Yes, I agree. The style sounds 'florid' (high-flown, old-fashioned, stilted). But when I read more, I got used to it and just concentrated on the characters and their problems (not just Ahab but Starbuck and the rest). It's like reading poetry (most of it), difficult at first but much clearer the second time, and usually worth the trouble. So...my sympathy and a bit of advice: don't give up, but read on, especially now that you've read half of it.
