I read this one on my own. And I super-cheated. After having started this book at least 3x in the past, and stopping, I read the kids version of the book! (Haha!)
There was still that infamous first line: Call me Ishmael.
Ishmael is a teacher by trade but he wants some adventure, and decides to join a whaling expedition. After meeting a strange guy, Queequeg, whom Melville calls a "cannibal" (the word must've meant something different in 1851 when this book came out), Ishmael follows Queequeg to a boat whose captain was the one & only Captain Ahab. Ole Ahab has a huge grudge against the whale who done bit off one of his legs. (Hey has a stump made from whale bone.)
The moral of this story is - beware of yourself! For you can be your own worst enemy! This bit was said by first mate Starbuck (yes, I researched it, the guys who named the coffee co were aware of Moby Dick character's name).
Capt Ahab insists on following the whale, even though it's a foolhardy goal - to catch this oversized whale.
Note that whaling was necessary for food and oil for lamps. Numbers were driven down so low, it's outlawed in most countries.
Spoiler!!
Spoiler!! Don't read on if you don't want to know the end.
Ishmael is the lone survivor. He floats on Queequeg's wooden coffin (unused ...long story), and is rescued by another ship.
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