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paulaks 's review for:
A Farewell to Arms
by Ernest Hemingway
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Sober, journalistic and sad.
Reading A Farewell to Arms is definitely a choice because let me tell you, you're in for a ride.
Not a pleasant read since the obvious situation (world war one) and the writing being quite depressing. Especially the writing: It didn't click with me but I understand its purpose or why Hemingway writes that way. This isn't a flowery classic. This is a harsh semi-autobiographical work describing horrible fates. You are told everything you need to, no metaphor more or comparison less. The dialogue is written similar but I enjoyed reading it more. The characters feel dry and exhausted - at this point in war EVERYONE is exhausted, so I can't really blame them.
Now to the themes: Hemingway describes and American ambulance driver in Italy and his way of surviving war while trying to have a decent time. He meets the most weird people and sees how everybody copes differently. A major plot point will be an injury that completely changes the trajectory. Stereotypically, there needs to be a love story during this crisis. Good luck with that ;)
I would describe this novel rather educational than entertaining. I grabbed it and was open to learn more about the feeling and life during war. To be frank, I have nothing to compare it to. However, I know this will not be a favorite of mine and honestly I don't know who to recommend it for. Probably to someone with experience in classical and historical literature because no way you can get through this novel without it. If you want to learn about the war or Hemingway as an author, this is the way to go.
PS: The ending wrecked me.
Not a pleasant read since the obvious situation (world war one) and the writing being quite depressing. Especially the writing: It didn't click with me but I understand its purpose or why Hemingway writes that way. This isn't a flowery classic. This is a harsh semi-autobiographical work describing horrible fates. You are told everything you need to, no metaphor more or comparison less. The dialogue is written similar but I enjoyed reading it more. The characters feel dry and exhausted - at this point in war EVERYONE is exhausted, so I can't really blame them.
Now to the themes: Hemingway describes and American ambulance driver in Italy and his way of surviving war while trying to have a decent time. He meets the most weird people and sees how everybody copes differently. A major plot point will be an injury that completely changes the trajectory. Stereotypically, there needs to be a love story during this crisis. Good luck with that ;)
I would describe this novel rather educational than entertaining. I grabbed it and was open to learn more about the feeling and life during war. To be frank, I have nothing to compare it to. However, I know this will not be a favorite of mine and honestly I don't know who to recommend it for. Probably to someone with experience in classical and historical literature because no way you can get through this novel without it. If you want to learn about the war or Hemingway as an author, this is the way to go.
PS: The ending wrecked me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail