this_eel’s Reviews > Moby-Dick or, The Whale > Status Update

Rarely have I screeched and screamed SHOOT HIM SHOOT HIM so profoundly

Things aren’t looking good folks

Chapter 108 ahab and the carpenter is one of the greatest pieces of writing in the English language. BY HEAVENS! I’LL GET A CRUCIBLE, AND INTO IT, AND DISSOLVE MYSELF DOWN TO ONE SMALL, COMPENDIOUS VERTEBRA. SO.

“And here be it said, that whenever it has been convenient to consult [a dictionary] in the course of these dissertations, I have invariably used a huge quarto edition of Johnson’s, expressly purchased for that purpose; because that famous lexicographer’s uncommon personal bulk more than fitted him to compile a lexicon to be used by a whale author like me.”

“Book! you lie there; the fact is, you books must know your places. You’ll do to give us the bare words and facts, but we come to supply the thoughts.”

I wish you did not tell me about what ambergris is

“The more I consider this mighty tail, the more do I deplore my inability to express it.” If you think Herman loves whale tails you should see the part of this chapter where he talks about men’s chests

Okay I have to add a second line from this chapter eg “But how? Genius in the sperm-whale? Has the sperm-whale ever written a book, spoken a speech? No, his great genius is declared in his doing nothing particular to prove it.”

Worst part of whaling book certainly the whaling