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

“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.”

“I try all things; I achieve what I can.” Standout line in the middle of Ishmael doing whale phrenology

Worst part of whaling book certainly the whaling