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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
cokezoo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"You can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another."
No plot, just vibes. The perfect read during a European summer.
No plot, just vibes. The perfect read during a European summer.
amber_03's review against another edition
3.0
Who am I to judge Hemingway or criticize him, right? However this one was very much similar to the previous stories from "The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories" and kind of felt like repetition rather than something new. Same sadness about life, lots of alcohol and broken hearts.
edspillane's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably my favorite Hemingway..so simple, so beautiful...a tremendous ending.
cvvvnvvvl's review against another edition
2.0
I only really liked the bullfighting scenes and his prose really gets on my nerves after a while. There is some beautiful prose in it though, I need to go back through.
juliamason11's review against another edition
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
stefs1974's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mailo200's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
4.0