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claudiaruton's review against another edition
challenging
slow-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
3.75
classics are so stymieing.
piret's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kirsten0929's review against another edition
5.0
Enjoyed this so much more than I expected to. The bullfighting didn't dominate as I was afraid it might. Instead I was shown how one could appreciate the style, skill, and technique of the matador. I love the simplicity of his writing style. This was the first book of his that I've read where I really noticed and appreciated it. So many simple sentences creating something so vivid. Loved the story, the time period, the five characters he pulled together. "The three of us sat at the table, and it seemed as though about six people were missing." I love that. I would actually like to read this again as an audio book. I think the right reader could do a way better job with it than I did.
mtremblay1994's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.75
ouireads's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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
21degustafson's review against another edition
3.0
On one hand I loved the extent to which the novel reminded me of my own time in Europe. The fishing part of the book was especially comforting, and Hemingway’s descriptions of cities, cultures, and bullfighting was excellently done. On the other hand, I didn’t really like any of the characters, and found the conclusion pretty underwhelming. If that’s the point, I guess I missed it.
I should work to incorporate Hemingway’s style into my own writing. His iceberg theory of writing, in which the writer makes omissions of things he knows and the reader feels them as strongly as if the writer had not omitted them, has some pull, but at the same time I feel the novel could have done with more explicit introspection from Jake. Maybe it makes those introspective sections all the more while. Also if Hemingway wanted to show the the strength of the lost generation he failed in my opinion. The characters seem not only morally weak but totally defeated by life.
I should work to incorporate Hemingway’s style into my own writing. His iceberg theory of writing, in which the writer makes omissions of things he knows and the reader feels them as strongly as if the writer had not omitted them, has some pull, but at the same time I feel the novel could have done with more explicit introspection from Jake. Maybe it makes those introspective sections all the more while. Also if Hemingway wanted to show the the strength of the lost generation he failed in my opinion. The characters seem not only morally weak but totally defeated by life.
austin2190's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sallyscriv's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-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
3.0