Reviews

The Hemingway Stories by Ernest Hemingway, Tobias Wolff

livefastread's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes

4.0

This was a compelling group of short stories. Some of them were uncomfortable to read for various reasons and reminded me of some of Hemingway's less stellar traits and hobbies as a person. But as always his writing is able to evoke some very real emotion from me.

robdabear's review against another edition

4.0

This is a must read if you are into literary fiction. Although most of the stories are bleak, Ernest Hemingway has tons of brillian short stories for those looking to examine more literary elements of fiction. I used three stories for a literary analysis essay in which I compared the usage of dialogue in Hemingway's stories to support theme.

blakehalsey's review against another edition

3.0

Not as great as his novels, only because his short stories tend to be a little more grotesque than the novels. He packs a punch in a few pages. But still great for any Hemingway lover.

agmaynard's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 Paired with first two episodes of the PBS series for book group, which gave good context. Of the group here, I read Up in Michigan, The Undefeated (which I’m pretty sure I read in high school), In Another Country, Hills Like White Elephants, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, and The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Excellent in different ways! 

cashoutcurse's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

greenmegsandham's review against another edition

5.0

Shout out to a cat in the rain and hills like white elephants

abigaillo's review against another edition

3.0

I only read "Hills Like White Elephants" for an introduction, but I'll probably come back and finish the rest of them up.

intermittent_reader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

vince_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

 Less than half this collection was worth the time, but those few stories were worth more than the time spent reading the entire collection.

For the Hemingway curious and unacquainted here are five deeper cuts: One Trip Across, Black Ass at the Cross Roads, Fifty Grand, Today Is Friday, and The Denunciation. 

jcarter's review against another edition

Collection was inspired by the Ken Burns/Lynn Novick documentary. This was my first time reading any Hemingway short stories (but having read To Have and Have Not after visiting Hemingway's Key West home).

Were I to reread any down the road, I would want the list to include Up in Michigan; Indian Camp; The End of Something; Soldier's Home; The Undefeated; Hills Like White Elephants; The Killers; A Clean, Well-Lighted Place; The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber; and The Snows of Kilimanjaro.