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Moby Dick  By  cover art

Moby Dick

By: Herman Melville
Narrated by: William Hootkins
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Publisher's summary

"Call me Ishmael." Thus starts the greatest American novel. Melville said himself that he wanted to write "a mighty book about a mighty theme" and so he did. It is a story of one man's obsessive revenge-journey against the white whale, Moby-Dick, who injured him in an earlier meeting. Woven into the story of the last journey of The Pequod is a mesh of philosophy, rumination, religion, history, and a mass of information about whaling through the ages.
Public Domain (P)2005 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.

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What listeners say about Moby Dick

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Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,152
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    2,668
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    400
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    108

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Classic in every respect

Would you consider the audio edition of Moby Dick to be better than the print version?

The reading of this book is a performance! I've began looking up book specifically read by William Hootkins. The store is rambling and fragmented at times, you sense Melville has a destination but is in no hurry to get there. His side bar chapters of sailor stories and whale descriptions were like commercials for products I didn't want to buy. But it was all part of the lush tapestry he was weaving so I didn't mind. Overall I loved it! I'd give it a 10>

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

based and redpilled

a very good book with fantastic narration. A real 10/10 audiobook fit for all with the IQ to understand its magnificence

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

wow...

loved it. a rollercoaster, full of energy and odd asides. narated with wit and skill, a full cast play performed by one. excellent listening to a book that is probably not so accessible when you read it yourself.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Worth the Patience

Herman Melville takes 130+ chapters to tell a story that could have been told in 20 - BUT he does it in a poetic way that makes it worth the patience. Moby Dick is written in a captivating style, albeit wordy. I had read the abridged version to my son years ago, and set out to read the whole book but unfortunately I would always get stuck near the middle where Melville describes at length the different types of whales. The book is still sitting on my shelf with the bookmark in place. Knowing I would never finish reading it, I decided to give the audio version a try. I am happy I did! This audio version was very well done. The narrator changes voices for each character and really brings the story to life. And oh what a story it is! An epic masterpiece! Everyone should read (or listen) to Moby Dick!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

a fantastic book a classic red buy a great actor a



fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic fantastic plastic really amazing reading and listening to this voice was so great

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Classic

Masterfully written and Masterfully told. So much more than just a book. Simply amazing. Enjoyed every minute.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting Storytelling Masterfully Narrated

I have about 2.5 hrs. left but I wanted to make sure to come and express my appreciation for both the rich and beautiful story but also for William Hootkins who brought the story alive with such dramatic, articulate energy seemingly allowing every character to nearly fathom their own existence and are thus reaching out through the brawny sea mist of time.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

well written, not very exciting as I thought

I thought there may be more action, or even interaction with all the characters. felt like most of the book was about redescribing the whale over and over again. overall Melville was quite the author, but I wish there had been more interaction with Moby Dick!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Great performance, slow story.

Hootkins was awesome! I'm hoping he has done other books but I have not looked yet.

I am a person who is very against the idea of an abridged book, but in this case if you just want to hear the well known story of Ahab and the White Whale I would get the abridge. This full story includes so much whale trivia that is takes the fun from that story. Hootkins did his best to save it.

Long drawn out over detailed book.



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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Go for the abridged version

Great read, Melville writes every sentence like poetry and the performance was outstanding, but I’d go for the abridged version and skip all the random info that doesn’t drive the story. I could have done without 45 minutes on the different varieties of whales. Still, if you want to experience the great American novel in all its unabridged glory this version is a great choice.

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