this, I can go to the first and last chapters 😌
Moby Dick is one of my favorite novels. It's a whaling adventure with philosophical reflections weaved throughout. I found it very profound and enjoyable. Looking forward to reading it again.
I first thought of Ulysses by James Joyce
Me too.
Same! I really thought Ulysses is the book that has been labeled as the most difficult (not that I necessarily agree because these kind of labels are always very western culture centric but still never heard of moby dick being the most difficult book 😅)
Same immediate thought
oh sweet summer child, you need to read James Joyce next :)
I just recently found Moby Dick at a thrift store!
Thrift store book hunting is one of the great pleasures of life.
Hi Ian, loved this video and I’m currently reading Moby Dick; my head hurts. Today is Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024 and I hope to have this book finished before midnight. - Maris
I love how you have the same energy and expressions.
I finally read this last year and I mostly enjoyed it, but the fact that it’s two books in one is a barrier. It reminded me of Tom Clancy. Hear me out. Tom Clancy stuffs his books with tech manuals, so after reading Hunt For Red October, I had a decent shot at piloting a Russian nuclear submarine.
Moby Dick’s reputation for difficulty is overstated. As if to spit in the eye of English teachers Melville spends a whole chapter telling the reader all the things the whiteness of the whale might represent, and I respect that.
I read that in high school almost 20 years ago lol but I loved it
I’m about to pick up on chapter 111 now. Audible makes it much easier. The reason I love classic literature such as this is that each sentence is a fine work of art. The words are like delicious candy to my brain, even though the story can get boring. The metaphorical & philosophical takes feel holy and transcendent.
I have to say Dostoyevsky is still my favorite writer, nothing compares to Brothers Karamasov for me- 100% action packed psychological thriller and murder mystery. And it goes psychologically beyond the insanity line, but is easy to read. Fun, crazy, profound, torturous and wild.
I could not put it down as my head was spinning with adrenaline for a few weeks.
I can see the lit bros scorn at the video title and realize it's about Moby Dick. I personally find it really interesting to see all the opinions on books from a wide ranging array of type of readers.
I thought it was Infinite Jest. But I just started Moby Dick on audio today.
Please try and read House of Leaves!! I gave up! It’s too complicated
I’m reading this right now too and have been obsessed. Reading it on my kobo which is super helpful for looking up terms.
Try Ulysses or Finnegan's Wake next and compare the difficulty lol
I thought for sure it’d be Finnegan’s Wake 😆
Now read Finnegan's Wake next :)
I loved watching this video, because I read Moby Dick a couple of years ago. I was prepared to hate it and I ended up loving it and I read it in 2 weeks. Couldn't put it down! 😅 The audiobook also helped a lot, because the narration was marvellous.
Next you should read Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana jr.
We need more of Chelsea ❤
I am pretty sure the book I read in 10th grade was the abridged version. Which does include the first 100 pages and then the last few chapters of the chase. I know this because I do not remember reading 100 chapter treatise on whale skin, blubber, etc.
MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL-TIME!!!! So stoked that you didna reading blog on it!!!!!
Oh by the way if anyone wants to see the best film based on Moby Dick it’s called Star Trek II The Wrath of Kahn
For me, right now, it’s The Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy by Cixin Liu. My emotional journey has been a downhill slide from the first book (The Three-Body Problem) to the last (Death’s End). It’s not because of the complex language, the intricate physics, or the overwhelming number of theories. Rather, it’s the fear and existential dread-the terrifying possibilities of what could happen to us-that make this series the hardest, most challenging read I’ve ever encountered.
As for Moby-Dick… I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my list.
I read an abridged version when i was in middle school and there was a picture of a death that tramatized me so much that i have never wanted to read the actual book. 😂 Thanks for reading this so I don't have to!
I need a Ulysses buddy read video
I'm majoring in English education. I just read Moby-Dick for my American Literature class. Plus, I had to write an essay on it.
Very interesting experience.
This sounds like exactly the kind of book I'd enjoy, thanks for the vlog.😅
I swear Moby Dick takes a type of person. I understand everyones hate of it and I understand everyones love of it, its always one or the other. I read it at 16 and was obsessed, I've read it 4 times in my life and you sorta get something different every time.
I am obviously one of the ones who loves it. The characters wonderlust and need to be free of a stifling society, the philosophy behind why they even want to do that in the first place, the almost pointless cycle they're all on/Ahabs total waste of an obsession, and the intentional use of tedium about whaling to make you feel almost pissed off the way you would get couped up on working whaling ships. He's sorta doing a Heart of Darkness style descent in his own very specific way. There's more to it but you know... I think its great hahaha but it's ok to hate it.
I agree with you. I read this in 2nd grade when I had a year I was very sick. I just kept getting bronchitis and scarlet fever that I just couldn't shake. My parents had Moby Dick and I thought the whale on the cover was cool, so I tried to read it. It was hard at first, with my reading level not quite there yet, but it enchanted me to learn to get there. I had 2 dictionaries, a notebook for notes and thoughts, and I also read multiple books on the ocean and the creatures that lived there.
Staying at home day after day, I had a strong wanderlust and was fed up being confined, so the book was there just when I needed it. It is an amazing book, and as it was my first official novel, I give it credit for the voracious appetite for books that I have today.
I plan to read it soon, as I have not read it as an adult. I still have my little notebook with all my childhood notes and thoughts on the book.
From the title I thought it would be Finnigan's wake. Haven't read it myself but heard it's crazy difficult
Can't wait to see you read War and Peace!
Hopefully coming in December!
Moby Dick is not on my TBR and after this video it is never going to make it to my TBR.
