The Whale or Moby Dick

For the first time in my life I am reading the book Moby Dick by Herman Melville, or also titled The While Whale.

For some people around me, it seems to astonish them that I have never read this tome. But upon my asking in return if they have read it, most answer "No" or "not completely", and sometimes "not yet" like that is really an answer to the question.

Well, regardless, I am now moving through the book. I am not speeding through, as would have been the way if I had read it in my former years (read as much as possible, read as fast as possible, never mind that you will remember little of what you have read, I digress). So I have decided to read this book over the course of the upcoming year, which is about a chapter every three days, which is quite doable if i don't accidentally lose the book for going so slowly.

My kids are saying that I am actually "studying" Moby Dick, which I would not disagree with; for I am reading with a pencil in my hand, looking up words which I do not know, or need a refresher course on; and generally researching what certain phrases might mean, like my current favorite "... in a red silk wrap" which lead me on a delirious chase through the interwebs (word coined near here) which I totally and dearly loved. The chase dragged me through some religious wars, social upheavals and then landed in China during a rebellion.

Reading this book slowly is giving me, I hope, a chance to do the first reading of my life in a reasonable and thoughtful way. The bizarre synchronicity which I am noticing is that as locations, feelings, or topics arise in the book, so they are coming about in my life.

And one most easily notable quinky-dinks is the increased appearance of "whales" around me. At first I was choosing not to post the photos that I took early on, but as even more appear and it does not seem that it will cease, I have resolved to further involve the different parts of my life and post them here if I can chance a shot (I know lucky yous).

So today, I am posting this lovely granite fellow carved by Craig Gray (who I know nothing about), from Hiram, Maine. This piece was titled simply 'Grey Granite Sperm Whale' (2009).

To help track my voyage through Moby Dick (and because I want to learn how to keep a blog) I started Moby Dick in 365 Days at Blogger.com -- drop by if you dare.