Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-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
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Haven’t read it since college. Took my time reading-reading it.
I'm not sure I like that ultra sparse writing style. Most of the time it didn't bother me or I didn't notice, but every now and then it was so dry it was almost silly. It was also very subtle, and I'm sure that writing style helped there. I liked the subtlety in general, but once I'm aware of subtlety, I can't help but wonder if I'm missing other things.
Often it was very pleasant and sweet, I especially liked the fishing trip, but it would also get brutally uncomfortable and the characters would fluctuate between charming and detestable. I liked Jake (the main character) pretty much the whole time, he had a nice mix of jovial stoicism. One issue I have with the sparse writing style is I have a hard time not applying the impression the simplistic style gives me, to the characterizations. I end up feeling that all the characters are simple and spartan.
Everyone is drinking their ass off and rabble rousing almost from beginning to end, and I was starting to feel weird about the level of constant debauchery, but then I remembered that they were basically on vacation. I would say it was still indicative of the general level of drinking at the time, and a lot of it seemed quite nice really. It seems like here was more sincerity and social camaraderie in it then there is now. I also really enjoyed their vocabulary around drinking. "I was a bit tight" "Oh I was blind" "You're cock-eyed" etc. So charming!
Often it was very pleasant and sweet, I especially liked the fishing trip, but it would also get brutally uncomfortable and the characters would fluctuate between charming and detestable. I liked Jake (the main character) pretty much the whole time, he had a nice mix of jovial stoicism. One issue I have with the sparse writing style is I have a hard time not applying the impression the simplistic style gives me, to the characterizations. I end up feeling that all the characters are simple and spartan.
Everyone is drinking their ass off and rabble rousing almost from beginning to end, and I was starting to feel weird about the level of constant debauchery, but then I remembered that they were basically on vacation. I would say it was still indicative of the general level of drinking at the time, and a lot of it seemed quite nice really. It seems like here was more sincerity and social camaraderie in it then there is now. I also really enjoyed their vocabulary around drinking. "I was a bit tight" "Oh I was blind" "You're cock-eyed" etc. So charming!
i think the whole hotel could’ve turned upside down and all anyone would say is “gee.”
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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:
Yes
This is my favorite Hemingway book (yes, it’s a reread). I went through a hard Hemingway phase in undergrad. I love his writing style. I love how it’s direct and simple, but that’s it somehow is so rich with subtext (look up “iceberg theory” for more details on that). I love that his characters are all lonely martyrs (remember, I’m a big fan of sad girl shit). The setting roams through Europe, but is known for its scenes in Spain. There are some beautiful and tragic bullfighting scenes (tons of symbolism). Light antisemitism, mostly aimed at a single character who is unpopular for other reasons (the antisemitism is more of a catch-all). The protagonist is a lonely, drunk writer who was injured in the war and is now impotent. He refuses to be with the woman he loves because of this, so she is pretty consistently drunk and sleeping around with their drunk friend group and acquaintances in an effort to dull her heartache over him. Everyone is drunk and sad and buried under themselves. Love this book. Continues to be one of my favorites.
This is certainly one of the best ways to get the feel of the Lost Generation-- the deep ennui is palpable, and at times a bit tedious. Cliff notes: a cycle of drinking, depression, and regret. Oh, and the requisite sexism and anti-Semitism. Fun times.
What's interesting to me in The Sun Also Rises is the way Hemingway works out his prose style here-- the passages about bullfighting are positively lyrical, whereas the dialogue (or any passage describing a woman) is the traditional Hemingway prose for which he is known: choppy, curt, and full of mild (or, in the case of the women: severe) disdain for the subject.
It's a book worth reading and a book worth teaching (but if you're looking for just one Hem, I'd recommend For Whom the Bell Tolls).
What's interesting to me in The Sun Also Rises is the way Hemingway works out his prose style here-- the passages about bullfighting are positively lyrical, whereas the dialogue (or any passage describing a woman) is the traditional Hemingway prose for which he is known: choppy, curt, and full of mild (or, in the case of the women: severe) disdain for the subject.
It's a book worth reading and a book worth teaching (but if you're looking for just one Hem, I'd recommend For Whom the Bell Tolls).
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes