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A review by jyeetreads
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
5.0
I am 19. I read this when I was 17.
I guess it’s a bit unexpected for someone my age to like it so much, as many young adults say “What’s the point in this? Why is it famous?” when forced to read this book. I remember my friends/classmates telling me how boring they thought it was too, and as someone who didn’t usually love classics or resonate with the usually hard-to-understand verbiage within them, I didn’t have high hopes either when it was optionally assigned.
But this book easily takes a spot in my favorites of all time, and there are very few that do.
I’m in college now and I still think about it. How simple it is. Yet how in it’s simplicity there is so much power. Hemingway uses words in a way I’ve never read fiction before. So plain- no symbolism- the old man is an old man, the fish is a fish- but there’s powerful purpose in the lack thereof. It’s to highlight- without any real highlighting- the raw message of humanity. The old man as a human in all his facets- age, wisdom, dignity, determination, etc.
I am still moved by the story to this day. I’m nothing like Santiago- I’m no Cuban old man- Just an Asian-American 19 y.o. gal. But the message of humanity relates to me. I am human. I may not have age or wisdom, but I have dignity and determination.
Overall, amazing piece of work. So much said in so little.
If you’re around my age, please consider giving it a read with fresh eyes, and do not be daunted if it’s assigned school reading. It’s worth it. :-)
I guess it’s a bit unexpected for someone my age to like it so much, as many young adults say “What’s the point in this? Why is it famous?” when forced to read this book. I remember my friends/classmates telling me how boring they thought it was too, and as someone who didn’t usually love classics or resonate with the usually hard-to-understand verbiage within them, I didn’t have high hopes either when it was optionally assigned.
But this book easily takes a spot in my favorites of all time, and there are very few that do.
I’m in college now and I still think about it. How simple it is. Yet how in it’s simplicity there is so much power. Hemingway uses words in a way I’ve never read fiction before. So plain- no symbolism- the old man is an old man, the fish is a fish- but there’s powerful purpose in the lack thereof. It’s to highlight- without any real highlighting- the raw message of humanity. The old man as a human in all his facets- age, wisdom, dignity, determination, etc.
I am still moved by the story to this day. I’m nothing like Santiago- I’m no Cuban old man- Just an Asian-American 19 y.o. gal. But the message of humanity relates to me. I am human. I may not have age or wisdom, but I have dignity and determination.
Overall, amazing piece of work. So much said in so little.
If you’re around my age, please consider giving it a read with fresh eyes, and do not be daunted if it’s assigned school reading. It’s worth it. :-)