Rating: 
Summary: Ahab's wife was from the 20th century?
Review: The prose was lovely; much of the story engrossing, but ultimately it was difficult to believe in Una as a woman of the mid-19th century. It's not very credible that she could reject or ignore the Christian belief and morality and prejudice that surrounded her. And for her to fortuitously have invested in petroleum and to have neatly met up and paired off with Ishmael to round off the story...Sorry, my belief is not that easily suspended.
Rating: 
Summary: Starry-eyed from Una, the Star Gazer
Review: Moby Dick was a difficult book for me to read, but "Ahab's Wife" was written with so smoothly, so flowingly, that I was sorry to find an ending. I felt as if I was reading a novel written by a combination of Paul Bowles and Charles Dickens.I recently read a review of Doctorow's new book where the reviewer asked "where's the novel?", meaning that the book contained symbolism and philosophy, but no story. "Ahab's Wife" is a novel of epic proportions with interweaving plot lines to keep the reader interested throughout, all the while being led along on this softly flowing chiffon scarf of a writing style.
Rating: 
Summary: Not so much.
Review: Not so much! Even the title was overdone. One or the other would have been fine. Way too much writing for what the book seemed to be trying to say. Too much descriptive effort and way too much jumping around. Sounded as if the book was trying too hard to resemble some older style of writing and just didn't make the grade. Much dedication, though, must have been put into this book from the length of it, but it was such an effort to finish reading. Sorry. Perhaps it is one of those novels that a reader has to be in a certain mood to read. There are many good books around that are that way.
Rating:
Summary: nice, but overwritten . ..
Review: If only the entire book could have been as captivating as the opening chapter. The author is a good writer in need of a good & honest editor. There were parts that were brilliant and parts that were just padding. And this is a good example of what computer editing/spell checking can mean -- the book is littered with faux pas like using the word "receipt" twice when the author meant "recipe." Good writers won't let those things slip, and good editors (not computers) can catch them when they do.
Rating: 
Summary: An Engrossing Journey
Review: This is a near perfect read, save for the irritating interweaving of historic characters. It is a quilt of the history and literature of the 19th century. If only the ending had been stronger!
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read
Review: Some reviewers claim Ahab's Wife was too long. It ended too soon for me. Great literature and I will read it again and again. Buy it. Read it.
Rating:
Summary: An enchanting adventure
Review: It is rare that one reads a book that is so beautifully written and captivating at the same time. I will admit that I have read with a bit of built-in prejudice, for Sena Jeter and I were classmates in the early sixties at Birmingham-Southern College and were the best of friends. To say that I am proud of her accomplishments and achievements would be a gross understatement. But even if I had never heard of Ms. Naslund before reading this book, my opinion would have been the same. The literary references, the various descriptive passages, the action sequences all echo with poetry and poetry of the highest kind. It is a long book and one that needs to be savored rather than read quickly; so it was at least a two-week read for me. But I treasured every minute of it and I would recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys reading truly fine literature.
Rating:
Summary: enchanting
Review: Whoever dubbed this book a "masterpiece" was right on target. I read it a month ago and find myself longing to return to Nantucket. One can almost hear the ships' bells. The author uses 19th century language, but, unlike Melville, makes it readable. The story of Una's adventures is both creative and fascinating.This book will not bog the reader down with unnecessary details of sperm whaling as MOBY DICK does.Just as THE MISTS OF AVALON was the Camelot legend told from the woman's point of view, so is this the story of whalers in the 19th century told from the woman's point of view.The interweaving of characters from MOBY DICK is beautifully done. Ahab becomes human, not simply the crazed, obsessed captain of the Pequod. A wonderful fantasy trip to the past for the reader.
Rating: 
Summary: Ahab's Wife
Review: I am not sure why I so differ from so many of your other reviewers! I would not even have given it one star, had that been an option. It is tedious, WAY too long, and in my judgment an insult to Melville's giant book and characters. To me, it appeared to be the author's opportunity to celebrate her own brilliance: so much irrelevant information; so little character development; in fact, so little character. Unfortunately, Naslund chose to abandon the few interesting characters she did manage to develop and left their lives or deaths to the reader to resolve. There are so many wonderful books written about the period in which Una lived, I feel cheated for having stuggled through this trite and far too long novel.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling
Review: I haven't been this captivated by a story since reading Thomas Hardy in high school. Una Spenser is a true heroine and this parallel telling of the mighty tale of the great white whale is destined to become a companion classic next to Melville's. The writing is both real and dreamlike as the story weaves it's spell. The almost 700 pages turn easily and you feel as if this must be a true telling of history. It is a literary masterpiece and I am so much richer for having read it!
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