With two young children and two working parents here in Middlesex, I figured it was time to tackle a different project:  I always felt as if my high school English teachers allowed me to slip through the cracks by not assigning Moby Dick.  Sure, I've read other Melville works (Conrad too, unfortunately).

First, no one ever told me Queequeg was a cannibal.  Don't ask how I knew about Queequeg without having read the book.  I have some interesting friends.

Second, how on earth could Ahab's little A-Team, Elite Forces crew remain hidden below deck for days...weeks...months(?) without being noticed?  Oh, sure, I'm fully in tune with suspension of disbelief, and I do realize that it's fiction, but come on!

I'm really reading it so I can put in context the line from the commercial for Illustrated Classics from 20 years ago.  The line is my own Moby Dick...except I'm not willing to sacrifice my crew in effort to vanquish it.  I think the other working parent and the two young children appreciate that.