I know, it's supposed to be a classic of American literature, but knowing the story (from movies and other synopses), I guess I expected a bit more character development and a lot less exposition about the whaling industry. I didn't need two dozen pages explaining why whales are actually fish and categorizing them. I did need a bit more about how Ahab came to be in the mental state he was in.

That said, when the denouement came, it came quickly and surprisingly so, which was awesome. I just wish I didn't have to wade through the intricacies of 19th century whaling to get there.