i wonder what ihrm thought of him

my opinion is that, despite everything, he manages to stay underrated.

here's a quote from william gaddis that references the all-timer:

So taken together there's a certain satisfaction in having done it backwards; having done, perhaps like Melville, the monumental work first (though I too prefer J R), & looking at the present work with a somewhat jaundiced eye, one more 'raid on the inarticulate'...

bartlebys of the world, unite!

is the spirit of this thread contra ted lasso?

that's really not for me to say.

is that ambergris

1. Moby-Dick
2. Bartleby
3. Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!
4. Billy Budd
5. The Confidence Man
6. Benito Cereno
7. Pierre
8. The Encantadas, or Enchanted Isles
9. Typee
10. Redburn

omg

I'll be waiting for your list.

f*ck that, nerd

I don't think I've ever read any Melville.

You're in luck! I made a list!

City of Fire is an epic. And I've got Doctor Zhivago on deck for later this winter. So, what's the shortest Melville that you'd recommend to a newbie?

Bartleby and Billy Budd. But, also, Moby-Dick.

i'm pretty sure i read billy budd as a youth, but i remember nothing about it...i should probably finally give moby dick a go, if only i still read

There's a Norton Critical Edition of M-D for the Kindle, so methinks that's being added to my list soon. It's been too long.

we could read it aloud to each other over the phone

We missed this year's marathon, but maybe next year: https://www.whalingmuseum.org/program/2 ... -marathon/