In the Bookcase

9/27/2018

Book Review: Moby Dick

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (3 star review)


Moby-Dick or, The Whale

written by Herman Melville

720 pages // published in 1851 // classic fiction




BOOK DESCRIPTION

"It is the horrible texture of a fabric that should be woven of ships' cables and hawsers. A Polar wind blows through it, and birds of prey hover over it."

So Melville wrote of his masterpiece, one of the greatest works of imagination in literary history. In part, Moby-Dick is the story of an eerily compelling madman pursuing an unholy war against a creature as vast and dangerous and unknowable as the sea itself. But more than just a novel of adventure, more than an encyclopaedia of whaling lore and legend, the book can be seen as part of its author's lifelong meditation on America. Written with wonderfully redemptive humour, Moby-Dick is also a profound inquiry into character, faith, and the nature of perception.




My Review


3 Star Rating


If you're wanting to fall into an epic sea-faring adventure – this could have been it, but not quite.

If you're wanting a story about a man's need to exact revenge on an animal that stole his leg (and that animal has no intention of returning it, obviously) – well, yes, this might be it.

If you're also wanting to learn a whole lot about the history of whales, the anatomy of whales, how to run a whaling ship, and myriad other textbook facts about whales – well, this also might be it.

Just read this paragraph from chapter 104:

“One often hears of writers that rise and swell with their subject, though it may seem but an ordinary one. How, then, with me, writing of this Leviathan? Unconsciously my chirography expands into placard capitals. Give me a condor’s quill! Give me Vesuvius’ crater for an inkstand! Friends, hold my arms! For in the mere act of penning my thoughts of this Leviathan, they weary me, and make me faint with their outreaching comprehensiveness of sweep, as if to include the whole circle of the sciences, and all the generations of whales, and men, and mastodons, past, present, and to come, with all the revolving panoramas of empire on earth, and throughout the whole universe, not excluding its suburbs. Such, and so magnifying, is the virtue of a large and liberal theme! We expand to its bulk. To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be who have tried it.”

I'll say this: Reading Moby Dick is like reading a fiction book and a non-fiction book at the same time; the chapters go back and forth between a swashbuckling adventure and facts about whales. I'm not a fan of the “essays”, although I guess all those essays contribute to the overall aura of the making of the essential book on whales. The story though is interesting enough, and there's bits of comedy rolled in there, which is a truly refreshing drink of water... in a vast sea of words. :)

When I think about the story itself, I see the topic of obsession, with Captain Ahab and his monomania. He was certainly crazed to be going after that whale, while nothing else mattered to him in the world. He just happened to have a whole crew of men that would aid him in this mania.

Characters. Definitely there are some memorable characters in this novel, such as Ishmael, Captain Ahab, Starbuck, Queequeg, and others.

I think there is a lot of historical context that sometimes the modern reader is missing. After I (finally) finished, I felt like although I read the words on each page, I still missed something in the symbolism, or in the gray areas that I just wasn't sure what it meant. I dived right into Nathaniel Philbrick's 'Why Read Moby-Dick?' next, to help me. (Personally, I recommend reading that particular book after finishing the classic itself, and not before... just so that you don't learn all about the outline of the plot of Moby Dick.) Anyways, I then learned more about Herman Melville himself, and some bits about why certain elements are brought up in the book.

“There is, one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea....”

One BIG element in the book, that just wouldn't stop popping up... Herman Melville's vocabulary. It's like he used a dictionary to construct his sentences. How did he ever learn so many weird, rare words, and remember to use them all in this one (albeit long) novel? It's amazing how many dozens (hundreds?) of words are in this book that I have no clue what they meant (I tried to keep a dictionary handy for most of my reading). For the first few chapters, I felt that I must be reading something akin to Shakespeare (i.e., something that although is written in the English language, you still need to translate it). I fell into the flow better as I kept reading... but still.

Note to the discerning reader: There is some mild swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain.

There's a handful of scenes that bring out the nasty side of the whaling business. Once or twice it was getting a bit gory, but... oh well.

