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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
To be honest, I'm not quite sure what drew me to this book in the first place. Maybe it was the cover, or the title, or the fact that the blurb sounded intriguing... Or maybe because the artistic scene of the 20s in Paris is so fascinating to me and I like reading about real people.
Still. I have to admit I've never read any of Hemingway's novels and knew very little about his life when I started this book. I guess I expected more from it and Hadley is - I'm sorry to say - a rather dull character and definitely one I can't relate to. Ernest, too, though, which makes it less bad for them as characters, but worse for the book in general, because after about half of it I became rather bored and basically just plowed through the rest because I don't like leaving books unread (and wanted to know how their story ended, I guess, knowing that it would sooner rather than later...).
I enjoyed McLain's language and the setting in general, but if you can't feel for the characters, reading a book in their voice and reading about only them can be quite tedious, despite beautiful language and setting.
Still. I have to admit I've never read any of Hemingway's novels and knew very little about his life when I started this book. I guess I expected more from it and Hadley is - I'm sorry to say - a rather dull character and definitely one I can't relate to. Ernest, too, though, which makes it less bad for them as characters, but worse for the book in general, because after about half of it I became rather bored and basically just plowed through the rest because I don't like leaving books unread (and wanted to know how their story ended, I guess, knowing that it would sooner rather than later...).
I enjoyed McLain's language and the setting in general, but if you can't feel for the characters, reading a book in their voice and reading about only them can be quite tedious, despite beautiful language and setting.
Just could not get into this book. It's supposed to be a historical fiction but it reads like cheesy chick lit. Didn't care about the characters or the story and gave up around the 50% mark.
This is a hauntingly beautiful telling of Earnest Hemingway's wife, Hadley... I listened to this book, and about 2 sentences into the first chapter, I was completely hooked. Its a fun view on what Europe, but specifically Paris, was like in the 1920s.
I don't know very much about Hemingway, but I enjoyed reading about the author himself.
I don't know very much about Hemingway, but I enjoyed reading about the author himself.
Loved it!
This work of historical fiction is narrated (primarily) by Ernest Hemingway's wife, Hadley. Through her eyes, we get to see a famous author emerge whilst living and writing in Paris.
There is a realism about this novel that I found to be very compelling. The characters are so well portrayed, and you find it very easy to both love and hate them at the same time! It's really a simple story of a marriage and of an artist, but it's just done so well. I found it very hard to put aside.
I'd especially recommend this book for those who enjoyed "Loving Frank". I also think it has more appeal for people who are already married or at least have truly been in deeply love . . .I think to grasp how well the author has done with this subject matter it is helpful to have experienced marriage oneself.
This work of historical fiction is narrated (primarily) by Ernest Hemingway's wife, Hadley. Through her eyes, we get to see a famous author emerge whilst living and writing in Paris.
There is a realism about this novel that I found to be very compelling. The characters are so well portrayed, and you find it very easy to both love and hate them at the same time! It's really a simple story of a marriage and of an artist, but it's just done so well. I found it very hard to put aside.
I'd especially recommend this book for those who enjoyed "Loving Frank". I also think it has more appeal for people who are already married or at least have truly been in deeply love . . .I think to grasp how well the author has done with this subject matter it is helpful to have experienced marriage oneself.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this very interesting but it fell flat overall. I wanted to get into the characters but did not connect with them. The last quarter is so depressing but honest I’m sure. Fascinating time for literature! Very romantic.
I wasn't sure quite what to expect as fiction that includes "real" people can be a challenge. However, the author pulls this off magnificently.
The book is beautifully written with well developed characters and adds to the persona of well-known persons througout the story. The tidbits about F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda are priceless.
The book is beautifully written with well developed characters and adds to the persona of well-known persons througout the story. The tidbits about F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda are priceless.
Very grueling book, but it does give you a very good look at the artist of the time.
A very romanticized version of Bohemian expat scene in Paris in the 1920s, and one that tries to play with the sometimes-popular notion of Ernest Hemingway as a misogynistic a-hole. To some extent it is an enjoyable read in the rosy way everything is depicted--you get all the glamour of partying with Fitzgerald and Pound with very little of the ugly, dirty hangover. You get all the cutesy 1920s pet names people used to call each other--Tiny, Tatie, Cat--without any of the insults. But if you want to come down a little bit to earth, don't expect it in this novel.
All in all it's almost like in answer to the portrayal of Hemingway as this Tarzan-like macho man, McLain has swung the other way to show him as a sweet, bumbling child who got swept up in the drama of his time. There's no way he was either one. Hadley is a too-perfect protagonist who lets everything happen to her rather than taking any control of her own life. The last quarter of the book--starting with the winter in Schruns--was so maddening that I lost most of my sympathy for the heroine/martyr (but really didn't care for anyone else in the book either). I can see why this is a popular book club selection and it was admittedly a fun read, but it probably won't be in any Hemingway college courses any time soon.
All in all it's almost like in answer to the portrayal of Hemingway as this Tarzan-like macho man, McLain has swung the other way to show him as a sweet, bumbling child who got swept up in the drama of his time. There's no way he was either one. Hadley is a too-perfect protagonist who lets everything happen to her rather than taking any control of her own life. The last quarter of the book--starting with the winter in Schruns--was so maddening that I lost most of my sympathy for the heroine/martyr (but really didn't care for anyone else in the book either). I can see why this is a popular book club selection and it was admittedly a fun read, but it probably won't be in any Hemingway college courses any time soon.
