seanml's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
"The Sun Also Rises" defined the Lost Generation, and it certainly feels lost. It's very reminiscent of the very household name The Great Gatsby, published only a year earlier. We follow a group of affluent white folk who live in a world feeling jaded. They hope that each new day will be better, but their freedom brings them to poor conclusions. The characters are put in situations where they don't HAVE to do the right thing, and so each decision is just a little selfish. Usually not grossly so: they're all human, and we would act the same. But these little building disagreements, without distraction, gradually build into conflict. I like our protagonist well enough. I like Bill. I want to like Brett, I want to like Robert, and Mike, and Romero. In the end there's no reason to dislike them either. They're all lost and hurt people, formed by circumstance.
P.S.: There is a single page where the n-word is uttered casually something like 15 times. It doesn't seem malicious, but it's flagrant. Just be aware that if you read this book about problematic people, understand that the author also was a problematic person in a lost world. 8.5/10.
P.S.: There is a single page where the n-word is uttered casually something like 15 times. It doesn't seem malicious, but it's flagrant. Just be aware that if you read this book about problematic people, understand that the author also was a problematic person in a lost world. 8.5/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Classism, Death, Stalking, Cursing, Antisemitism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Infertility, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, War, Violence, and Vomit
antananarywa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Violence and War
aeudaimonia's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a great book, really well written, and unfortunately not at all to my taste. Decided to give Hemingway another chance with this one (hated The Old Man and the Sea when I read it in high school, but loved For Whom the Bell Tolls). It's not that The Sun Also Rises fell flat for me necessarily; the characters are for the most part 3-dimensional and subtle, and the story, though verging on "no plot, just vibes," serves the characters and themes perfectly well. But the plot is so dependent on the characters, and the characters are so unlikeable, that reading the book became my least favorite chore - though less than 200 pages it took me over three weeks to finish. I'll probably come back to the book in a few years or so, and reread The Old Man as well; maybe I'll see them though new eyes. But for now I am so, so relieved to be done.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Homophobia and Violence
kendramichele's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
Hemingway is very good at what he's trying to do, capturing a generation dealing with the aftermath of a world war, characters isolating and intersecting, drifting towards some semblance of possibility and authenticity. His writing is incredibly distinctive. I just couldn't connect with the sparse, repetitive style. It isn't that I was expecting an action-packed read, or that I generally dislike novels that are more slow-paced; there's something deeply human to the aimlessness of these characters, yet it failed to deeply engage me.
Sometimes books resonate, sometimes they don't, and for me this one simply didn't.
Sometimes books resonate, sometimes they don't, and for me this one simply didn't.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Antisemitism, and Homophobia
bookish_bry's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'll admit from the beginning that I don't really jive with Hemingway's style. I appreciate it as someone who writes themself, but as a reader, it makes it hard to get into. The entire first part of the book was very slow and the style made it hard to connect to any of the characters. However, later in the book I did start to enjoy it a lot more. While Hemingway doesn't use many metaphors the ones he does (pretty much just bullfighting) are used very effectively. I ended up being able to see the complexity of the characters and their relationship, and I appreciated them by the end.
It was a good representation of the lost generation and that sense of hopelessness and loss of real identity. It's definitely an important read, and I'm sure there are people who would appreciate the style more than I do at times.
It was a good representation of the lost generation and that sense of hopelessness and loss of real identity. It's definitely an important read, and I'm sure there are people who would appreciate the style more than I do at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Death
A big part of this book is about watching bullfighting with all of the violence towards animals and all of the danger to humans that implies.shadestate's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Violence, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Death, and Bullying
Minor: War and Misogyny
abbyarm's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Addiction, Animal death, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Violence
ciwanski's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
If you’re only going to read one Hemingway book to read, this is NOT the one to grab. One of the best things I can say about this book is that I finished it.
Blah blah blah “quintessential novel of the Lost Generation” go watch midnight in Paris instead, you’ll enjoy it more than reading this book.
