A review by tigeryear
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Hemingway, so ungodly boring and dry, made this a difficult read. I expected more ACTION! This long-ass book took place over 4 days! Mediocrity! Anytime we were away from Robert Jordan was a respite.

I read till the end hoping and praying that we would see his death.

I'll unhappily settle for his leg being torn and torqued, I guess.

There wasn't even good romance! Sure, there was sex. Maybe even good sex, who knows? But Maria pretty easily left Jordan for her own safety. In a novel, a character can only SAY so much, but their actions show you their real motivations. She wanted to live. Marriage be damned. Plot be damned!

I can't believe this was recommended to me by a friend. We truly have differing tastes in what makes a good story. Historical relevancy or no, do not read this book if you don't have to. Now that I'm finished, I'm glad to be rid of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment

Nobody...Nobody developed. Not at all. And the plot is what you would expect after reading, like, the first three chapters. Don't waste your time.