Best Present I Gave Myself

[Meh_Gerbil]

Last November I signed up for Easton Press' 100 Top Books club where they send you a beautiful leather bound classic once a month for EIGHT YEARS. The books include everything from Ben Franklin's Autobiography to poetry to Origin of the Species. (Sort of a sampler for other things they sell, IMHO)

http://www.eastonpress.com

It is a bit on the expensive side ($45.00 per book) but so far it has been worth it. My wife and I are reading them together and each month I about kill myself ripping open the next box to see what book they sent.

Now if you cannot afford that price, feel free to jump over to Amazon.com where you can get paper versions of all these books CHEAP, or be really frugal and use your public library.

I'll admit that Moby Dick was a huge chore (although the sermon on Jonah was excellent) to read but I'm enjoying getting such a diverse sampling of really great literature. I've always wanted to do something like this (admiring Easton Press ads since the 70's). The great part is that my wife and I read them together so its been a fun marriage builder.

Anyways, I give it a huge paw up!

[Ishmael]

Moby Dick is no chore you bad talker and heretic of literature!!! (j/k)

Thanks for the link. I think I am going to sign up.

[Ishmael]

Actually I read your post again and got mad again!

[Meh_Gerbil]

Oh dear.

My first debate on TheologyWeb.com

Here is my BIG gripe with Melville:

Instead of using the characters to bring out important thematic elements like the "Whiteness of the Whale" he uses Ishmael in a narrative tone to go on and on for 5 chapters in a textbook like fashion about the topic. A discussion amoug the sailors about the appauling whiteness of the whale, for example, would have given Melville a chance to develop the characters a bit more.

I feel as if Melville had a dozen dark things he wanted to say so he uses boring textbook like descriptions to build up to a climax, pulls out the characters long enough to deliver a speech, and then quickly tucks them away again for another 50 pages of textbook like reading.

By the end of the book my drooping head and saliva leeking mouth had stained a pillow cover beyond redemption thanks to being bored into a coma nearly every time I opened the book. By the time the ship actually disappeared beneath the waves I was actually thankful they were all dead.

Now if it was Melville's goal to add to the hopelessness of the story by causing me as the reader to participate via apathy to the fate of these men then I'll gladly eat my words, with whatever remaining saliva I can salvage, and proclaim the man a genious.

Are we still friends?

[Ishmael]

Ishmael is the observer and the only survivor. This is the point. Ishmael is not affect by any of the character on the ship. He only makes his tale which included his vast knowledge of whales and whaling. You do need to read the book again...

I suppose we can be friends but I will be watching you...

[Meh_Gerbil]

Well I'm glad to hear it.
I'm glad I read the book.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Mad Gerbil we also have a Hamster here. Have you met?

[Meh_Gerbil]

I'm afraid I loathe Hamsters.
Except if he happens to be Abrahamster, a fine rodent I met quite awhile ago.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Oh my goodness!@@@@@@@@

You would love this Hamster, he is way cool. He used to be a Moderator here but doesn't love us anymore

:hamspin:

[Meh_Gerbil]

This makes me wonder what kind of 'rodent intollerant' environment ya'll are running around here. I've noticed you've no rodent smiley faces.

Hmmm....



..... but bananas are well represented.

[Dee Dee Warren]

well this

:hamspin:

is my rodent custom smilie

but I think you should start a campaign to have some more

I think this is rodent-phobia for sure

[Solly]

rats, there goes the neighbourhood