Reviews

To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway

maisthejourno10's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense 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? It's complicated

0.5

veechronicles's review against another edition

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2.0

this was bad
it was so racist and nobody knows how to treat a woman
hemingway just started throwing in random people's perspectives for some reason? they were totally irrelevant to the story
the best chapters were marie's 2 chapters at the end

how did howard hawks make a stunning, beautiful, immaculate movie out of THIS

krishnu's review against another edition

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1.0

An earnestly boring book which I managed through plough through because of the name attached to it.

freyaeastcott's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

johnmason's review against another edition

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dark sad medium-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

3.75

seatavern's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.5

adriancrisol's review against another edition

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4.0

"War is a purifying and ennobling force."

Hemingway's capabilities are shown in his ability to flesh out powerful ideas in the most incoherent piece of experimental literature that I have ever read. Contrary to popular belief, there is much to admire in this book.

My first ever Hemingway, which I heard that he himself says is a pile of shit, is still a great opener into his unique writing style and approach to storytelling. The novel showcases a variety of characters who make their own contributions to the title. Harry Morgan is a classic Have Not, being financially unable to support his family, and much like the Commie revolutionaries in denial, try to become one of those who "Have". This war for an elevated status is a recurring theme in the story with only a select few winning, such as
SpoilerHelen Gordon, a Have Not with an emotionally unavailable husband who finds John MacWalsey, an emotionally supportive Have Not whose wife died during the influenza epidemic and decides that he'd be a better husband than Richard Gordon.


The
Spoilercheated-on cheater, Richard Gordon,
is a more subtle Have Not who is a clear juxtaposition of Spellman.
SpoilerSpellman is a "very thin" (195) young man who isn't remembered by Richard, a man whose work he admires. When asked, he says he's "not [doing] much"—which in 1940's Key West meant you were struggling struggling. Though unlike Richard, he's able to carry a cheery attitude as shown when the two interact. Richard is a salt-in-the-wound type of person who, like probably most people of his era, were always feeling some kind of low.


Hopefully you'll come to appreciate (the point of the story) how Hemingway progresses the story in multi-faceted points of views, showcasing the Have Not's struggle for growth. I find Marie Morgan's evolution from a Have to Have Not the most beautiful because of how special her case is,
Spoilerhaving recieved love from her husband and three daughters.


If you have trouble enjoying the book, I heard the film adaption starring Humphrey Bogart is great. Bogart is an infamous actor among the noir genre, being most notably casted in Maltese Falcon, which is pretty good I guess...

3.8/5 Stars: Good all around, but maybe not as your first Hemingway... lol

milnicky's review against another edition

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adventurous dark sad medium-paced

3.5

star_ansible's review against another edition

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1.0

this dude writes fan fiction about how cool he wishes he was. yeah yeah ernest u would've gunned down those cubans so good if u werent drinking urself into jaundice, yeah sure we believe u

leland_burns's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0