Reviews

Find it quite boring and clearly the old man is stubborn. It is understandable if the old man has some medical issues, due to his old age, but it is also unclear the message to tell in this story. Maybe, it’s about a stubborn and persistent old man who never give up on fishing even though he never caught one, and because of his determine spirit, he finally caught an unique fish that no other fishermen ever caught. I am still discovering the hidden message of this story.

jyeetreads's review against another edition

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5.0

I am 19. I read this when I was 17.

I guess it’s a bit unexpected for someone my age to like it so much, as many young adults say “What’s the point in this? Why is it famous?” when forced to read this book. I remember my friends/classmates telling me how boring they thought it was too, and as someone who didn’t usually love classics or resonate with the usually hard-to-understand verbiage within them, I didn’t have high hopes either when it was optionally assigned.
But this book easily takes a spot in my favorites of all time, and there are very few that do.

I’m in college now and I still think about it. How simple it is. Yet how in it’s simplicity there is so much power. Hemingway uses words in a way I’ve never read fiction before. So plain- no symbolism- the old man is an old man, the fish is a fish- but there’s powerful purpose in the lack thereof. It’s to highlight- without any real highlighting- the raw message of humanity. The old man as a human in all his facets- age, wisdom, dignity, determination, etc.

I am still moved by the story to this day. I’m nothing like Santiago- I’m no Cuban old man- Just an Asian-American 19 y.o. gal. But the message of humanity relates to me. I am human. I may not have age or wisdom, but I have dignity and determination.

Overall, amazing piece of work. So much said in so little.
If you’re around my age, please consider giving it a read with fresh eyes, and do not be daunted if it’s assigned school reading. It’s worth it. :-)

meyrathedreamer's review against another edition

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reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

iswendle's review against another edition

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3.0

An old man and his greatest fish. Hemingway writes so simply a story that could probably be a used by any modern motivational speaker. Through simple language we tag along with Santiago, an old sailor who is on an eighty four day dry streak fishing in Havana. Even his young mate had to join another fishing skiff as his parents forced him to make some money. The old man goes out to sea alone one day and revels as he fights for three days straight with a giant merlin.

I can see why people love this book, it's my first Hemingway and I could not really connect with it. It was fine, simple and imaginative writing and I could really connect with the old man as if it were my grandpa. The story quickly goes from "never give up without a fight" to "do not go easy into that good night". It really shows the struggle of a great man turned old, though all his vigor has not. And when the sharks finally came my heart broke...

The Old Man and The Sea seems like a story I would enjoy even more when I'm older, relating to the old man's fleeting strength despite a young spirit. Right now though, it was a warming short story that would go well with a warm campfire at night, welcoming a warm sleep afterwards.

bookw0rm_r0sie's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

kerbohydrate's review against another edition

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2.0

Hemingway uses the word “and” four times a sentence and I never want to read anything written by him again.

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