Melville Aficionado Erica Gees, (background right) reads from Chapter 54 during the 23rd annual Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at about 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, 1/5/19, while Melville Society Member Michael Gadzacko waits for his turn and Whaling Museum personnel monitor the proceedings (foreground). Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
There’s nothing like settling into a comfy spot for a long period of reading a good book. And books do not get much better than Moby-Dick.
So hundreds of people settled in to listen as close to 170 people took turns reading portions of the favorite American classic about the quest of a whaleboat that set sale from New Bedford Harbor (on the Fairhaven side, I might add…ahem)*.
Patricia Andrade makes herself comfortable as she follows along at the Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at about 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, 1/5/19. Photo by Beth David.
The 23rd annual marathon reading of one of America’s most beloved classics took place at the New Bedford Whaling Museum this weekend, with one portion held at the famed Seamen’s Bethel. And Culture*Park performers acted out Chapter 40 in the Whaling Museum theater on Saturday night.
Famous readers and regular folk, Melville Aficionados, veteran readers, and newbies, 168 according to the list, read for a few minutes each. The reading started at noon on Saturday with Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, Co-Hosts of Boston Public Radio jostling to be the one to say the famous first line: “Call me Ishmael.”
Jim won that tussle.
Late into Saturday night, as the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight, there were still about 50 people following along.
Patricia Andrade grabbed one of the few soft chairs, put her feet up, her head on a pillow and a warm wrap around her neck to follow along.
She said she goes every year for at least part of the time. This was the first year she was trying to stay through the whole thing, including through the night. She said she has done the beginning, the middle, and the end.
“I never did the whole thing,” she said.
She has also read before, but not this year, unless they need her to.
Logan Rockefeller knits as she follows along during the Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, 1/5/19. Photo by Beth David.
Logan Rockefeller lives in California now, but grew up in Arlington, Mass. She said she comes back for the holidays and extends her stay a bit to catch the marathon.
“I really love it,” said Ms. Rockefeller, adding that she read it with her book club a few years ago with a very dear friend. “So it’s very dear to me.”
She admits that she usually manages to sleep, but “not much.”
Sarah Robbins and Frank Curren traveled from Providence for the marathon. Mr. Curren, listed in the program as an Melville Aficionado, read earlier on Saturday afternoon. It was the first time for both of them.
“It’s Moby-Dick,” said Ms. Robbins when asked why they were there. “We love the book.”
Sarah Robbins and Frank Curren, of Providence, RI, follow along during the Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum just after midnight on Sunday, 1/6/19. Photo by Beth David.
Reading from Chapter 54 Catherine Gees got to yell, “The White Whale! The White Whale!” during the 23rd annual Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at about 11:40 p.m. on Saturday, 1/5/19. Photo by Beth David.
Jim Yarin, author of “Rope Walker,” reads from Chapter 55 during the Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at about 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, 1/5/19. Photo by Beth David.
A woman knits during the Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at about 11:50 p.m. on Saturday, 1/5/19. Photo by Beth David.
Angus Warren, from Middlebury College, passes over the midnight hour reading from chapters 55 and 56 during the Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on Saturday and Sunday, 1/5-6/19 Photo by Beth David.
Reader #115, E. Warren Pierce III, a Melville Aficionado, reads from chapter 54 of Moby-Dick during the 23rd Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at aboutat about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, 1/5/19. Photo by Beth David.
Eevn after midnight on Sunday, 1/6/19, people follow along during the Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Photo by Beth David.
A poster in the lobby of the Whaling Museum welcoming visitors to the 23rd annual Moby-Dick Marathon Sunday, 1/6/19. Photo by Beth David.
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