Rating: 
Summary: An unusual experience
Review: I bought a copy of this book last summer when my eyes suddenly
caught a glimpse of the title. Because "Moby Dick" is one of my favourites I was eager to read the narrative of the protagonist`s forgotten wife. And I must admit that I managed to finish it, and with great pleasure too! In my opinion, the book should not primarily be judged according to adherence to historical facts or to the existence of certain grotesque elements. What it should be judged upon is the writer`s ability to describe Una`s imaginative powers especially when it comes to her relationship with Nature. This relationship is totally different from Ahab`s strugge with Nature, which in the end leads to his destruction.Una worships the beauty of Nature, but also the smaller things like her daily activities of knitting and sewing. Her story illustrates how she is able to transform past traumas into a present worthy life with the help of her imagination. Compare, then, Una`s story with the fates of Antionette in "Wide Sargasso Sea" by Jean Rhys and Charlotte in "John Dollar" by Marianne Wiggins. Both works supplement and undermine
classic narratives as "Jane Eyre" (Bronte) and "Lord of the Flies" (Golding). Conclusion: Every writer has a right and obligation to challenge the established (male) narratives by giving previous
supressed voices a chance to utter themselves!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't forget the classics
Review: This is an excellent read and a thought-provoking story. Unfortunately, the author was not content to recreate a specific place and time in history, but added (an albeit clever) overlay of comtemporary values and issues. The story wraps up rather too quickly and glibly with the main characters "finding themselves" in distinctly 21st century ways. The first half of the book was wonderful, the second half less so. I was inspired to read Melville's Moby Dick after reading this, and am glad I did. If you want to learn about 18th century whaling and ponder questions of fate, divinity and madness, read Moby Dick as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Long/Boring
Review: Cut out the wasted prose and endless descriptions and the book would be reduced by half - and the better for it. I had to force myself to finish this book.
Rating:
Summary: what a disappointment
Review: My God. After 300 pages, I realized that not one good thing had happened to anyone in the book. Suicide, cannibalism, miscarriages, madness, just to name a few. The author has a whimsically intense way of writing; at times she manages to capture a quaint voice of yesteryear. But the main character is not convincing and her motivation for her aberrant acts is fuzzy. I finally gave up. The book certainly did a fine job of convincing one not to go whaling- but continuing on would have just been an exercise in endurance.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Title Wasted
Review: As a student of women's history this book was a true disappointment. I looked forward to a story about a whaling wife, a sailor,and even a lighthouse keeper, but what I found was a one dismal main character. The author has seen fit to send her character, Una, through her life with a focus on herself. Una is not a transcendentalist like Maragret Fuller, but a shellfish woman who never marries any of her men (including Ahab), betrays friends and family, but never seems to be shuned by the 19th century Quaker society. The book is more of a fantasy than something that "could of happened" in Nantucket. The author's use of real historical figures is appalling. She writes that Frederick Douglas was captured by a bounty hunter, but then freed. Of course, this never happened and the idea of perpetuating inaccurate history is deplorable coming from a college professor. The author also has seemed to borrow a variety of writing styles from the period, first and formost Melville's own style and book layout. In conclusion, I have given this book to many different people to read and only one could complete the volume. The rest felt is was too horrible to get past page 50!!
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps I'm being premature . . .
Review: I'm just half way through this engrossing read. I can't put it down, but am FORCING myself to, just to make it last longer! I'm enjoying the sheer beauty of her writing so much I don't want it to end. Una is one of the most remarkable heroines I've ever encountered, and this has been/still is one of the most satisfying books I've read in a long time. Follow-up after finishing the book: Well, I've changed my rating from 5 to 4 stars. The last 1/4 of the book just didn't cut it for me. It didn't have the drive and forward momentum I felt in the beginning and middle sections. It felt like random vignettes. It became tedious to finish. But all-in-all, I'm still glad I spent time with this book.
Rating:
Summary: Ahab's Wife: The Star Gazer
Review: I appreciated the strong female characters, along with real-life heroes (Margaret Fuller), and the New England-based story. I think Naslund was overly ambitious, which contributed to some hard-to-believe coincidences (David Pollack finding Una's valise, Susan finding Una's floating trunk, two David Pollacks), most likely due to the complex nature of the book. That said, overall it was a good read that I would recommend to friends. I especially enjoyed the literary, historical, and religious mentions generously sprinkled throughout the novel. Some of my favorite reads are those such as this one that constantly send me to the encyclopedia for reference.
Rating:
Summary: Not my normal read
Review: This book really held my attention. It was never boring or rambling. Great read for those raining days!
Rating: 
Summary: 650 pages of what?
Review: I just finished the book today and I have never read a book that was so long that never let the characters live. Una was an oportunist able to survive yet she let every person she loved leave or she left them. I would have wondered of her self serving person and always leaving when things got "tough" She was selfish smart never silly and a good sailor at sea Selfreliant sucessfull and a second sister too. I use the letter S...............Susie
Rating:
Summary: Sena, terrific writing, thanks
Review: Loved this book and was sad when is was over . I would recommend it to anyone but I think it would be appreciated and enjoyed more by woman. The adventures of the heroine were marvelous and all seem very possible and well tied together. I thank you, Sena, for a book that added so much pleasure to my life. I sail and I could relate to all the issues of the water and the crew. Best book I have read this year and I read alot.
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