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My initial reaction to the novel is very different from my opinion now. In the beginning I felt like Ahab's wife was a flowery written Danielle Steal novel, with little to offer intellectually. Now, however, I am whistling a different tune. While the basis of novel is still, in my opinion, a fluffy fantasy about seagoing women. The pros have wrapped my attention, and I find myself continuing to go back to the novel, even though I had dismissed it. Our discussion in class about The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, ruined any chance of me enjoying Una's character, because she will never live up to the prepubescent girl, who captured my imagination over and over again. Una's character is less imaginative. Her stunning wit and beauty seems like a cop out, major characters need flaws. But I can easily make a connection from this book to the finale of our class. It is clear that choices Una makes directly affect her and the one's she loves. But her choices are so drastic, that they make for intriguing discussion.