_ashtyn_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My favorite book of all time, the complicated relationship of Ernest Hemingway’s third wife is raw, brutal, and inspiring. The way the author describes the scenes brings you right into the moment. Be prepared to cry.
louetta's review against another edition
5.0
received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
WOW! I had to sit on this one a few days before I could review it. Very powerful, very good book! The time frame in the story is during the Spanish Civil War, ( which I had not heard of so had to look up! Love it when I learn something new! ) and WWII. Paula McLain has such a special way with writing that it's so powerful and interesting and and lyrical. Her words, at times, took away my breath! She grabs you and immerses you into the story.... and you are lost! The amount of research she had to do into Hemingway and Gellhorn had to be extensive and I appreciate her work. The characters in the book were written full of life and so interesting. If I could give this book more than a 5 star rating, I would, but for now, a very strong 5.
WOW! I had to sit on this one a few days before I could review it. Very powerful, very good book! The time frame in the story is during the Spanish Civil War, ( which I had not heard of so had to look up! Love it when I learn something new! ) and WWII. Paula McLain has such a special way with writing that it's so powerful and interesting and and lyrical. Her words, at times, took away my breath! She grabs you and immerses you into the story.... and you are lost! The amount of research she had to do into Hemingway and Gellhorn had to be extensive and I appreciate her work. The characters in the book were written full of life and so interesting. If I could give this book more than a 5 star rating, I would, but for now, a very strong 5.
kezdispenser's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it even more than the Paris Wife. Gave me a deep sense of wanderlust.
lorees_reading_nook's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Real rating 3.8
A very well written and researched book that I enjoyed reading. However, I hate to say that both in this book and in its predecessor The Paris Wife, Hemingway comes across as a needy, chauvinistic individual, with a preselection to heavy drinking and dubious habits of self-hygiene. Some traits which in the first book seemed forgivable because of his youth really jarred in his middle years. I thought his jealousy of Martha's success as a war correspondent was especially brutal and I doubt whether his brilliance as a writer makes this forgivable. Hemingway comes across as a complex, troubled man with a fragile ego and a childlike desire to always be the centre of attention.
I cannot fault the author for this as I believe she has portrayed the great Hemingway pretty accurately. But somewhere towards the last third of the book, his little tantrums started to get rather tedious and I wondered why Martha put up with him for as long as she did.
A very well written and researched book that I enjoyed reading. However, I hate to say that both in this book and in its predecessor The Paris Wife, Hemingway comes across as a needy, chauvinistic individual, with a preselection to heavy drinking and dubious habits of self-hygiene. Some traits which in the first book seemed forgivable because of his youth really jarred in his middle years. I thought his jealousy of Martha's success as a war correspondent was especially brutal and I doubt whether his brilliance as a writer makes this forgivable. Hemingway comes across as a complex, troubled man with a fragile ego and a childlike desire to always be the centre of attention.
I cannot fault the author for this as I believe she has portrayed the great Hemingway pretty accurately. But somewhere towards the last third of the book, his little tantrums started to get rather tedious and I wondered why Martha put up with him for as long as she did.
bbloome01's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
reads_romance_reviewer's review against another edition
3.0
I loved The Paris Wife and I looked forward to reading this book. The book is about Ernest Hemingway and his third wife, Martha Gellhorn. McLain does a good job in providing the perspectives of two people with strong personalities. I did not know much about Martha Gellhorn before reading this book, but after reading it, I read more about her and her life as a war correspondent. Overall, the book is good for all the reasons I noted above. But it should have been 50-60 pages shorter; at times the book dragged.
jsheldonsherman's review against another edition
2.0
Spoiler
Only made it 30% way through this and liked it much less than the Paris wifeallison789's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
jazzypizzaz's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time connecting to Martha, especially in the beginning she felt less like a full person and more like an attempt to color within the hazy outline of a person. Also, despite all the times I'm told Ernest was charismatic, this never came through in dialogue or descriptions -- instead he only ever seemed bland and petulant. This all led to little emotional investment in their relationship.
Martha led an interesting life however -- the portions during war as a correspondent were good and I always enjoyed the descriptions of the various international places she spent time in.
Martha led an interesting life however -- the portions during war as a correspondent were good and I always enjoyed the descriptions of the various international places she spent time in.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
This is more than a fiction story, is the story of Martha Gellhorn and her love/hate story with Ernest Hemingway; how they travel together as war correspondents and try to explain what is living in a country where war is ready to start...
This had been an intense and addictive read, I am not used to read fiction based in reality, but this book got me hooked since the beginning. Maybe because in some moments I felt like I was there, one part more of the history or because the characters felt real and you could understand their movements even when they didn't like what they were doing.
This had been an interesting read, I would recommend it if you are searching for something different, real.
Some marriage end in love, some end in ruin...
This had been an intense and addictive read, I am not used to read fiction based in reality, but this book got me hooked since the beginning. Maybe because in some moments I felt like I was there, one part more of the history or because the characters felt real and you could understand their movements even when they didn't like what they were doing.
This had been an interesting read, I would recommend it if you are searching for something different, real.
Some marriage end in love, some end in ruin...