alliecalls's review against another edition
1.0
Hemingway's obsession with masculinity is so funny to me. I know the man had hard times but god this is so boring. Why the heck all men are so insecure about every single thing yet Brett is being a "bitch" because of her behaviors?
chammerdata'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
2.5
ealcala's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
thatswhatimtolkeinabout's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
mairywo's review against another edition
challenging
medium-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
2.5
jpwright87's review against another edition
2.0
If this book was written in order to show how meaningless and base the lives of rich post-WWI folk were, then mission accomplished. I realize it can’t be that simple, but I had a hard time enjoying the endless cycle of drinking, exclaiming the level of “tightness” you were experiencing, and then moving on to more drinking elsewhere. It reminded me of “On the Road” in a bad way. I can’t tell whether Hemingway loves or hates these people, but their plight was something I had trouble bringing myself to care about. I understand that there was disillusionment about the war, but what was the disillusionment more specifically? The amount of anomie or existential angst flying around in this book just didn’t seem justified. The only thing seemed to be some vague notion of being un-manned, whether physically, or by being dominated by a woman, or feeling powerless in combat itself. I've never lived through a major war, so it's ultimately hard for me to empathize.
The book seems based on the simple idea of people being affected by different spheres of influence. There is the sphere of Paris, which causes alcoholic binges and relationships made of money, and there is the sphere of Spain, or the country, or anywhere that isn’t Paris, which represents freedom to think, relationships based on mutual respect or interest, and genuine feeling. This way of looking at it might not be the best, but that’s how I interpreted it. The closer you get to the different centers, the more you are affected. It’s telling when Brett and a few others can’t make it out to go on the fishing trip, almost as if they are trapped in the Parisian sphere and unable to escape. The narrator has an outsider's view of Paris, and we see that he is well on his way to being completely corrupted by it.
Things do get interesting once they move the party over to Spain and see some real people (real meaning less-rich, less-cultured, and less-douchey). The bullfighting was a fun metaphor, I will admit, but I never really cared about the characters that much. I will say that Hemingway’s reserve does make for greater emotional pay-offs when characters actually express their inner feelings, but I can’t get away from the fact that I was just bored a lot of the time. And also, metaphor isn’t my favorite. I dunno. I just wasn’t greatly enthused one way or the other.
The book seems based on the simple idea of people being affected by different spheres of influence. There is the sphere of Paris, which causes alcoholic binges and relationships made of money, and there is the sphere of Spain, or the country, or anywhere that isn’t Paris, which represents freedom to think, relationships based on mutual respect or interest, and genuine feeling. This way of looking at it might not be the best, but that’s how I interpreted it. The closer you get to the different centers, the more you are affected. It’s telling when Brett and a few others can’t make it out to go on the fishing trip, almost as if they are trapped in the Parisian sphere and unable to escape. The narrator has an outsider's view of Paris, and we see that he is well on his way to being completely corrupted by it.
Things do get interesting once they move the party over to Spain and see some real people (real meaning less-rich, less-cultured, and less-douchey). The bullfighting was a fun metaphor, I will admit, but I never really cared about the characters that much. I will say that Hemingway’s reserve does make for greater emotional pay-offs when characters actually express their inner feelings, but I can’t get away from the fact that I was just bored a lot of the time. And also, metaphor isn’t my favorite. I dunno. I just wasn’t greatly enthused one way or the other.
kristinlynn24's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
meganhs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-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
3.75
erincgillies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
I was here just for the vibes and it delivered. If you like reading a book about 1920’s Paris nightlife, Spanish bullfighting and everyone fighting over a women who is not very complex then you may like this book.