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waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hemingway's thoughts, feelings, and ideas about the world are deeply flawed, but goddamn do I love the way he writes. The main character, Jake, is so clearly a self-insert that it’s almost laughable. Jake is the only fleshed out character, and we see the world only through his eyes. The man doesn’t even muse over his friends' or frenemies' inner worlds, feelings, life experiences, etc. Jake's travels in France and Spain read like a journal/travelogue. I love his short, sharp prose though. Each word is thoughtfully chosen and executed. The effect is melancholy, wistful, and reflective. You end the book feeling bad for almost all the characters, who have all wrecked their own lives or been wrecked by others or some combination. This is the first novel of Hemingway's that I’ve read, and despite it all, I can see myself picking up more of his work. He's writes a compelling, fascinating read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Racism, Animal death, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Sexism, Racial slurs, Grief, Infidelity, Alcohol, Classism, Infertility, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: War
toffishay's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Racism
Minor: Gore, Death, Animal death, War, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
renicula's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Animal cruelty, Antisemitism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual content, War, Religious bigotry, Violence, and Addiction
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
i_llumi's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
i’m gonna be honest this book felt like a filler episode of some random ass npc that no one cares about
I just really could not bring myself to remotely care for anyone except maybe the two protagonists. the entire cast and the plot read like unseasoned food and just . not fun
I get that Hemingway’s writing is innovative and unique and great but after putting myself through 3 works by him, I’m starting to accept that his thing just isn’t for me
with that being said tho here are some quotes that i found funny for no reason
I just really could not bring myself to remotely care for anyone except maybe the two protagonists. the entire cast and the plot read like unseasoned food and just . not fun
I get that Hemingway’s writing is innovative and unique and great but after putting myself through 3 works by him, I’m starting to accept that his thing just isn’t for me
with that being said tho here are some quotes that i found funny for no reason
It is very important to discover graceful exits like that in the newspaper business, where it is such an important part of the ethics that you should never seem to be working.
"Mr. Barnes introduced his fiancée as Mademoiselle Le-blanc, and her name is actually Hobin."
I knelt and started to pray and prayed for everybody I thought of, Brett and Mike and Bill and Robert Cohn and myself. and all the bull-fighters, separately for the ones I liked, and lumping all the rest, then I prayed for myself again, and while I was praying for mysel I found I was getting sleepy, so I prayed that the bull-fights would be good, and that it would be a fine fiesta, and that we would get some fishing. I wondered if there was anything else I might pray for, and I though I would like to have some money, so I praved that I would make a loto money, and then I started to think how I would make it, and thinking of making money reminded me of the count, and I started wondering about where he was, and regretting I hadn't seen him since that night in Montmartre, and about something funny Brett told me about him, and as all the time I was kneeling with my forehead on the wood in front of me, and was thinking of myself as praying, I was a little ashamed, and regret red that I was such a rotten Catholic, but realized there was nothing I could do about it, at least for a while, and maybe never, but that anyway it was a grand religion, and I only wished I felt religious and maybe I would the next time; and then I was out in the hot sun on the steps of the cathedral, and the forefingers and the thumb of my right hand were still damp, and I felt them dry in the sun.
“You know what you are?”
Tell him bulls have no balls!
“You kill your friends?”
“Always”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Animal death, Misogyny, and Racism
optionalobjectives's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wasn't surprised to find almost every character in this book a little pathetic and despicable. Hemingway can't resist a little autobiography and he and his crowd were, in general, drunken tourists. Yet, almost in spite of myself, I think that he succeeds in the execution of his main themes and in description. It makes sense for a book about failure to feature a range of characters who are failures of different types. Cohn, in particular, works broadly well as a foil to Jake, the main character. Neither can let go of the object of their desire (one Lady Brett Ashley, who is also terrible but possessed of mysterious allure to every man in the book), but where Cohn clings to an ultimately violent end, Jake remains more mellow and tragic. Between that and the way that Hemingway's prose pulled me through the swirls and eddies of the fiesta of San Fermín, this was a worthwhile read in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Minor: Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Misogyny
shadestate's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Violence, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Death, and Bullying
Minor: War and Misogyny
oceanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a book I’ve been meaning to read since high school. I think at one point I actually did start it but didn’t get through the first chapter. Now as an adult, I still found myself quite bored throughout most of the story. I found the history of the book mentioned in the foreword more interesting.
