Plot summary: Set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Havana, Hemingway's magnificent fable is the story of an old man, a young boy and a giant fish. In a perfectly crafted story, Hemingway depicts a unique and timeless vision of the beauty and grief of man's challenge to the elements in which he lives.
Do you ever hear so many wonderful things about a classic book, read it... and then assume that you must have missed something? Because while The Old Man and the Sea is fine as a story about a man and a really big fish, to me that's pretty much all it is. I suppose if I tried really hard I could make up something about determination and brotherhood, and I had an inkling about Santiago being Jesus, but I don't see the Nobel Prize-ism. Sorry.
Then again, I'm here to review the novel as a story, not a work of art. Just because it's clever or a classic, doesn't mean that the damn thing is going to be enjoyable and you don't have to pretend that it is.
I have to admit to not really enjoying The Old Man and the Sea much. For one thing, I don't like fish in the slightest. I once had a panic attack in a pet shop because I felt like they were crowding me. And yes, yes - a story about a fisherman has fish in it!? I know, I was as surprised as you... Normally I can deal with them in literature, but this has some fairly graphic fishness that I Really Did Not Like. At one point Santiago has his head stuck inside a gutted dolphin.
Fish aside, as I understand that not everybody is as broken as me, it's still just an alright story. It does tell a story at least - there's a beginning, a middle and an end - and it's not some rambling diatribe on the meaning of life. The ending is rather anti-climactic, rendering the whole novella almost pointless.
Basically, I doubt that you'll genuinely enjoy this unless you a) enjoy fishing or b) want to search for hidden meaning. I know that I've come across as quite disparaging, but The Old Man and the Sea just wasn't for me.
Read more about Ernest Hemingway!
I haven't read any Ernest Hemingway but I can't say this book particularly appeals to me. I feel like I'd probably have the same reaction as you!
ReplyDeleteThere is never anything wrong with saying, "This isn't for me." Personally, I haven't read much Hemingway. He kind of falls into this era-hole of novels I haven't read, and I haven't ever been in the mood for him either. But I *do* like fishing so maybe I'll give this a look on some lazy summer day.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book, and I read it in high school. Guess I "got" the hidden meaning.....
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to TRY this book, but I've heard that Hemingway's a pretty divisive writer. Some people love his clean style and seem to get a lot from it, other people are left cold. I have a bad feeling I'm going to be left cold by at least SOME of his work, just because I don't always do well with books that are 'supposed' to have some kind of hidden fable-esque deep meaning but are actually pretty dull! I just end up rolling my eyes, I'm afraid, it's not my thing at all.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll start with Fiesta/A Moveable Feast/Death in the Afternoon - something I already have some interest in for the setting and context and might like better! :)
I want to try this book. I read Hemingway's Moveable Feast last year and really enjoyed the writing style!
ReplyDeleteI'm not overly bothered by fish (although I prefer to eat them than be near them generally!) but even I'm not convinced by this at all. I think mainly because if I'd picked it up and it hadn't prompted a Nobel Prize win, there's no way that I would buy it or read it. I just don't want to read about fish...I like an Aesop fable as much as the next person but a fable disguised as a story about fishing? Meh...
ReplyDeleteAlso, what is with you picking out books with people investigating the insides of dead animals?! I mean, I know the first one was *technically* my fault so maybe I shouldn't exactly mention it...let's move on!
I totally get what you mean about differentiating between reviewing it as a story and not as a work of art. That's precisely why I don't really like to review 'classics' because whilst I can see their literary merit or whatever, they're simply not as enjoyable!
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