Moby Dick? The most Difficult Book Ever WRitten? You are adorable! I hated it when I first read it, I was about 17. It was awful, especially the chapters full of misinformation about whales. A friend of mine recently read it and she said she thought it was hilarious. I’m 64 now. Maybe I should read it again. But, I’m old, and Moby Dick is long, and life is short (for a 64 year old-even shorter!😅). So, maybe not . . .
I'm reading The Hunchback of Notre-Dame right now, and Victor Hugo is going on TANGENTS about the city of Paris and all its bridges, roofs, walls, streets, churches, roads, rivers, views, houses, etc. I feel like I'm reading a nonfiction book at the moment.
I, honestly, thought you were going to try and conquer Ulysses. lol That's the book that first comes to my mind when I hear most difficult book ever written. Heh.
I hear that Moby Dick is a great book if you like learning about the whaling industry or ships/sailing.
I also thought about Ulysses. I was surprised that it was Moby Dick. But yes, much info on whaling. I haven't read it since high school, so that's basically all I remember lol
I adore Moby Dick so much! I found it clever and humorous. I did read the history of whaling parts very quickly.
Hm based on the first 3 mins of this video, I also need to get out to sea right now! 😆😆
I trie reading this book when I was a teen, no wonder I couldn't finish it, I had no idea it was considered to be one of the most difficult books ever written.
The structure reminds me of Verne and why I gave his books 2 stars. Loved the stories, but hated that he broke them giving me lists of species or going totally out of the story, so when I went back to it, I had already lost interest.
Twice I have clicked on your video early & both times, I was 2nd to like it...😂 bruh
Do they have spark notes of the classics? 😂 like all the good stuff without the fluff lmao
I read Moby Dick in high school for a class project. I had the choice to pick from a list, and I was like "Can't be that bad."
I hated it.
The teacher took the book off the list after that year.
Wonder if there is an abridged version
Ian I love your channel and your videos. I highly recommend A Song of Silver Flame Like Night by: Amélie Wen Zhao. Its a beautiful and fun book.
Also, Bravo is on getting through the whale enclypedia, lol
As you may already know, Richard Melville Hall, aka the singer Moby, is a distant relative of Herman Melville. (Or was it the whale, I can't remember).
For me it was the glass bead game by Herman hesse... still haven't finished it
I read Moby Dick as a graphic novel so much shorter !
Allen from the library of allenxandria would be thrilled to talk about it with you 😂
Now you understand how I feel about Ulysses.
Brings back memories of high school. Two words - Cliff Notes.
I think another reason classic writers wander in their writing because there wasn’t book editors back there like now.
Not even close to being the most difficult book ever written. Finnegan's Wake, Ullyses, Infinite Jest & the Malazan fantasy series are some off the top of my head. I would even say some Terri Pratchett books are more of a challenge than Moby Dick. Listening to an audiobook simultaneously helped me get the rhythm of the language. Being familiar with the bible also helps.
I read it thirty years ago, it took me three days. I really enjoyed it. I cannot understand anyone saying that it's a difficult book to read. I'm old and English. We grew up reading Shakespeare etc so the language was no problem. It's a classic based on truth.
What else do you do with books besides read them?
@ listen on audio?
@@kellyshaw7271 Listening on audio is simply reading with your ears, but the story is no longer a book when you listen to it on audio. It becomes a recording or podcast or something of the sort. But I'm sure Moby Dick would be just as difficult on Audio as it is on paper, that is assuming, of course that it is unabridged.
@@joekapp6826 next time I can read with my ears, I will let you know. You listened to an audio book you did not read it. I think you will find that reading involves vision. Also listening does not help you to learn how to correctly spell certain words within the text.
@@kellyshaw7271so you’re saying that audio books are easier to get thru than actual books simply because actual books help you spell words better? Also are you now changing your view and saying that audio books really aren’t books at all? And that they are just called books for aesthetic purposes only?
I was required to read this my senior year (1970-1971) as part of English class.
I haven't read Moby Dick yet, but I have read a sci-fi version of it called The Beast of Cretacea, and that was a great read and I do highly recommend it if you want to read Moby Dick but also don't, haha 🤣
Like seriously, Ishmael has two modes:
Dubious scholar with weird feuds with non-cetaceous fish
Or
Melodramatic average dude
I could not stop laughing. I felt exactly the same when I read it. Brilliant...then chapters of WHY???? W H Y???? 🤣
I felt this way about Iliad and the odyssey 😂
I loved this novel it’s one of my favourites.
I was expecting either James Joyce's Ulysses or Finnegan's Wake😭
I've read this book many times and i genuinely believe to only reason i have is because I am a massive nerd. I loved the info-dumpy sections and I love whales. I also have a dirty mind and was giggling through chapters because of the amount of once normal, now slightly inappropriate words used.
I thought you were going to read Finnegans Wake, but Moby Dick is quite the difficult read too.
That's really funny you picked this book, I literally found it at a thriftstore the other day but decided not to grab it 😂💀
My friend didn’t like this book, probably because it is a difficult book to read. Good job reading the book. I need to read classics. the book didn’t break you both lol
0:44 I read Moby Dick in school because it was forced and I dont remember anything. Lol so Id try it again as an adult
First, I love the book. Second, and I’m sure you’ve been asked this multiple times but why do you wear headphones when you read?
Yeah this is definitely a book I will never read. I’m not really into classics but I’m not really interested in reading about whales lol. But it was very entertaining seeing both of you read it!
Ulysses is my nemesis. I started reading it twice and twice I got stuck on the Same. Freaking. Chapter.
Oh no... I finished this darn book last month. It was an odissey to go through... but it was occasionally funny
Yes, I wasn't expecting humor almost from the getgo!