My disinterest was more of a plot/character problem. I simply wasn’t interested in the subject matter. Another problem was the years of build up and having it fall short. Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but I found the storytelling dull. As a piece of historical literature, it’s interesting, but definitely not a book I would have read otherwise.
My disinterest was more of a plot/character problem. I simply wasn’t interested in the subject matter. Another problem was the years of build up and having it fall short. Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but I found the storytelling dull. As a piece of historical literature, it’s interesting, but definitely not a book I would have read otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Misogyny
Minor: War
roclarenett's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Animal death, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Homophobia, Alcoholism, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Blood, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Classism, and Death
anoveldestination's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Dialogue tags must be part of the iceberg we can’t see.
The lack of dialogue tags in the book wouldn’t have bothered me so much if I found the characters unique and memorable. I’ve forgotten most of their names but it seems appropriate just to call them all old chaps like 50% of the dialogue in this book does.
Don’t get me started on the characterization of Brett Ashley, the leading lady. A lot of people think her character is progressive for the time, and on the surface, she does seem sexually empowered, but the misogyny is also under the iceberg. One of the themes Hemingway seems to express is that women’s sexual empowerment comes at the expense of men and their masculinity. Brett’s sexual liberation is constantly blamed for the hardships men experience in the novel, so not the most empowering message it seems on the surface. Also there’s a reference to domestic abuse in Brett’s past that just felt too glossed over and belittled.
At this point, you may be wondering why I gave this book 3 stars. Despite my issues with the dialogue (including the amount of dialogue), I liked Hemingway’s more descriptive passages. I also think there are a lot of themes here to unpack, and I like a book that keeps me thinking and learning more afterwards. I found some of the themes surrounding the Lost Generation well executed and even resonant with the effect of the pandemic on today’s generation. A book that reverberates with me is always a good book for me.
However, ultimately, I don’t think Hemingway’s sparse writing style is my cup of tea. Also, there’s just homophobia, racism, misogyny, and antisemitism littered throughout, and I don’t think we have to excuse these things just because something is a classic. There are plenty of other classics and contemporary books that are just as smart without resorting to hate and prejudice.
The lack of dialogue tags in the book wouldn’t have bothered me so much if I found the characters unique and memorable. I’ve forgotten most of their names but it seems appropriate just to call them all old chaps like 50% of the dialogue in this book does.
Don’t get me started on the characterization of Brett Ashley, the leading lady. A lot of people think her character is progressive for the time, and on the surface, she does seem sexually empowered, but the misogyny is also under the iceberg. One of the themes Hemingway seems to express is that women’s sexual empowerment comes at the expense of men and their masculinity. Brett’s sexual liberation is constantly blamed for the hardships men experience in the novel, so not the most empowering message it seems on the surface. Also there’s a reference to domestic abuse in Brett’s past that just felt too glossed over and belittled.
At this point, you may be wondering why I gave this book 3 stars. Despite my issues with the dialogue (including the amount of dialogue), I liked Hemingway’s more descriptive passages. I also think there are a lot of themes here to unpack, and I like a book that keeps me thinking and learning more afterwards. I found some of the themes surrounding the Lost Generation well executed and even resonant with the effect of the pandemic on today’s generation. A book that reverberates with me is always a good book for me.
However, ultimately, I don’t think Hemingway’s sparse writing style is my cup of tea. Also, there’s just homophobia, racism, misogyny, and antisemitism littered throughout, and I don’t think we have to excuse these things just because something is a classic. There are plenty of other classics and contemporary books that are just as smart without resorting to hate and prejudice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Antisemitism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Alcoholism, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia and War
cnohero's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I do not understand why this book is so special it was a slog and it hard to endure the terrible characters. They were well written but I just couldn't stand them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content