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m4rtt4's review
adventurous
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Hemingway is one of those "must read" authors, whom I personally have never been interested to read, but I couldn't base my opinion on just prejudice and so I decided to read this — and yeah, it was awfully average. What annoyed me the most was the protagonist's lack of interest in his surroundings, he was very passive about everything and we didn't get to hear his inner voice, feel his emotions — anything much at all — so how was I supposed to care or cheer for him? If I wanted to read an objective war story, I'd much rather read non-fiction!
kinda spoiler but I thought the name Farewell to Arms had a deeper symbolic meaning, something around how war is bad and violence is never the solution, but no, it was just about this American man leaving the Italian army because as a foreigner there will be no negative consequences to him or his own home country. bruh.
kinda spoiler but
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy
astrangewind's review against another edition
Just kind of boring and I don't have much interest in it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
endlesswonder's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
accidentalmuse's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.0
This book really surprised me. I found it really difficult to get into because I wasn't a fan of the writing style. It's very dense, and not lyrical. It reminds me a lot of the stream of consciousness. I hated it at first, but it really grew on me as I kept reading.
I also didn't like the characters, I found them disrespectful and indulgent. But somewhere along the way, I came to care about them. I think the reason why, is again, because of the writing style. We are thrust into the lives of these characters very suddenly, and we have no choice but to go along with the quick pace the lives around them are changing.
One thing I continued to dislike throughout the whole book was the treatment of women. It felt very objectifying at first, especially during the early scenes between our main character and Catherine. Similarly, I struggled with how Catherine was written. She was so desperate to please, and I just couldn't imagine someone talking that way. Then again, I'm sure people acted in very peculiar ways during the war.
The ending of this novel is heart-wrenching. I can't believe it ends so suddenly. It really packed a punch. I've been thinking about it all day since.
Overall, I'm not sure I enjoyed this book. After all, I found it difficult to read given the writing style, I didn't particularly relate to any of the characters, and I wasn't that drawn into the plot. However, whenever I picked this book up I was loathe to put it down. I always wanted to read more. I'm glad I read this book.
I also didn't like the characters, I found them disrespectful and indulgent. But somewhere along the way, I came to care about them. I think the reason why, is again, because of the writing style. We are thrust into the lives of these characters very suddenly, and we have no choice but to go along with the quick pace the lives around them are changing.
One thing I continued to dislike throughout the whole book was the treatment of women. It felt very objectifying at first, especially during the early scenes between our main character and Catherine. Similarly, I struggled with how Catherine was written. She was so desperate to please, and I just couldn't imagine someone talking that way. Then again, I'm sure people acted in very peculiar ways during the war.
The ending of this novel is heart-wrenching. I can't believe it ends so suddenly. It really packed a punch. I've been thinking about it all day since.
Overall, I'm not sure I enjoyed this book. After all, I found it difficult to read given the writing style, I didn't particularly relate to any of the characters, and I wasn't that drawn into the plot. However, whenever I picked this book up I was loathe to put it down. I always wanted to read more. I'm glad I read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
seanml's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.25
There aren't many things to say about A Farewell to Arms, but then again there doesn't need to be. Isn't that the whole point of Hemingway? Yes, Hemingway was not the greatest person to live, and because Lieutenant Henry is a near-self insert, the thought comes up from time to time. Somewhat apathetic, privileged and nonchalantly racist, the main character doesn't change those qualities very much. But that's not the point of the story anyways. Hemingway paints a very clear picture, using very little words, of the small daily pleasantries and happinesses of life - and their ultimate futility and inefficacy in comparison to the grandest of life's problems. It is a very somber gaze into the shadow of human history. 8.5/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, and War
Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
arcadering's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racial slurs
mildlypretentiousreader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms is a novel that tells the story of a tragic love affair between Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver, and Catherine Barkley, an English nurse who had recently lost her fiancé in World War I.
One could describe A Farewell to Arms as a love story set behind the backdrop of a war or a war story encompassed by a romance. Catherine and Frederick’s love story takes center stage as the war serves as a means to unify the two and also separate them. The war is a unifying and relatable event the two lovers are able to bound over. On the other hand, the romance serves as an escape from the traumatizing, taxing, and tiresome war. Catherine and Frederick escape their harsh realities with each other. I theorize that that is why their relationship progressed so quickly as well.
Either way, A Farewell to Arms is a visceral, passionate work of literature with undertones of the simplicity and pain that constitutes life. The juxtapositions and contradictions found with A Farewell to Arms lead to effortless yet sparse writing. This style allows the reader to focus on the essence of the story and the characters, and to experience their emotions without being distracted by extra descriptions.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the novel is the way in which Hemingway explores the concept of war. He does not present it as a heroic, noble endeavor, but rather as a senseless and brutal conflict that leaves its participants scarred and disenchanted. Throughout the novel, Henry struggles with his role in the war and his feelings of guilt at not being able to do more for the wounded soldiers he transports from the front lines.
One could describe A Farewell to Arms as a love story set behind the backdrop of a war or a war story encompassed by a romance. Catherine and Frederick’s love story takes center stage as the war serves as a means to unify the two and also separate them. The war is a unifying and relatable event the two lovers are able to bound over. On the other hand, the romance serves as an escape from the traumatizing, taxing, and tiresome war. Catherine and Frederick escape their harsh realities with each other. I theorize that that is why their relationship progressed so quickly as well.
Either way, A Farewell to Arms is a visceral, passionate work of literature with undertones of the simplicity and pain that constitutes life. The juxtapositions and contradictions found with A Farewell to Arms lead to effortless yet sparse writing. This style allows the reader to focus on the essence of the story and the characters, and to experience their emotions without being distracted by extra descriptions.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the novel is the way in which Hemingway explores the concept of war. He does not present it as a heroic, noble endeavor, but rather as a senseless and brutal conflict that leaves its participants scarred and disenchanted. Throughout the novel, Henry struggles with his role in the war and his feelings of guilt at not being able to do more for the wounded soldiers he transports from the front lines.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
annoyingtwig's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
wish i was aymo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Violence, Medical content, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Blood, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs
birtelesemann's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
hannasandmann's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
3.0
I find it really hard to give a star rating to this book. I enjoyed reading it and I admire Hemingway's skill and I know I am going to come back to this book very often in my head, but quite often felt disconnected from what I think Hemingway's intentions were for the reader, e.g. I did not root for the romance at all. To the contrary, I hated their relationship. So the ending did not have the devestating effect on me, it could have had, had I actually enjoyed their relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment