Moby Dick is an incredible book. The whale obviously drives the plot but there's so much more going on. Melville deals a lot in contrast/paradox and I guess the book as a whole is like that in that a lot of it is abstract and philosophical but then the whale hunting scenes are very physical and action-packed.
This is one of my favorite passages: "Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure. Consider also the devilish brilliance and beauty of many of its most remorseless tribes, as the dainty embellished shape of many species of sharks. Consider, once more, the universal cannibalism of the sea; all whose creatures prey upon each other, carrying on eternal war since the world began. Consider all this; and then turn to the green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself?"
And this as well: "To enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself."
Lots of humor too. "I’d strike the sun if it insulted me."!
Thank you! And great question! I loved books as a kid, I'd say it was an escape. I grew up in a small town that I found very boring and wasn't good at sports and we didn't have the internet back in them good ole' days. Lol. (Later we did get a family computer with a dial-up modem, but let's just say the options were very limited).
I also saw reading as an entryway into the forbidden. I remember being at the bookstore when I was 9 or so, leafing through a paperback romance (of course I skipped straight to the sex scenes), nervously glancing over my shoulder the whole time. I loved horror too. My mom once flipped through one of my Fear Street books and decided I shouldn't be reading them. She wanted me to read Goosebumps instead but that was no fun because nobody got murdered. By the time I was in fifth grade, I was reading Stephen King.
Aside from that, I suppose I wanted to see pieces of myself. Like I was a weird kid and felt that I couldn't connect with anyone, but then I would see traces of me in characters and I'd feel a little less alone.
What an amazing testimony to the power of books! I see some of myself in your story, with reading being an escape and a way to live in alternate expressions of myself when options were limited. I think the power of stories is exactly what you mentioned: seeing pieces of yourself be validated and loved in other characters and worlds when they feel weird and out of place here. Stories that matter are the ones that make us feel less alone in our humanity. ❤️
That amazing!! 🤩 Hey, if you are looking for professional editing services or author support, we would love to help you out! Check out our “Work with Us” page on our Substack. :)
Moby Dick is an incredible book. The whale obviously drives the plot but there's so much more going on. Melville deals a lot in contrast/paradox and I guess the book as a whole is like that in that a lot of it is abstract and philosophical but then the whale hunting scenes are very physical and action-packed.
This is one of my favorite passages: "Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure. Consider also the devilish brilliance and beauty of many of its most remorseless tribes, as the dainty embellished shape of many species of sharks. Consider, once more, the universal cannibalism of the sea; all whose creatures prey upon each other, carrying on eternal war since the world began. Consider all this; and then turn to the green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself?"
And this as well: "To enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself."
Lots of humor too. "I’d strike the sun if it insulted me."!
You are so right! Love these quotes, thank you so much for reading and sharing!
Tell us more about your experience with stories! How did you learn to appreciate them and what medium do you most like to experience them through?
Thank you! And great question! I loved books as a kid, I'd say it was an escape. I grew up in a small town that I found very boring and wasn't good at sports and we didn't have the internet back in them good ole' days. Lol. (Later we did get a family computer with a dial-up modem, but let's just say the options were very limited).
I also saw reading as an entryway into the forbidden. I remember being at the bookstore when I was 9 or so, leafing through a paperback romance (of course I skipped straight to the sex scenes), nervously glancing over my shoulder the whole time. I loved horror too. My mom once flipped through one of my Fear Street books and decided I shouldn't be reading them. She wanted me to read Goosebumps instead but that was no fun because nobody got murdered. By the time I was in fifth grade, I was reading Stephen King.
Aside from that, I suppose I wanted to see pieces of myself. Like I was a weird kid and felt that I couldn't connect with anyone, but then I would see traces of me in characters and I'd feel a little less alone.
What an amazing testimony to the power of books! I see some of myself in your story, with reading being an escape and a way to live in alternate expressions of myself when options were limited. I think the power of stories is exactly what you mentioned: seeing pieces of yourself be validated and loved in other characters and worlds when they feel weird and out of place here. Stories that matter are the ones that make us feel less alone in our humanity. ❤️
Do you write any of your own stories now?
Thank you so much! Yes, I just published some short stories. I'm also preparing to launch my first novel -- currently in the editing phase :)
That amazing!! 🤩 Hey, if you are looking for professional editing services or author support, we would love to help you out! Check out our “Work with Us” page on our Substack. :)
Thank you! I'm currently working with an editor, but if I ever need support in the future, I will certainly let you know :)