Regardless of Oscars, I've been plodding away on Moby Dick, although I still haven't even decided whether it makes me feel that "I like it" jibe I normally require to get past 50 pages. So far, "I like it" at times.

But I find myself continuing to read it because 1) I'm curious why so many people love it, 2) I'm curious about Ahab, 3) I like all the names, 4) I find it funny at times [not funny as in laughable, but funny as in Melville had a pretty tweakish sense of humor], 5) I've been told by fishermen that it 'fails' in certain regards to 'truly' represent life at sea, and I want to know what this means, and 6) I get excited by the Jonah references [the thought of being swallowed by a leviathan has long given me special mystical shivers].

In the meantime, this is my favorite quote:

Hell is an idea first born on an undigested apple-dumpling. (Ch 17)

I also like (in addition to the first paragraph, which is a mighty fine beginning, if I do say so):

"...But flukes! man, what makes thee want to go a whaling, eh? - it looks a little suspicious, don't it, eh? - Hast not been a pirate, hast thou? - Didst not rob thy last Captain, didst thou? - Dost not think of murdering the officers when thou gettest to sea?"
(Ch 16, Peleg speaking)

For all men tragically great are made so through a certain morbidness. Be sure of this, O young ambition, all mortal greatness is but disease. (Ch 16)

Yep, yep, onwards I go... and I'm looking forward with pleasure to the description of the boats and sailing.