Pikers

Pikers

Quite a few members of my current book club – the pikers – are not living up to their commitment to read Moby-Dick. Water chucked them under the chin pretty quick, and there was a great cry for the life boats, figuratively speaking.

Arguably, Herman had it coming; he could also see it coming.

Going to the table, [he] took up a large book there, and placing it on his lap began counting the pages with deliberate regularity; at every fiftieth page—as I fancied—stopping a moment, looking vacantly around him, and giving utterance to a long-drawn gurgling whistle of astonishment.
– CHAPTER 10. A Bosom Friend.
This whole book is but a draught—nay, but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!
– CHAPTER 32. Cetology.
“Can’st not read it?” cried Ahab. “Give it me, man.”
– CHAPTER 71. The Jeroboam’s Story.
“No: never saw such a book; heard of it, though.”
– CHAPTER 72. The Monkey Rope.
Read it if you can.
– CHAPTER 79. The Prairie.
Book! you lie there.
– CHAPTER 99. The Doubloon.