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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I'm not excited about reading the novels gathered in this book. They are undoubtedly meant to be read as they were published, one by one, on occasion, to fill a moment of idleness.
Proof that great authors can also be irregular in their mood and inspiration. Like everyone.
Proof that great authors can also be irregular in their mood and inspiration. Like everyone.
Hemingway’s Nick Adams stories were originally published scattered through several collections, and never in anything approaching chronological order; this collection attempts to gather them all together, along with some unpublished stories and snippets, and arrange them so that the narrative moves through Nick’s life—from when he’s a very young boy to when he’s a father of a young son himself. The result was…disappointing. At least to me. I feel the need to qualify these negative statements more than I perhaps usually would, because I am (over)aware of these stories’ status as classics. But in general they just didn’t do much for me.
I know Nick is meant to be an everyman—a clear stand-in for Hemingway himself—but I think Hemingway’s definition of an everyman and mine—and the modern definition, in fact—are very far apart. Thus, I felt I really couldn’t get a handle on him. Hemingway’s writing is very understated; he likes to expose flashes of hidden depths while staying on the surface of things. It didn’t work for me as well in these stories, however, as it does in, say, [book: The Sun Also Rises]. Maybe, as a novel, that book allows more time to understand all the things that aren’t being said—to really plumb the subtext. Maybe if I had worked harder, I would have found that here. But Nick stayed pretty obtuse to me. The fact that, despite its claims, this collection’s chronology seemed really iffy to me probably didn’t help.
My favorite parts were the stories where Nick is simply out in the wilderness, being wonderfully competent, and any time Hemingway writes about food. His descriptions of cooking and eating are really some of the best. I’m still drooling at just the thought of a fresh-fried trout.
But then Hemingway’s racism/sexism/whatever would kick back in, and I’d have to grit my teeth to keep reading. Hemingway’s casual use of the N-word in the narration—not even from a character’s mouth, but in the 3rd person narration—really shocked me. I’m not really sure why—I know he was a racist dick—but I was still taken aback.
In a way, parts of this book reminded me of the car magazines where I work: homophobic, and yet at the same time, so hilariously homosocial, it’s ridiculous. My coworkers will turn in copy full of references to shafts, trannies, and lube; Hemingway has one story in here in which Nick callously dumps his girlfriend, then casually greets his friend Bill, who’s been waiting and whose attitude is like, “Oh, good, you got rid of her. Let’s screw—I mean, fish. Our manly bonding activity of fishing is in no way a substitute for boffing like crazy.” Haha, sure. Whatever, dude.
I guess what I’m really saying is, I wish Hemingway had just manned up and written a cookbook.
I know Nick is meant to be an everyman—a clear stand-in for Hemingway himself—but I think Hemingway’s definition of an everyman and mine—and the modern definition, in fact—are very far apart. Thus, I felt I really couldn’t get a handle on him. Hemingway’s writing is very understated; he likes to expose flashes of hidden depths while staying on the surface of things. It didn’t work for me as well in these stories, however, as it does in, say, [book: The Sun Also Rises]. Maybe, as a novel, that book allows more time to understand all the things that aren’t being said—to really plumb the subtext. Maybe if I had worked harder, I would have found that here. But Nick stayed pretty obtuse to me. The fact that, despite its claims, this collection’s chronology seemed really iffy to me probably didn’t help.
My favorite parts were the stories where Nick is simply out in the wilderness, being wonderfully competent, and any time Hemingway writes about food. His descriptions of cooking and eating are really some of the best. I’m still drooling at just the thought of a fresh-fried trout.
But then Hemingway’s racism/sexism/whatever would kick back in, and I’d have to grit my teeth to keep reading. Hemingway’s casual use of the N-word in the narration—not even from a character’s mouth, but in the 3rd person narration—really shocked me. I’m not really sure why—I know he was a racist dick—but I was still taken aback.
In a way, parts of this book reminded me of the car magazines where I work: homophobic, and yet at the same time, so hilariously homosocial, it’s ridiculous. My coworkers will turn in copy full of references to shafts, trannies, and lube; Hemingway has one story in here in which Nick callously dumps his girlfriend, then casually greets his friend Bill, who’s been waiting and whose attitude is like, “Oh, good, you got rid of her. Let’s screw—I mean, fish. Our manly bonding activity of fishing is in no way a substitute for boffing like crazy.” Haha, sure. Whatever, dude.
I guess what I’m really saying is, I wish Hemingway had just manned up and written a cookbook.
this was my second Hemmingway novel. This was a fun story. Growing up in Michigan this seemed very familiar to me. It was neat to follow Nick throughout his life.
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely beautiful writing and love the parts about Michigan. A number of parts I felt sadly foreshadowed the author's suicide though. Makes me want to start writing, but not about depression or suicide, thankfully!
Some of the stories were amazing and to some degree inspiring, while others didn't do anything for me. The Battler is so interestingly detailed and emotional.
Hemingway was a much easier read than I expected, but it just didn't prompt me to keep reading.
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a collection of short stories and snippets of writing about Nick Adams, a character of Hemingway’s whose life experiences closely mirror his own. They’re mostly set in northern Michigan, though he’s a soldier in Europe during WWI in one set of stories, and span Nick’s youth through and his early fatherhood. Some stories are less engaging than others, but many offer vivid descriptions of Michigan’s landscape and serve as a kind of time capsule of what life was like there, and what the land looked like, in the early 20th century. That’s what I value most about them. Also, his subtle humor is often cheeky and entertaining. But the way he writes characters of color, especially Native and Black people, is racist and difficult to read. Overall, the collection offers a well-rounded jaunt through Hemingway’s writing style and a nice glimpse at his formative years, but it’s reflective of both the irredeemable and the interesting perspectives of his demographic and generation.
Standouts: The Last Good Country, Summer People, In Another Country
Standouts: The Last Good Country, Summer People, In Another Country
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
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