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| Cover of the audio book version I am listening to. |
I am currently listening to the unabridged version of Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. As you can see from the picture above, it's 19 discs long. As each disc is over an hour (but broken into audio chapters), the total listening time is nearly 25 hours! I am currently about half way through (i.e., at disc #10).
I have never read the book. The library listing says it is for 6th grade and up. However, I'm inclined to say it is more towards the "up" category. The writing is very lyrical and sophisticated with frequent allusions and references to the classic and various cultural minutia that most kids, let alone adults, will be clueless about.
The reader of this version, William Hootkins, does an excellent job. It is so good, that sometimes, I am content to merely listen to the sound of his performance rather than paying attention to trying to understand the meaning of the words. It's almost musical.
In a review for the School Library Journal, Anita Lawson of Otsego High School (Michigan) says:
Herman Melville's classic about one man's obsession with the white whale is filled with philosophy, marine biology, history, adventure, and even humor. William Hootkins' voice is superb for the telling of this great sea story, maintaining the attention of listeners even through some of the less adventurous parts. His intonations convey Ishmael's and Captain Ahab's thoughts in a way that helps listeners understand them and their times. Ishmael becomes an actual person and the Captain's madness is real. The individual personalities of each crew member is apparent. Through Hootkins' telling, the history of whaling becomes intriguing. Students who would normally shy away from this classic will find this format enjoyable. Listeners will gain a new appreciation for and understanding of the novel and Melville's times
Why I am listening to this? Because I heard an interview on the radio recently that referenced a short story by Melville. My curiosity triggered me to find out more about Herman Melville. I discovered he spent a lot of his life in New York. His former home in Pittsfield, MA is now a museum. I think this will be a Saturday trip sometime later this year (when it is warmer).
Herman Melville's classic about one man's obsession with the white whale is filled with philosophy, marine biology, history, adventure, and even humor. William Hootkins' voice is superb for the telling of this great sea story, maintaining the attention of listeners even through some of the less adventurous parts. His intonations convey Ishmael's and Captain Ahab's thoughts in a way that helps listeners understand them and their times. Ishmael becomes an actual person and the Captain's madness is real. The individual personalities of each crew member is apparent. Through Hootkins' telling, the history of whaling becomes intriguing. Students who would normally shy away from this classic will find this format enjoyable. Listeners will gain a new appreciation for and understanding of the novel and Melville's times
Why I am listening to this? Because I heard an interview on the radio recently that referenced a short story by Melville. My curiosity triggered me to find out more about Herman Melville. I discovered he spent a lot of his life in New York. His former home in Pittsfield, MA is now a museum. I think this will be a Saturday trip sometime later this year (when it is warmer).
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Melville
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hootkins
http://www.mobydick.org/
http://www.mobydick.org/
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