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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
I'm surprised how much I liked this book. None of the characters are likable and there is basically no plot, but it was so interesting. The fact that we had such little information on all the characters allowed me to come to my own conclusions, and it made for such an imaginative read.
Hemingway was always one of my favorite writers, but this is one of his books I had never read. It covers the bull fighting in Spain, and hanging out in bars with his cronies. Mostly they argue and chase the same girl, and talk about mysterious "war injuries." I was put off the book though by the inherent racism in the story, the N word was used too much as well as stereotyping Jews as being stubborn and a source of trouble if you socialized with them.
I read this one so long ago that I considered the re-read I did in my literature class to be a first approach. It was just as well, since I realized that a.) I remembered almost nothing about it, and b.) when I read it the first time, it meant nothing to me because I lacked the experience to get anything out of it. Going back to this book as an adult gave me a significant appreciation of the world. Not only is it a reminder that we're all a little f*cked up, our own special way of being f*cked up is usually preferable to someone else's way, at least in our own mind. It reminded me that everyone goes through heartbreak of varying degrees of willingness, and that even when you get stomped on, you will go on and you will torture yourself with it again. I love the way Hemingway puts up a mirror to the sides of us that we choose not to acknowledge, or uses other characters to highlight what we'd prefer to ignore or deny. In some ways, this book made me want to be a socialite traveling through Europe to experience life, but in others, it made me quite content to be right where I am, in the f*cked up-ed-ness in which I am comfortable.
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
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
I did not enjoy this! Many isms and phobias and incredibly detestable people.
After discussing at bookclub i increased my rating and definitely think about it more positively. An interesting way of capturing loneliness and masculinity.
After discussing at bookclub i increased my rating and definitely think about it more positively. An interesting way of capturing loneliness and masculinity.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nothing really happened, but that was the charm of it. I didn’t realize I was falling in love with this book until the end. I actually appreciate Hemingway’s simplistic and straightforward writing. Very very heart wrenching in my opinion. It’s hard when two characters are so good for each other but just can never make it work. I loved Jake as a character, and I loved how he never tried to change Brett. He accepted her and got what he could have.
“Oh, Jake.” Brett said. “We could have had such a damned good time together.”
“Yes,” I said. “Isn’t it pretty to think so?”
This ending was so sad!! There was nothing concrete keeping them apart, but you know they will never end up together because that isn’t who Brett is. Looking forward to reading another one of Hemingway’s books.
“Oh, Jake.” Brett said. “We could have had such a damned good time together.”
“Yes,” I said. “Isn’t it pretty to think so?”
This ending was so sad!! There was nothing concrete keeping them apart, but you know they will never end up together because that isn’t who Brett is. Looking forward to reading another one of Hemingway’s books.
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, Antisemitism, Alcohol
Moderate: War
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked it! simple, easy to read. The casual antisemitism and one-dimensional women were hard to ignore though. my first hemingway, so maybe I expected more. not unforgettable, not a big journey. a little underwhelmed, but his straightforward style makes me want to try more
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism
Minor: Homophobia, Violence