Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Sun Also Rises

"The Sun Also Rises" defined the Lost Generation, and it certainly feels lost. It's very reminiscent of the very household name The Great Gatsby, published only a year earlier. We follow a group of affluent white folk who live in a world feeling jaded. They hope that each new day will be better, but their freedom brings them to poor conclusions. The characters are put in situations where they don't HAVE to do the right thing, and so each decision is just a little selfish. Usually not grossly so: they're all human, and we would act the same. But these little building disagreements, without distraction, gradually build into conflict. I like our protagonist well enough. I like Bill. I want to like Brett, I want to like Robert, and Mike, and Romero. In the end there's no reason to dislike them either. They're all lost and hurt people, formed by circumstance.
P.S.: There is a single page where the n-word is uttered casually something like 15 times. It doesn't seem malicious, but it's flagrant. Just be aware that if you read this book about problematic people, understand that the author also was a problematic person in a lost world. 8.5/10.

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brittishrcoming's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

Content Warnings

lauramcc7's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad slow-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

3.5

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ciwanski's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted 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

2.25

If you’re only going to read one Hemingway book to read, this is NOT the one to grab. One of the best things I can say about this book is that I finished it.

Blah blah blah “quintessential novel of the Lost Generation” go watch midnight in Paris instead, you’ll enjoy it more than reading this book.

This book felt like a hedonistic journal entry that puts Hemingway himself as the indifferent protagonist and talked far too much about fishing and bait and bull fights and cycling and drinking. I mean really! How many bottles of wine or glasses of ABSINTHE can one drink in an evening and not be falling over??? Oof not to mention all the racism and antisemitism.

I’ll probably try to give Hemingway another go, but it’s going to be awhile.

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