This book felt like a hedonistic journal entry that puts Hemingway himself as the indifferent protagonist and talked far too much about fishing and bait and bull fights and cycling and drinking. I mean really! How many bottles of wine or glasses of ABSINTHE can one drink in an evening and not be falling over??? Oof not to mention all the racism and antisemitism.
I’ll probably try to give Hemingway another go, but it’s going to be awhile.
Blah blah blah “quintessential novel of the Lost Generation” go watch midnight in Paris instead, you’ll enjoy it more than reading this book.
This book felt like a hedonistic journal entry that puts Hemingway himself as the indifferent protagonist and talked far too much about fishing and bait and bull fights and cycling and drinking. I mean really! How many bottles of wine or glasses of ABSINTHE can one drink in an evening and not be falling over??? Oof not to mention all the racism and antisemitism.
I’ll probably try to give Hemingway another go, but it’s going to be awhile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Racism, and Violence
thequeenofsheba3's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Violence
anoveldestination's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Dialogue tags must be part of the iceberg we can’t see.
The lack of dialogue tags in the book wouldn’t have bothered me so much if I found the characters unique and memorable. I’ve forgotten most of their names but it seems appropriate just to call them all old chaps like 50% of the dialogue in this book does.
Don’t get me started on the characterization of Brett Ashley, the leading lady. A lot of people think her character is progressive for the time, and on the surface, she does seem sexually empowered, but the misogyny is also under the iceberg. One of the themes Hemingway seems to express is that women’s sexual empowerment comes at the expense of men and their masculinity. Brett’s sexual liberation is constantly blamed for the hardships men experience in the novel, so not the most empowering message it seems on the surface. Also there’s a reference to domestic abuse in Brett’s past that just felt too glossed over and belittled.
At this point, you may be wondering why I gave this book 3 stars. Despite my issues with the dialogue (including the amount of dialogue), I liked Hemingway’s more descriptive passages. I also think there are a lot of themes here to unpack, and I like a book that keeps me thinking and learning more afterwards. I found some of the themes surrounding the Lost Generation well executed and even resonant with the effect of the pandemic on today’s generation. A book that reverberates with me is always a good book for me.
However, ultimately, I don’t think Hemingway’s sparse writing style is my cup of tea. Also, there’s just homophobia, racism, misogyny, and antisemitism littered throughout, and I don’t think we have to excuse these things just because something is a classic. There are plenty of other classics and contemporary books that are just as smart without resorting to hate and prejudice.
The lack of dialogue tags in the book wouldn’t have bothered me so much if I found the characters unique and memorable. I’ve forgotten most of their names but it seems appropriate just to call them all old chaps like 50% of the dialogue in this book does.
Don’t get me started on the characterization of Brett Ashley, the leading lady. A lot of people think her character is progressive for the time, and on the surface, she does seem sexually empowered, but the misogyny is also under the iceberg. One of the themes Hemingway seems to express is that women’s sexual empowerment comes at the expense of men and their masculinity. Brett’s sexual liberation is constantly blamed for the hardships men experience in the novel, so not the most empowering message it seems on the surface. Also there’s a reference to domestic abuse in Brett’s past that just felt too glossed over and belittled.
At this point, you may be wondering why I gave this book 3 stars. Despite my issues with the dialogue (including the amount of dialogue), I liked Hemingway’s more descriptive passages. I also think there are a lot of themes here to unpack, and I like a book that keeps me thinking and learning more afterwards. I found some of the themes surrounding the Lost Generation well executed and even resonant with the effect of the pandemic on today’s generation. A book that reverberates with me is always a good book for me.
However, ultimately, I don’t think Hemingway’s sparse writing style is my cup of tea. Also, there’s just homophobia, racism, misogyny, and antisemitism littered throughout, and I don’t think we have to excuse these things just because something is a classic. There are plenty of other classics and contemporary books that are just as smart without resorting to hate and prejudice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Antisemitism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Alcoholism, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia and War
More...