I simply must recommend" Moby Dick Big Read," an astonishingly ambitious (and incredibly successful effort) by artist Angela Cockayne and writer Philip Hoare in conjunction with Plymouth University to post a daily audio chapter of Herman Melville's classic Moby Dick -- read by different celebrities from film, stage, politics, authors, -- really just a huge line up of interesting folks who signed on to the projects. The opening chapter "Loomings" with its electrifying opening line, "Call me Ishmael," is read by the no less electrifying Tilda Swinton. This entire project is basically 135 chapters in 135 days.
I can't tell you how good, good, good it is! I read Moby Dick in high school and loved it -- even the seemingly out of place chapters on whaling-- which my more mature ears as I listen to the daily readings now understands as deeply connected to the entire narrative. The text comes alive with each daily reading and I have become addicted to listening to it -- wondering each day who is next to read -- and it fascinating too how Cokayne and Hoare seemed to have found the right person, the right voice to read each chapter.
Go here to read more about the Moby Dick, The Big Project . Go here to start listening, and do yourself a favor -- load it onto your smart phone and listen while driving, plug in to your laptop at the coffee shop in the morning, or last thing before falling asleep (think of the salt-washed dreams!) and enjoy one of the most under-read yet richly deserving of classics. And of course there is a facebook where you can post comments and gather more up to date information.
Art: Clara Drummond -- another wonderful part of this project is the addition of art for each chapter.
