Moby Dick, you may have heard of this book for its very mature title or from the idea of the giant whale- but what I’ve seen rarely is someone reading Moby Dick in 2025. It’s a classic epic published in 1851, a few years after Wuthering Heights (A read I intend to review next year) in 1847. It follows the adventures of Ishmael, a relatively experienced merchant sailor looking for work with his brother (not by blood), Queequeg, aboard the ship of Pequod, led by the infamous Captain Ahab. I would tell you more, but I couldn’t get past it. Wonder why? Well, it’s because of the

STYLE.
This book has the most interesting story one could imagine, with everything I love about classics. It was the first classic that I’ve read on my own! But good gods, it cannot push readers away more than it already does. Throughout the book, there are a few chapters that act as “breaks” from the story. These breaks are not breaks, but rants the author wanted to go on! I can count on one hand how many times the author does this (4. He discusses: Whales, Knots, a hyper-specific religion, and the payment of sailors, before the ship even finds its first whale.
I adored the buildup, and the very adorable relationship between Ishmael and Queequeg was by far my favorite. Ahab is such an interesting character that you can’t ignore him. But every time I tried to push my way through the book, I found myself regretting it just because I didn’t find the breaks interesting.
For example, let us say you’re reading In Cold Blood or perhaps The Way of Kings, and Capote or Sanderson decide they want to discuss the economic situation of Kansas or how a specific animal sounds. That’s how Moby-Dick feels; it’s such an interesting story, but it’s woven between uninteresting points. Now, of course, I am a single man with very simple tastes, but I do think the few reading this article would enjoy the side-tangents.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Honestly, I just need to read more Moby-Dick. This article was made to tell you about the amazing story, but I can’t exactly say that if I haven’t finished the book, can I? Use this article as a herald of warning, only read Moby-Dick if you can struggle through the side talks and knots and those god forsaken whales. Next year, sometime around August, I will hopefully release my full review on this classic because I do want to enjoy the epic of Ishmael and Ahab. Time will only tell, like the White Whale, the Holy Grail.