13 January 2017

Moby Dick Book Club: Week 11





Meagan

Well I can say I'm grateful for more plot in this section. At one point Ishmael even mentions how he loves to give a history and its like... we know buddy we were there for the first 100 chapters. 

I don't have a ton to say but there were some good quotes like: "For say they when cruising in an empty ship, if you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least" (440)... this is a motto I think we can all get behind.

It was also cool (cool relative to other dumb shit we've learned in this book, not cool relative to things I'd be interested in if I wasn't reading this) to learn about the whale skeleton. A 72 ft. skeleton with 6ft. ribs really puts things in perspective when you're picturing these things in your head. It was also cool (again, relative) to learn about a ship carpenter and a ship blacksmith. You'd never think about needing these but the way the boats were made I suppose its a good idea. They definitely didn't have them on the Titanic.

I really did enjoy chapter 109. Starbuck and Ahab fighting was actually very exciting, especially when Ahab just fully admits he doesn't give af about the oil and is only out to kill Moby Dick. I love when he says "let the owners stand on Nantucket Beach and outyell the typhoons"... sidenote... Meg and I are going to Nantucket this summer on vacation so I can't wait to put all of these little slivers into play... right after we burn our books on this same beach... In the end, I'm actually very surprised Ahab listens and decides to save the oil... I thought he was much more manic than that... did that surprise anyone else???

Here is a picture of Pip holding Queequeg's hand as he nearly dies of what I can only call the oil sweats... also didn't we leave Pip overboard? My brain is foggy...

                                                Meghan

I can't believe how close we are to finishing this piece of garbage. I am actually scared something bad is going to happen to me this close to the end. Like when you hear stories about people who have a stroke a week before they retire ... 

I should say that I skipped chapter 104 .. I'm also reading another book on the side (something I would never normally do, I always commit to just one book). But this horrible experience has changed who I am as a reader and has also somehow made me a shittier person too.

Now on to this week's highlights!

Can't believe Meg didn't already suggest this but guys, lets get whale bone dimensions tattooed to our arms. It will bond our book club for life.

I found chapter 105 to be kind of funny? For the record, the sperm whale population was like halved by whalers ... they dwindled their population down to nothing. But I love when they talk about a biblical flood and the whale surviving: "In Noah's flood he despised Noah's Ark; and if ever the world is to be again flooded, like the Netherlands, to kill of its rats, then the eternal whale will still survive, and rearing upon the topmost crest of the equatorial flood, spout his frothed defiance to the skies." 

I was dying at Ismael ordering his own coffin. That is exactly how I act whenever I feel even slightly sick. I'm convinced I will never feel better again. 

Not much for quotations in this section ... The only one I really liked was the one above.

That's all I can muster ... so close to the end and a new book club! Wooooooo

4 comments:

  1. Ok so when I went to post last Friday, I realized I had accidentally deleted my notes from my phone and was so frustrated I abandoned ship. hehe - see what I did there.
    Anyways, Meagan I also found it 'cool' to learn more about the carpenter and blacksmith. My favorite part of that section was when Ahab was talking to the carpenter having him fix his stub, and he asks him if he can bring back his real leg. The carpenter recalls how Stubb often calls Ahab queer, and he now can more honestly understand why.

    And Meghan – I have been reading other books too. I think you guys should do a blog post about the books we all had to read on the side to keep our spirits up while reading this monstrosity. I have a long list! I could do a guest post for you if you'd like I think I've got about 7 haha.

    And I’m up for the tattoo!!!

    PS can I come to Nantucket?

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    1. Okay Becca YES you can come to Nantucket and also we'd effing love a guest post. If you seriously wanna do it then let us know and we can arrange. No pressure we don't take this too seriously.

      Shall we get the happy ever crafter to draw us up a tat?

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    2. hahah I am on my second book since reading Moby Dick .. The Vegetarian thanks to that link you sent me us.This is something I would NEVER normally do..

      Also yeah a guest post would be so so awesome :)

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