Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

24 reviews

lilac_rose's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism

Moderate: Racial slurs

Minor: Sexism and Alcoholism

abe26's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

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.

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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

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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

abbyarm's review against another edition

reflective sad 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Addiction, Animal death, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Violence

ciwanski's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

If you’re only going to read one Hemingway book to read, this is NOT the one to grab. One of the best things I can say about this book is that I finished it.

Blah blah blah “quintessential novel of the Lost Generation” go watch midnight in Paris instead, you’ll enjoy it more than reading this book. 

This book felt like a hedonistic journal entry that puts Hemingway himself as the indifferent protagonist and talked far too much about fishing and bait and bull fights and cycling and drinking. I mean really! How many bottles of wine or glasses of ABSINTHE can one drink in an evening and not be falling over??? Oof not to mention all the racism and antisemitism.

I’ll probably try to give Hemingway another go, but it’s going to be awhile. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Racism, and Violence

carlagh's review against another edition

reflective medium-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Racial slurs

monahed's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, and Homophobia

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

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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

marjoleinvanderspoel's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I appreciated this book a lot more after reading a little about Hemingway's writing style, and after someone pointed out the theme of masculinity throughout the novel. Although I'm not sure I agree with Hemingway's takes, this tale of the decadence and vitality of the lost generation is an enormously atmospheric story with more vibes than plot, that I loved being immersed in. Unfortunately, like a lot of literature from this time period, it was also rife with anti-semitism and glorifies the violence and brutality of bull fighting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Antisemitism, and Animal cruelty