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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
2024 favourites in no particular order
#12 Ernest Hemingway - ‘A Farewell to Arms’ (1929)
An ambulance driver in Italy during WWI meets an English nurse and begins some kind of a life with her. A book on what gets in the way of love and why, maybe. A strict three-part structure, the first of which I found a little dry. The second was more touching, more emotionally invested in spite of that famously brief prose. The third was one of the most beautiful European adventures I’ve ever been on, real or imaginary. The final slither made a dent in my chest. It is wicked and sad and numbing. The ‘flaws’ of this book are not hidden: Catherine is ridiculously doting; Frederic is frustratingly laconic. There are probably some others, too. At the final page, however, it all felt worth it to me. All that mud and brevity. It all worked out.
#12 Ernest Hemingway - ‘A Farewell to Arms’ (1929)
An ambulance driver in Italy during WWI meets an English nurse and begins some kind of a life with her. A book on what gets in the way of love and why, maybe. A strict three-part structure, the first of which I found a little dry. The second was more touching, more emotionally invested in spite of that famously brief prose. The third was one of the most beautiful European adventures I’ve ever been on, real or imaginary. The final slither made a dent in my chest. It is wicked and sad and numbing. The ‘flaws’ of this book are not hidden: Catherine is ridiculously doting; Frederic is frustratingly laconic. There are probably some others, too. At the final page, however, it all felt worth it to me. All that mud and brevity. It all worked out.
This was a book I had to force myself to finish. Mostly dull, tedious, repetitive dialogue. Boring, emotionless characters. Unnecessary and bland description and basically the whole piece is without much without purpose, drama or heart.
They only reason I gave it one star is because the odd nugget of Hemingway's talents shine through. But it's a grinding slog to find them.
They only reason I gave it one star is because the odd nugget of Hemingway's talents shine through. But it's a grinding slog to find them.
Hemingway is one of my favorite authors and "A Farewell To Arms" did not disappoint. I love the way it feels that you are right there as the experiences and events unfold. The subject matter was clearly controversial but it unfolded beautifully all the same. I didn't anticipate the ending, but I understood it. This was an excellent and engrossing read.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
sad
medium-paced
I read this because my mom recommended it as her favorite World War I book. I really enjoyed the first third, hated the middle part with the introduction of Catherine. Their relationship just seemed off. Even taking into account it was written 100 years ago. The last third was more bearable but overall I didn’t enjoy the book.
I did enjoy the succinct sentences. I love books written in that style, which keep me absorbed, which helps since I have a short attention span. However the repetitive over and over and over of - yes I will - no I won’t - we will - we did… drove me insane.
I explained it to my son as follows:
“Do you want a beer?“
“No. I’m fine thanks.“
“I’m going to the 7-Eleven. I’ll buy some beer. We’ll both have a beer.“
He went to the 7-Eleven.
When he returned from the 7-Eleven.l he ask if I’d have a beer.
I said no.
He opened two beers and we each had a beer.
Over and over and over. Wine, beer, grappa, brandy. Probably food too. I can’t remember. I was too busy getting pissed off with it. My ten year old and I speak like that sometimes now in jest. One good thing to come out of the book.
I did enjoy the succinct sentences. I love books written in that style, which keep me absorbed, which helps since I have a short attention span. However the repetitive over and over and over of - yes I will - no I won’t - we will - we did… drove me insane.
I explained it to my son as follows:
“Do you want a beer?“
“No. I’m fine thanks.“
“I’m going to the 7-Eleven. I’ll buy some beer. We’ll both have a beer.“
He went to the 7-Eleven.
When he returned from the 7-Eleven.l he ask if I’d have a beer.
I said no.
He opened two beers and we each had a beer.
Over and over and over. Wine, beer, grappa, brandy. Probably food too. I can’t remember. I was too busy getting pissed off with it. My ten year old and I speak like that sometimes now in jest. One good thing to come out of the book.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
now i understand why bradley cooper threw this book out the window in silver linings playbook
i loved it so much but it hurt so bad
i loved it so much but it hurt so bad
This is the first book I've read by Hemingway. It's hard for me not to compare Hemingway's writing to someone like Stephen King, who I've read a lot of. I found A Farewell To Arms to be a rather dense read, like trying to think back to a vague memory of 1918. We don't hear much of the protagonist's inner thoughts; hell, we don't even know his name until chapter 5. It takes place in a different time (around 1918) and mostly in France, which is unfamiliar to me. We aren't told many details and the other characters seem to lack depth and development; the dialogue is very sparse and strained.
While I had a hard time caring about the characters, the story was interesting and I was compelled to keep reading. There are even a few points when I laughed out loud, which I wasn't expecting.
The war was the main driving force of the story, and so we expect to see suffering and loss. Everyone we meet is against the war, but feels obligated to play their part in it. Over the course of the story we see how the war wears on everyone involved and that sense of obligation and allegiance seem to fade. We don't see a lot of action, and since Henry is a medic he really doesn't take part in the action. We more see how it influences the people in the story.
Regardless of these seemingly negative comments, I'm glad I read the book. It's one of those classics that are on the mental bookshelf of things I ought to get to someday. It kept me interested and compelled to continue reading. It was never exciting, yet it was never boring, probably because there weren't enough details given to get bored of.
While I had a hard time caring about the characters, the story was interesting and I was compelled to keep reading. There are even a few points when I laughed out loud, which I wasn't expecting.
The war was the main driving force of the story, and so we expect to see suffering and loss. Everyone we meet is against the war, but feels obligated to play their part in it. Over the course of the story we see how the war wears on everyone involved and that sense of obligation and allegiance seem to fade. We don't see a lot of action, and since Henry is a medic he really doesn't take part in the action. We more see how it influences the people in the story.
Regardless of these seemingly negative comments, I'm glad I read the book. It's one of those classics that are on the mental bookshelf of things I ought to get to someday. It kept me interested and compelled to continue reading. It was never exciting, yet it was never boring, probably because there weren't enough details given to get bored of.
Some books just leave you feeling older than when you began. The first half progresses slowly as Frederic tramps around with his ambulance crew and later in the hospital with Catherine. Suddenly the urgency picks up as Frederic is singled out as an officer with a foreign accent at a military police checkpoint; in the aftermath of a general retreat. This scene is startling beacuse it brings the realities, the unfairness, and the horror of war immediately to the reader. Frederic begins as an idealist American serving with the Italian Army's ambulance corps. He drinks and whores like the rest, and generally treats his time there as a joke. His attitude is cynical of authority and propriety but not of the war. After the bridge Frederic evolves a new understanding. His contract with the army, and the whole war is severed. He searches out Catherine and they flee to Switzerland to steal a few months of eden as Catherine's pregnancy develops. Eventually they have to leave their private world to deal with pain again.
I wonder how much of this is truly autobiographical. Could one even write about these things if they actually happened to them? I can see why the book is so celebrated. There are so many interpretations possible, the writing is still so modern. And the themes of death, love, war, and how to act through it all aren't likely to go away. A rightful classic.
I wonder how much of this is truly autobiographical. Could one even write about these things if they actually happened to them? I can see why the book is so celebrated. There are so many interpretations possible, the writing is still so modern. And the themes of death, love, war, and how to act through it all aren't likely to go away. A rightful classic.