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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I generally stay away from audiobooks, but because I’m in full project-mode, I’ve made my way through several. Of the 3 I’ve done so far, this is the worst. The story, the characters, the writing style, the narrator - I disliked everything about this book. Perhaps I would have liked it more if I’d read it, but I doubt it.
My favorite eye-rolling line came early in story. At the beginning of their courtship, Ernest introduced Hadley to olives. He says something like, “Aren’t they great?” And Hadley responds with, “Yes - and a little bit dangerous.” If this was an actual, verbatim conversation between these two, what an obnoxious pair (as borne out in the remainder of the book). If this was the author’s creative license, then.
My favorite eye-rolling line came early in story. At the beginning of their courtship, Ernest introduced Hadley to olives. He says something like, “Aren’t they great?” And Hadley responds with, “Yes - and a little bit dangerous.” If this was an actual, verbatim conversation between these two, what an obnoxious pair (as borne out in the remainder of the book). If this was the author’s creative license, then
Loved this, great writing, great story, if a bit wrenching at the end
2.75
Almost put this book down, I couldn’t stand the way the main character treated herself and acted as Hem treated her terribly.
There was some truth and beauty to the way the author was able to talk about loving someone and letting them go. Loving them and also hating the bad parts. Other than this it was a dry book.
Almost put this book down, I couldn’t stand the way the main character treated herself and acted as Hem treated her terribly.
There was some truth and beauty to the way the author was able to talk about loving someone and letting them go. Loving them and also hating the bad parts. Other than this it was a dry book.
Ernest Hemingway did not seem like a likeable person at all.
My favorite line of the book was when Ernest grew a mustache and Hadley liked it so much she said "she wanted to touch it or eat it." I laughed for a good while at that.
My favorite line of the book was when Ernest grew a mustache and Hadley liked it so much she said "she wanted to touch it or eat it." I laughed for a good while at that.
Love, lust, literature and the roaring 20's in Paris. This was a really beautiful written book about the beautiful love story of Hadley and Ernest Hemmingway. I giggled, I got choked up all while imagining Paris and Chicago and Italy in the 20's. I enjoyed the descriptions and the love these two shared until they were heart wrenchingly torn apart. This would be a great read for anyone who loves historical fiction and is interested in the amazing wives of great men.
I read A Moveable Feast last year and all throughout it Hemingway keeps coming back to regret and Hadley. He clearly had some demons about how things ended and now I understand why.
Reading through some reviews, I see criticism of Hadley for being a doormat, but I think McClain does a great job depicting Hemingway as this absolute force. There are people with massive ambition and magnetic personalities to go with it, and there is a lived experience of being someone living close to that. Even Michelle Obama struggled with finding balance between supporting Barack in his career and not losing herself. Hadley, I think, ultimately has the strength of character to walk away. People are critical of women who are figuring themselves out, and I appreciated the author's sensitivity to Hadley's experience navigating ernest's larger than life aspirations, friends, and ultimate betrayal.
The atmosphere throughout the book is really amazing. Her sense of place and time is evident in sounds, smells, dialogue, all of it.
I enjoyed the pacing too. Knowing from the get go what would happen with Pauline, it was like a slow building train wreck. I read the last third in one nauseous sitting. Then went on a Wikipedia rabbit hole about all involved.
I would LOVE an entire series on Hemingway's four marriages. I bet McClain could write up Pauline (the homewrecker) in an empathetic way. Hemingway's third wife sounds fascinating (a conflict journalist). He was always drawn to smart, independent women.
Reading through some reviews, I see criticism of Hadley for being a doormat, but I think McClain does a great job depicting Hemingway as this absolute force. There are people with massive ambition and magnetic personalities to go with it, and there is a lived experience of being someone living close to that. Even Michelle Obama struggled with finding balance between supporting Barack in his career and not losing herself. Hadley, I think, ultimately has the strength of character to walk away. People are critical of women who are figuring themselves out, and I appreciated the author's sensitivity to Hadley's experience navigating ernest's larger than life aspirations, friends, and ultimate betrayal.
The atmosphere throughout the book is really amazing. Her sense of place and time is evident in sounds, smells, dialogue, all of it.
I enjoyed the pacing too. Knowing from the get go what would happen with Pauline, it was like a slow building train wreck. I read the last third in one nauseous sitting. Then went on a Wikipedia rabbit hole about all involved.
I would LOVE an entire series on Hemingway's four marriages. I bet McClain could write up Pauline (the homewrecker) in an empathetic way. Hemingway's third wife sounds fascinating (a conflict journalist). He was always drawn to smart, independent women.
Recommended by Connie, Jo and Andrea
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Check our catalog:
http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sparis%20wife%20mclain__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
The fictionalized story of Ernest Heminway and his first wife, Hadley. They met in 1920 in Chicago and after a short courtship--much of it long distance--they married and moved to Paris. In Paris, Ernest struggled to launch his writing career and they both got caught up in friendships with Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald and many others. Their marriage became more complicated after the birth of their son, after Ernest began to bask in commercial success, and after a bitter betrayal. The book started out slow for me, but picked up after the couple reached Paris. I ended up really liking the book, but question why Hadley put up with Ernest and his behavior for as long as she did.