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The Old Man and the Sea
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in reading a great classic in American literature. Truly a one of land author and a pioneer.
The Old Man and the Sea
My Grandpa Ben and I used to go fishing in the lake? canal? pond? in my grandparent's old condo neighborhood. I wasn't some great fisherman (caught my finger on a hook at least once) but it's a fun experience and a great memory I have of my grandfather and I from when I was younger before he passed away.So to help with my A-Z Book Challenge, I picked up The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. It's a short read and was written in the 1950′s, taking place in Cuba. I had no idea it was so "modern" for classic literature. I mean, Hemingway's characters were discussing the Yankees baseball team and Joe DiMaggio.Anyway, The Old Man and the Sea is a book about an older man who is having bad luck catching fish, but in general he's a great fisherman. One day after a long streak of no fish, he goes out alone, only to hook an enormous catch.But will he be able to make it back to shore with the fish? And will he make it alive?This book was good, but seems to be right in the middle for me. I thought the ending fell a little flat. And the whole time I was reading, there were these little shark-killing episodes that had me thinking. . . oh no, Allison @ The Book Wheel would not like this (since she's like a crazy anti-hurting-sharks person).My overall thoughts? If you need a short classic to read, this is a decent one. I wasn't thrilled, but mainly because the ending was a little too short for me.Tell me about your fishing experience!Thanks for reading,Rebecca @ Love at First Book
The Old Man and the Sea
Maybe Hemingway wasn't that old when he wrote "Man", but he captures the essence of struggle with all things earthly in the book, particularly as one ages. I read this earlier in my life as a survival tale. It still is, but reads differently from this perspective.
The Old Man and the Sea
This book may be small, but after just reading a couple pages I wasn't able to put it down.I would recommend this book to anyone.
The Old Man and the Sea
"Man is not made for defeat...A man can be destroyed, but not defeated." And so the old fisherman, down on his luck after 84 days not catching a fish sets out and catches a magnificent marlin who takes him out to sea for days before the old man can try to turn the boat home and try to get his prize home for all to see. What takes place is a magnificent story of obsession, pursuit, success and heart break. I think this book is a metaphor for man's obsession with reaching a goal. It also shows how illusory and transient such goals can be, but how we strive for them nevertheless...as Hemingway was an avid fisherman, it's also a terrific description of what it's like to try to catch the big one. To the old man, I say - sleep easy, you caught a magnificent fish!
The Old Man and the Sea
This is an excellent read for the discerning person who likes the minimalist approach to story-telling. Mr. Hemingway was a master of this form and this book is my favorite. He wastes no words yet gives a detailed, emotionally complete, satisfying depiction of this old man's travails and ultimate loss. The relationship between the old man and the young boy is particularly poignant and gives real insight into the life of Cuba's poor in the time long before Castro was even thought of. Take your time and savor the style, characterization, theme, and ambience of this short book.