Reviews

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

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bexterrr's review against another edition

3.0

I'm tempted to give it only 2/5 but I think I can appreciate what some people see in the book. It was my first Hemingway and I'm not that familiar with classic American lit.

There's really not much to say. Reading it was a chore. Some of the language was repetitive and it was about a subject that I'm not very interested in. Ultimately I think it was an interesting idea and I really can imagine it being someone's cup of tea. It just personally wasn't mine. I would only fault it on some of the repetitive language and maybe it could have had deeper undercurrents. I feel like there was a message in it that I just wasn't getting. Besides old age and determination.

shireadsalot's review against another edition

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adventurous sad slow-paced

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

3.5

sophieec's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

very cute and lovely feeling to the writing which developed over time with the plot

vera_baetas's review against another edition

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2.0

I'm so sorry, but I didn't like this book. And I feel bad about it. I Apologize to world literature in general and to english literature in particular.
First, it's about fishing and I hate fishing. So, not a good choice. Then, he fights with fishes. And did he learned anything? I don't think so! Maybe this book is too intellectual for me! I don't know. I'm sorry!

blueyorkie's review against another edition

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5.0

The metaphor of this tale escaped me when I read it (I was undoubtedly too young), but today, it is luminous; for ordinary people, work offers barely enough to live on, given the harshness and risks it represents. So, sharks will regret an essential goal before enjoying it.
Still, the writing (and the time translation) is a model of simplicity and sensitivity.

bearmohawk's review against another edition

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4.0

A brief but very readable book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite it leaving me wanting to know, to experience more: it is less than one hundred pages long. And while I appreciated it, I am not sure what in it made Hemingway deserve a Nobel Prize. Overall, though, a book certainly worth reading over the course of a few hours :)