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Moby Dick Club: Hot Tips for Reading Moby Dick

Look, reading Moby Dick is not the easiest thing in the world to read. As the captains of Moby Dick Club, we'll be the first to admit it. The point of Moby Dick Club is not to read something easy, but to read something that's challenging. However, you are not alone on this voyage! This page offers resources to help with reading the text. 

  1. Try setting time aside to read Moby Dick. 
    • College is very busy. Life is very busy. It can feel really difficult to try to find time in your day to read for fun. Try setting some time in your day to read some of the novel. Maybe read a couple chapters in the morning before beginning your day or reading before you go to sleep at night. Time management techniques (like the pomodoro method) can help you focus and feel productive. 
  2. Consider setting a timeline for how much you want to read per week, or by specific dates.
    • Moby Dick is a long book! One thing that can help is setting goals for how much you'd like to read before the next meeting. Breaking it into smaller chunks can make it feel like less of a mountain to climb and more of a little baby hill. Ask your captains if you want help with that math. 
  3. If you’re having trouble picking up the rhythm of the language, try listening to one of the audiobook versions. 
    • We're going to say it now -- audiobooks count as reading! If the audiobook works better for you, listen to the audiobook! Some find it easier to listen to the book. We have information about obtaining an audiobook here. You can also read aloud. Your plants would love to hear Moby Dick. You can also listen to the audiobook while reading the physical text. Do what works for you!
  4. Refer to online study guides if you’d like help following the novel’s plot.
    • Moby Dick Club is not a class! You are able to look at study guides while reading the book. You can do this before you read the chapter to get a little preview or after you read the chapter to make sure that you understood everything. We encourage it! You can find more resources here. 
  5. Take notes as you go along. 
    • Taking notes can help you engage with the material rather than going into autopilot. Ask yourself questions from time to time, such as: What were the important things that happened in this chapter? What from what you just read might be important to remember later? and Why do you think Melville included this? You won’t always know the answer, but it is good to think about!
  6. Ask for help! Talk to a friend, another member of the book club, or check in with one of your Captains. (We love to talk about Moby Dick.)
    • You aren't alone on this voyage! Talk about Moby Dick to anyone that you want to. Your Captains would be absolutely thrilled to talk to you about Moby Dick. It would make our day. Please, talk to us.  
  7. Don’t worry about understanding every single thing you read.
    • Embrace not knowing things! Look things up when you're confused about what something means. This book is old. The average American doesn't know that much about whales. Part of the point of reading is learn more things! Google is your friend when going on this journey. 
  8. This is meant to be fun. Have fun.
    • No one here is going to quiz you on Moby Dick. We know that this sometimes feels like a class, but we're not grading you. This is meant to be a silly goofy voyage. Don't take things to seriously. 
  9. Never. Leave. The Boat.
     

Playlist

Want some vibes while reading? Try this playlist. 

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James A. Cannavino Library

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(845) 575-3106

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