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shobnob's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kevin_shepherd's review against another edition
4.0
"Being against evil doesn't make you good ...when you start taking pleasure in it you are awfully close to the thing you're fighting"
A manly story about a very manly man, doing the things manly men do: hunting, fishing, fist fighting, a few quick trips to the local brothel, then off to capture nazi u-boat survivors. This novel just oozes with testosterone, yet Hemingway still conveys a sense of warmth and vulnerability. His protagonist is a loving father, a kind-hearted exhusband, who is fanatically devoted to his cats.
He had me at 'fanatically devoted to his cats'
A manly story about a very manly man, doing the things manly men do: hunting, fishing, fist fighting, a few quick trips to the local brothel, then off to capture nazi u-boat survivors. This novel just oozes with testosterone, yet Hemingway still conveys a sense of warmth and vulnerability. His protagonist is a loving father, a kind-hearted exhusband, who is fanatically devoted to his cats.
He had me at 'fanatically devoted to his cats'
bupdaddy's review against another edition
3.0
The book is good. It's good but it's sad. It's a good, sad book about a good, sad man, and that's what Hemingway intended. He knew that writing a good book is a fine thing, because people will enjoy reading it.
I tell myself that he's right: reading a good book is a good thing. You can be glad that the book is good, and you can be glad that you are not a character in the book, because Hemingway books are sad books, and characters in Hemingway books do not have an easy time of it. But it's a good, fine thing to enjoy as a good read.
Lots of books you are not reading, because you are reading this one right now, may be better - hell, some must be - but do not dwell on that. No, do not dwell on that, but read the good book you have, because you know it is good and is nothing to complain about. You've got a good book and it's a pleasure to read, and it's a damned sight better to read than it is to be one of the characters in the book.
If you are a character in a Hemingway book you will probably get shot. You'll get shot and it will hurt like hell and there will be blood and you might die. If you do not die, you may get shot again, later in the book. That will hurt like hell, too, and if you get shot a second time you might as well die because Hemingway has it in for you.
So be glad that you are reading the book, you bastard, and that you aren't one of the bastards in the book.
I tell myself that he's right: reading a good book is a good thing. You can be glad that the book is good, and you can be glad that you are not a character in the book, because Hemingway books are sad books, and characters in Hemingway books do not have an easy time of it. But it's a good, fine thing to enjoy as a good read.
Lots of books you are not reading, because you are reading this one right now, may be better - hell, some must be - but do not dwell on that. No, do not dwell on that, but read the good book you have, because you know it is good and is nothing to complain about. You've got a good book and it's a pleasure to read, and it's a damned sight better to read than it is to be one of the characters in the book.
If you are a character in a Hemingway book you will probably get shot. You'll get shot and it will hurt like hell and there will be blood and you might die. If you do not die, you may get shot again, later in the book. That will hurt like hell, too, and if you get shot a second time you might as well die because Hemingway has it in for you.
So be glad that you are reading the book, you bastard, and that you aren't one of the bastards in the book.
sarahkmock1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
5.0
adambwriter's review against another edition
4.0
Review: http://classiclit.about.com/od/unitedstates/fl/Islands-in-the-Stream-c1951-by-Ernest-Hemingway.htm
modernviking's review against another edition
4.0
Still my favorite Hemingway novel. Love the scenes with his boys (especially the fishing) and the final hunt through the keys.
spinstah's review against another edition
2.0
This was OK. There was a lot of fishing, boating, and drinking, and a lot of men with questionable attitudes toward women. (So, a Hemingway novel.) The second half of the book was a little more interesting to me, but overall this is one of those where I kind of wonder why I kept reading.
bravo_romeo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
astridcb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not my fave Hemingway. False advertising on the cover as not a love story at all. V manly and tragic but understated, as always.