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reading (for the last two months)
Jun. 9th, 2013 07:03 pmWell, I'm not going into the detail on the Asimov's this time around because I simply don't have the time and concentration.
However, I am going to say something about Mister Melville's maritime epic. Stay away, stay far away. Why this book enjoys the popular reputation it does is beyond me. It's a hodgepodge of dry essay and Shakespearean tragedy. The difference is you can get through a Shakespearean tragedy in one long sitting. Now I must say, there were bits of fine humor mixed in. The dark, tongue in cheek, humor still has its bite after all these years. Lovely turns of phrase. But those gems are scattered like a dozen diamonds in the Sahara. If you put a tablespoon of wine in a barrel of sewage, you've still got a barrel of sewage. If this is one of the great American novels, we need to start working on turning out a higher grade.
The book does represent the widespread careless attitude toward the whale quite well. I found some of the descriptions quite disturbing, knowing what ecological damage the quest for oil wrought. A lot like today really.
26. Herman Melville Moby Dick
27. Asimov's July 2013
28. Asimov's August 2013
However, I am going to say something about Mister Melville's maritime epic. Stay away, stay far away. Why this book enjoys the popular reputation it does is beyond me. It's a hodgepodge of dry essay and Shakespearean tragedy. The difference is you can get through a Shakespearean tragedy in one long sitting. Now I must say, there were bits of fine humor mixed in. The dark, tongue in cheek, humor still has its bite after all these years. Lovely turns of phrase. But those gems are scattered like a dozen diamonds in the Sahara. If you put a tablespoon of wine in a barrel of sewage, you've still got a barrel of sewage. If this is one of the great American novels, we need to start working on turning out a higher grade.
The book does represent the widespread careless attitude toward the whale quite well. I found some of the descriptions quite disturbing, knowing what ecological damage the quest for oil wrought. A lot like today really.
26. Herman Melville Moby Dick
27. Asimov's July 2013
28. Asimov's August 2013
