In high school, my English literature class was assigned Herman Melville‘s Moby Dick. I found it the most boring book I’d ever read, and I ended up skimming large sections. It led to the only time I was ever sassy with my English teacher, whom I tormented in class by insisting that
I recently read Jules Vernes with many expectations but did not like it "that much"; it was "Captain Hatteras", but I have to admit that there is ONE passage which was still exceptionnal^^^
Thank you for your appreciation of Moby Dick; I had a look at the book shop you've linked and I found the editions beautiful. Happy readings!
I must admit I’ve never read Verne. I’ve read a lot of H.G. Wells, though. His books still hold up.
The Chilton editions are really very nice. Very high quality paper and binding. They are paperback sized but with hard covers and a nice solid feel. Barnes & Noble sells them in their brick and mortar stores if you ever want to see one "in person" before buying.
What is funny to me is that I had the exact same experience. I am having trouble remembering the year, but I think it was around 2010 or so. I had "read" (portions and probably the Cliff Notes :) ) Moby Dick in high school and thought I should read it again.
And I had the exact same feelings about the book that you did. Melville was clearly a very smart and interesting guy, and the material in the book reflects this--but that thing ain't a novel. It's barely a story. It's a "text." Post-modern in a way. Some of it is quite intriguing and educational, and some of it is just... there. I agree that's it not really a very good choice for high school English.
I think it's interesting how writers of the past have the validity of their approaches grandfathered in in a way: Melville was a genius, but anyone writing a book like Moby Dick today would either dismissed by academics as incompetent, boring, and pretentious, even were the quality of the writing and the value of certain sections to be recognized, or embraced by same as a post-modern star. Of course, any such book would be completely ignored by the general reading public and never reach a high school classroom.
It’s an awfully challenging book — even more so than Ulysses, which at least has more going on. When Ray Bradbury was hired to write the script for John Huston's movie, he admitted he had a problem with the book: "I just can't read the damn thing!" Huston told him, "Well, read what you can."
I like Melville’s novella "Bartleby the Scrivener" quite a lot. I vaguely remember reading "Billy Budd," but it made little impression on me. I haven’t read any of his early travel novels.
Apparently Melville got fired up about expanding and reworking "Moby Dick" after meeting Nathaniel Hawthorne — another very difficult writer. Maybe if he’d met Mark Twain instead, he would’ve written a satire. It might’ve been more fun to read.
I'm very proud of your dedication to escaping reality. What else can we do really?
I recently read Jules Vernes with many expectations but did not like it "that much"; it was "Captain Hatteras", but I have to admit that there is ONE passage which was still exceptionnal^^^
Thank you for your appreciation of Moby Dick; I had a look at the book shop you've linked and I found the editions beautiful. Happy readings!
I must admit I’ve never read Verne. I’ve read a lot of H.G. Wells, though. His books still hold up.
The Chilton editions are really very nice. Very high quality paper and binding. They are paperback sized but with hard covers and a nice solid feel. Barnes & Noble sells them in their brick and mortar stores if you ever want to see one "in person" before buying.
Interesting post as always, Michael!
What is funny to me is that I had the exact same experience. I am having trouble remembering the year, but I think it was around 2010 or so. I had "read" (portions and probably the Cliff Notes :) ) Moby Dick in high school and thought I should read it again.
And I had the exact same feelings about the book that you did. Melville was clearly a very smart and interesting guy, and the material in the book reflects this--but that thing ain't a novel. It's barely a story. It's a "text." Post-modern in a way. Some of it is quite intriguing and educational, and some of it is just... there. I agree that's it not really a very good choice for high school English.
I think it's interesting how writers of the past have the validity of their approaches grandfathered in in a way: Melville was a genius, but anyone writing a book like Moby Dick today would either dismissed by academics as incompetent, boring, and pretentious, even were the quality of the writing and the value of certain sections to be recognized, or embraced by same as a post-modern star. Of course, any such book would be completely ignored by the general reading public and never reach a high school classroom.
It’s an awfully challenging book — even more so than Ulysses, which at least has more going on. When Ray Bradbury was hired to write the script for John Huston's movie, he admitted he had a problem with the book: "I just can't read the damn thing!" Huston told him, "Well, read what you can."
I like Melville’s novella "Bartleby the Scrivener" quite a lot. I vaguely remember reading "Billy Budd," but it made little impression on me. I haven’t read any of his early travel novels.
Apparently Melville got fired up about expanding and reworking "Moby Dick" after meeting Nathaniel Hawthorne — another very difficult writer. Maybe if he’d met Mark Twain instead, he would’ve written a satire. It might’ve been more fun to read.