Comments for Old English Rose Reads

Comment on January Summary by oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:48:49 +0000

It’s strange because I keep trying to excuse things in the book as being ‘of it’s time’ when I know that it really wasn’t. I’m sort of opposite to you in that I find the thought of all those Victorians being left as cold by the book as I currently am strangely comforting as I continue to wade through it. Melville’s style is so unique and hence, I guess, so alienating to so many readers, that he was always going to have niche appeal.

Comment on Moby Dick Part 2 by oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:45:35 +0000

I’m starting to worry about that myself! I’m glad to have introduced you to some new music.

Comment on Moby Dick Part 2 by oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:44:37 +0000

Good to see it’s not just me struggling through (I’m still here almost a month after I’m supposed to have finished it!). I agree that it’s a hugely ambitious undertaking, but the conflicting aims aren’t really working for me.

Comment on Moby Dick Part 2 by oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:42:54 +0000

You’re very welcome. Unfortunately the humour seems to be being spread more thinly since leaving land, but it’s worth it when it pops up.

Comment on January Summary by Shelley

Shelley — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:36:26 +0000

Bravo to you for braving Moby Dick! As a writer, my heart breaks to remember how Melville went to his grave thinking he was a failure. To me, for us to read the book now somehow assuages his pain.

Comment on Moby Dick Part 2 by Shelley

Shelley — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:48:11 +0000

It’s so interesting what a powerful force Ahab is even though he’s not actually present in many scenes. Good point about the inner monologue. Melville doesn’t seem all that concerned about following any rules, or staying focused for that matter. He’s overly concerned about us believing the “big event” when it happens that I fear we’ll never get to it!
I loved the music, especially the guys voice in the first one. I’ll have to investigate!

Comment on Moby Dick Part One by Shelley

Shelley — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:39:26 +0000

It’s such a famous book, but I knew very little about it as well. I just recently read Robinson Crusoe, so I appreciate your comparisons. That was also a book that I was surprised by. I love the humor! That’s my favorite thing about the book so far. It’s good to know you won’t be throwing in the towel. Great thoughts!

Comment on Moby Dick Part 2 by Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:52:24 +0000

I have struggled with the first half of the book as well for many of the reasons you mentioned. I think that Melville struggled with his desire to entertain and tell a story and his desire to educate people. It also seemed like he was incredibly ambitious in what he wanted to do with the novel and in taking on so many different formats and points-of-view, some of them inevitably failed. The writing has been a redeeming point for me. When I’m frustrated with the overwhelming minutia I often come across a paragraph so beautifully written it takes my breath away.

Comment on Moby Dick Part 2 by Ingrid

Ingrid — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:06:12 +0000

Oh wow, thanks for including those songs! I loved listening to them.

I’m struggling through a lot of these chapters, too, but Melville’s sense of humor popping up every now and then helps me along. I loved that description of the huzza purpose as well.

Comment on Eliminating the Review Guilt by oldenglishrose

oldenglishrose — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:37:59 +0000

It’s the unexpected downside of reading books so fast last year! I’d prefer to have things in reading order, but it’s getting a bit silly. I can barely remember some of the books I read back then.