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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
so. boring.
didnt want to waste more of my precious summer reading something i didn't enjoy and wouldn't really pull any wisdom from
didnt want to waste more of my precious summer reading something i didn't enjoy and wouldn't really pull any wisdom from
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I see the appeal, but not really for me.
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The last chapter does wonders for the whole book. Most of it felt decent with glimmers of great insight. Any scene between Jake (The Narrator) and Brett were highlights for me. The key idea of the book is obvious from the start which may or may not be for everyone.
A friend gave me this book to read a few months ago, hence I put this one on my queue. I must say, I haven't read any of Hemingway's works, so this would be a good chance to get acquainted with his writing. 250 pages later, however, I must say, that I am not impressed, and unfortunately, I don't have a favourable opinion of the book that is said to be the quintessential novel of the Lost Generation.
See, this book tells the story of Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley. These are two flamboyant characters, expatriates living in Paris, who seem to have no purpose in life except to go partying. The novel is more or less segmented into three parts: the first part was about their extravagant and ridiculous life in Paris as they jump from cafe to bar to cafe, until they decide to go to Spain; the second part was about their fishing expedition in some river in Spain; and the third part was about the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, where the characters watch bullfighters get gored. All throughout these events, nothing really substantial happens, but their conversations are voluminous, and for the most part, does not make sense.
I ask myself, would I hang out with these people? Most definitely not. Hence perhaps that was the main reason why I have been questioning myself why I am reading a narrative about absurd and stupid people when I want nothing to do with them. As the back cover says, apparently the Lost Generation and its group of Parisian expatriates were living in an age of moral bankruptcy and spiritual dissolution. These are people who were living like there was no tomorrow. And unfortunately for me, there is a tomorrow. I have grandiose plans for my future. And therefore I cannot relate.
I also didn't quite like Hemingway's writing style. The sentences were short and simple, and so the semantics are indeed easy to understand. What this means however is that there's plenty of things happening that were unwritten, and the reader must deduce. That is a neat trick, but if what you're left to read are just line after line of annoying conversations between multiple drunk and ridiculous people, then it quickly becomes tiresome. After 30 pages, it feels like you already can get the point what the entire book is about.
So yes, overall I didn't like this book. I give this book 2 out of 5 stars. The probability of me picking up another Hemingway is at this point, rather low.
See my other book reviews here.
See, this book tells the story of Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley. These are two flamboyant characters, expatriates living in Paris, who seem to have no purpose in life except to go partying. The novel is more or less segmented into three parts: the first part was about their extravagant and ridiculous life in Paris as they jump from cafe to bar to cafe, until they decide to go to Spain; the second part was about their fishing expedition in some river in Spain; and the third part was about the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, where the characters watch bullfighters get gored. All throughout these events, nothing really substantial happens, but their conversations are voluminous, and for the most part, does not make sense.
I ask myself, would I hang out with these people? Most definitely not. Hence perhaps that was the main reason why I have been questioning myself why I am reading a narrative about absurd and stupid people when I want nothing to do with them. As the back cover says, apparently the Lost Generation and its group of Parisian expatriates were living in an age of moral bankruptcy and spiritual dissolution. These are people who were living like there was no tomorrow. And unfortunately for me, there is a tomorrow. I have grandiose plans for my future. And therefore I cannot relate.
I also didn't quite like Hemingway's writing style. The sentences were short and simple, and so the semantics are indeed easy to understand. What this means however is that there's plenty of things happening that were unwritten, and the reader must deduce. That is a neat trick, but if what you're left to read are just line after line of annoying conversations between multiple drunk and ridiculous people, then it quickly becomes tiresome. After 30 pages, it feels like you already can get the point what the entire book is about.
So yes, overall I didn't like this book. I give this book 2 out of 5 stars. The probability of me picking up another Hemingway is at this point, rather low.
See my other book reviews here.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wasn't my favorite book. But it had certain passages that made me nearly re consider who I was as a person. Some glimpses of future Hemingway tucked within the mundane conversation had throughout. A nice read that began to hook me in near the fourth chapter. I really started to understand the characters motives and understand why he adapted this real life event into a fictional story. Interesting and worth a read.
"For one who had aficion he could forgive anything. At once he forgave me all my friends. Without his ever saying anything they were simply a little something shameful between us, like the spilling open of the horses in bull-fighting."
It’s good, I liked the broken characters and how they get on with things