As of yet, I'm on the fence as to whether of not I wish to read more by Melville, or not.


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This is book #9 for me in the Back to the Classics 2018 challenge.
[CATEGORY: Classic That Scares You]

...Yep, the thickness of the spine scared me, plus knowing it might be a deep story to take in. Whew!





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9/26/2018

#FREE Audio Book: The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

If you enjoy listening to audio books, do check out this limited time FREEBIE from Tantor Media!



Audio Book: The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper



The Last of the Mohicans

Author James Fenimore Cooper

Narrated by William Costello

Running time 15 hrs



A story of survival and treachery, love and deliverance, James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans follows an adroit scout named Hawkeye and his companion Chingachgook, who weave through the spectacular and dangerous wilderness of upstate New York during the French and Indian wars, fighting to save the beautiful Munro sisters from the Huron renegade Magua.

Download (free for a limited time) at tantor.com


Book Review: Fallen Leaves

Fallen Leaves by Tessa Emily Hall (4 star review)


Fallen Leaves

written by Tessa Emily Hall

380 pages // published in 2018 // Christian YA



BOOK DESCRIPTION

Selena Taylor thought her only worry this fall was starting her junior year at a new arts school in North Carolina, miles away from home. But when she finds out her mom could graduate from rehab sooner than expected—even worse, she could work for her former nothing-but-trouble boss—Selena's determined to create a new life for them. Back in her childhood Kentucky hometown.

Step one? Track down her dad and brother that she hasn't seen in eight years. Her anxiety is put to the test, though, when she unveils a truth that could threaten her dreams. Add to that an art competition that pushes her outside of her comfort zone and a girl who seems determined to come between Selena and her hopeful boyfriend.

Soon Selena must decide whether or not to continue her search for her dad and brother. But is there any hope that the ruins of her broken family could be resurrected? And how could God possibly have a purpose in the midst of these changing seasons?




My Review


4 Star Rating


What I love? It's a solid story, that upholds excellent Christian values. I have been super excited to catch the sequel to Purple Moon... and now Fallen Leaves is here!

The reader can take in a sweeping story about the healing power of art... overcoming temptations... brokenness transformed... achieving goals... finding truth... trusting in Jesus Christ and His timing... and navigating the messes of life with grace...

“God wouldn't have brought you all this way and then leave you to fend for yourself. Whatever the outcome, He's with you.”

The story touches a lot of topics which makes it feel quite cozy and relatable (like the coffeehouse hangout, certain songs and artists mentioned, TV shows, and other elements too). It feels modern, trendy, and identifiable to today's teen readers.

Plus, the characters... they fly off the page with color. They have realistic lives and problems. Even the backstories on them are so detailed and true to life. I ecstatic to meet up with Selena in this sequel, and some of other amazing people in this book... it's definitely worth it to read these two books! (Plus, did you know there's a little short story featuring Selena too?)

“God will never fail us. And when things don't go according to our plans, it's not because He's forgotten about us it's because He is a far better Author than we could ever be.”

Cons? (No spoiler here...) but... a certain plot twist left me hoping for a better conclusion – the facts just didn't arrange themselves neatly and logically in the plot, like I wanted. (This particular thing wasn't explained well enough, nor the character's motives behind their action, leaving me disgruntled.)

Note to the discerning reader & parents: There are some mature topics mentioned in the story. Such as divorce, family problems, cheating, pregnancy, jealousy, lying, smoking, anxiety... issues that many teens face either in themselves or in their families. It gives the reader a glimpse of the real world, but with tact. Had this story not been a Christian book, I wouldn't have felt safe to dive right into a story with those elements in it. Fallen Leaves though covered those topics gracefully.

Perfect for teens and young adults (but let's not limit the age group – any adults could enjoy it too).

Tessa Emily Hall's books remind me of Nicole O'Dell's series called Diamond Estates; there are some similarities, for sure. (So if you're a fan of one author, you might try the other.)


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