I've started a few days ago and there's still a good third to go but I can already say that this book's certainly a bit different than anticipated. Originally, I thought I was in for a very self-serious, highbrow novel and, well, it is in parts, however, there are stretches which are quite lighthearted and freaking hilarious.
Like Ishmael's cetology essay which basically starts with something along the lines of "Hell nah, them sCiEnTiStS are full of shit. Behold, you pesky buffoons: My mother is a Whales are fish!". Or the scene with Ismael and Queequeg in bed, Stubb's culinary debate with the ship's cook and of course this wonderful section:
[…] and every one knows that some young bucks among the epicures, by continually dining upon calves’ brains, by and by get to have a little brains of their own, so as to be able to tell a calf’s head from their own heads; which, indeed, requires uncommon discrimination. And that is the reason why a young buck with an intelligent looking calf’s head before him, is somehow one of the saddest sights you can see. The head looks a sort of reproachfully at him, with an “Et tu Brute!” expression.
5/7 novel so far, would recommend.
by Wehrsteiner
3 Comments
Dickens is like that too. Nobody ever tells you how funny some of these classic authors were.
It’s one of the funniest things i’ve ever read, and i’m absolutely baffled at how little that’s discussed. It’s creepy and dark and hilarious. They have a wedding pageant on the deck where the groom wears a whale penis! What?? It’s delightfully mad, and we’ve let down so many readers by painting it as dour and hard.
Melville desperately needed an editor and never had one, sadly.