As I mentioned on the blog, I've had to put Moby Dick aside for some work reading, though I am taking it to Cape Cod with me on vacation next week. Here's one my favorite lines so far:

"Let America add Mexico to Texas, and pile Cuba upon Canada; let the English overswarm all India, and hang out their blazing banner from the sun; two thirds of this terraqueous globe are the Nantucketer's. For the sea is his; he owns it, as Emperors own empires; other seamen having but a right of way through it."

Michael, I'm not reading Moby Dick right now, but your quote above made me think you might enjoy this little clip someone sent me today...

Amazing! This man built his own island using local sand and ingenuity...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvn9l1pJ3...

thanks so much Susanne! I just put this on my Facebook page!

but michael, tell the truth: there's an incredible line on pretty much every page, right? my copy is almost more annotation than blank lines...

my copy isn't *that* annotated, but yes, I did have several favorites to choose from!!

This is one of those books that was forced on me in high school. I only had to read part of it but it was still. so. long. I also didn't like "The Scarlett Letter" so maybe my problem is anti-transcendentalists. I sometimes wonder if I should try to re-read Hawthorne at least but I can't get up the gumption to do it.

So you're reading Moby Dick on the beach is taking the challenge literally, yes?

Yes, I'm a very literal person, but really should have brought Beowulf with me!