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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Really strong characters and relationships I enjoyed most of the dialogue. Overall pretty meh experience, nothing extremely wonderful about this book. Love redeems war is maybe a big theme - lot of time focused on Robert and Maria living in the moment knowing they don't have long. I think the Old Man and the Sea is Hemingway's best tbh.
"What a people they are, she thought. What a people are the Spaniards, 'and if he was so short he should not have tried to be a matador.' And I hear it and say nothing. I have no rage for that and having made an explanation I am silent. How simple it is when one knows nothing. Que sencillo! Knowing nothing one says, 'He was not much of a matador.' Knowing nothing another says, 'He was tubercular.' And another says, after one, knowing, has explained, 'If he was so short he should not have tried to be a matador'.
"What a people they are, she thought. What a people are the Spaniards, 'and if he was so short he should not have tried to be a matador.' And I hear it and say nothing. I have no rage for that and having made an explanation I am silent. How simple it is when one knows nothing. Que sencillo! Knowing nothing one says, 'He was not much of a matador.' Knowing nothing another says, 'He was tubercular.' And another says, after one, knowing, has explained, 'If he was so short he should not have tried to be a matador'.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am a little tipsy from some Ricard louche, and I feel thus in my right mind to review this book. This was my first action-adventure story in a long time, and it was thrilling just for that. But it was also beautiful, and if not only impactful then profound. It is Hemingway at his best: love, duty, honor, death, Spain, "thee" and "thou". It's all there, if you're in the mood.
I thought this was an alright book. I like the simple story and the intriguing characters. But there just isn’t much here for me, I was confused by the choice of using old English in the dialogue, but I actually liked it. A simple summary, “a man with nothing to lose blows up bridges, only to fall in love before his biggest job”. There’s not really any hidden depth - it’s just a good look at the conflict. I liked the way Hemingway humanized each person that appeared.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
reflective
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:
Complicated
Hemingway is one of the best/most boring writers with some of the most poignant sentiments I have read but also he shoots himself in the foot constantly. And in the... no, no, sorry. Never mind. It's a solid book! He's great at taking the shine off of war.
challenging
dark
reflective
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
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3 stars
I was hoping to enjoy this like I enjoyed A Farewell to Arms but oh well
I was hoping to enjoy this like I enjoyed A Farewell to Arms but oh well
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No