I started annotating my copy of Moby Dick as soon as I got it, using it as a notebook for our class discussions. Even before we started reading the actual text, I used the blank, or mostly blank, pages at the beginning of the edition to take notes on the historical context and Melville’s background. I’m reminded at every turn of a page that this novel is, in many ways, a preservation of existence, thought, and experience. It’s because of this that my edition is marked up in every way, from highlighter to pen to various color-coded tabs.

My favorite part of my copy is its evolution. In the beginning, my annotations were underlines, hearts, and different variations of “oh my god” or “wow.” Now, it’s a complete analysis, connections to other chapters, or thought-out stream of consciousness spouts. I have three different colored tabs: sage green, light blue/green, and light (almost pea soup) green. The sage green tabs are always located at the top of the page and mark the beginning or end of an assigned reading segment. While reading, these make it easy to distinguish how far I have to go. The light blue/green (It’s important to note here that I am, embarrassingly enough, colorblind, so these colors might be inaccurate) marks quotes that I really liked and will probably quote at various social settings. Finally, the almost pea-soup green mark my all-time favorite passages or quotes that I plan to focus on in future discussions or papers. There are only three of these so far, which makes them easy to find.