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athelindEveryone's heard of Herman Melville's classic, Moby Dick. Some have actually seen one cinematic adaptation or another.
Damned few people have actually read the book. I myself have only gotten about a third of the way into it -- not because the book itself is the tedious experience that so many much-ballyhooed "classics" seem to be, but because of an ill-timed move and a misplaced copy.
However, the opening passage immediately resonated with me. A lot of people can quote that oft-repeated first line -- but it's what comes after that speaks to me.
Call me Ishmael. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.
Today is an Ishmael day.
Watch your hat. I have no ship on which to sail.
Damned few people have actually read the book. I myself have only gotten about a third of the way into it -- not because the book itself is the tedious experience that so many much-ballyhooed "classics" seem to be, but because of an ill-timed move and a misplaced copy.
However, the opening passage immediately resonated with me. A lot of people can quote that oft-repeated first line -- but it's what comes after that speaks to me.
Call me Ishmael. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.
Today is an Ishmael day.
Watch your hat. I have no ship on which to sail.
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Date: 2004-04-20 12:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-20 04:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-20 02:16 pm (UTC)I'm with Pyat. Roadtripping would be kinda equivalent.
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Date: 2004-04-20 06:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-20 02:41 pm (UTC)"On any other day, Mr. Morden, perhaps. But today is a very special day."
I hear you - I'm having a Very Special Day mysef.
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Date: 2004-04-20 10:38 pm (UTC)It is easy to pick out the person who has actually read the book...they are the ones who are quite emphatic that it is not a suitable book for children.
Oh, and it definitely isn't. *grin*