University of Chicago- Favorite book and author-Moby-Dick

Optional: Question 2. Share with us a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, blogs, magazines, or newspapers? Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own.

Please give me suggestions on how to make it better and whether you think it is to much. Thank you for your help

"Call me Ishmael" begins one of the greatest American novels ever written, and coincidentally my favorite book, Moby-Dick. Moby-Dick the magnum opus of Herman Melville has a great story, great characters, and raises questions that have been asked all throughout our existence. Moby-Dick has memorable characters like Queequeg, Ishmael, Starbuck, Flask, Stubb, and of course Ahab the madman who brings them all together. These characters are all different and the crew of the Pequod is very diverse. The Pequod crew had crewmates from the United States, China, Ireland, South America, and the Pacific islands. They believed in different gods and have different ideals and these differences caused tension among the crew. The crew had little squabbles between the civilized and uncivilized members but was quickly done after the two sides saw that they were both human and that in order to survive they must come together. This acceptance of others shown in Moby-Dick is something that in 1851 is unheard of in America a nation who at the time was split over the expansion of slavery. This book shows a modern way of thinking and for a book of this time period to do this is simply amazing and highlights the characteristics that set it apart from others and make it my favorite book. Moby-Dick is my favorite book because it intrigues me. The soliloquies and asides incorporated into the book are superb. Ahab in his soliloquies raises questions that mankind has wondered since our beginning. He wonders about god, fate, and Moby-Dick his obsession. Ahab's obsession with Moby-Dick is something that I believe ever human being has. We are not all obsessed with killing a whale who we believe to be the essence of evil as Ahab is but we are obsessed. Whether it is with money, fame, power, or anything else that comes to mind, human beings have always dreamed and many have become obsessed and I am not exception. My obsession is a simple one, to become a neurosurgeon that has the ability to save someone's family member as mine was. As Ahab has given up everything even his life, I have given up everything so that I can achieve my dream. This personal connection I have made with Ahab is something that made Moby-Dick even better. Moby-Dick is phenomenal and undoubtedly my favorite book.

The metaphysics in this book make the book especially complex and unique and is a characteristic that sets it apart from others and is what makes it my favorite book.

That's a run-on sentence. You might want to break it up into two or more sentences.

is there a god?

Make the italicized, or with quotes or something, to make it clear that that's the question you're referring to.

Melville's unique use of character names

is also second best to none

That's awkwardly worded. Might want to change that around.

Overall, I like the idea of your essay, and it clearly describes your love for Moby Dick. I think you just need to edit it and make sure it's all written correctly, and you should be fine. :)

I feel like this essay isn't really answering the question very well. You tell them a favorite book of yours, but you don't really delve into how it defines or characterizes you personally. It reads more like a book report than a college essay and I would consider a rewrite.

However, it you really like it, there are a few things to fix:
Is "metaphysics" the word you really want to use? Its a little lofty and doesn't fit very cleanly into your essay.

Your second topic sentence (beginning of the second paragraph) needs to be changed. It basically states, "this is a good book because its by a good author." That kind of phrase is pretty useless to the reader. This should be cut and replaced with something more original or useful.

But yeah, upon reading it a second time I would highly push you to rewrite. This isn't a bad book report or review, but its not what they're looking for. It should tie back to you better, and while Moby Dick is interesting admissions officers don't want to read a literary analysis of the books strengths that have no real relevance to you and your admission.

Best of luck!

This is really well written but I think you should relate it more to yourself.
It seemed like the majority of your essay was summarizing the book.
Maybe you can talk about in what other ways it has impacted you.

Good luck!
It'd be great if you read my essay too