this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023
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I finally read "Old Man and the Sea". I have tried to start it many times, but the beginning was just so slow. Has anyone here read it? What are your thoughts on this Ernest Hemingway classic?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

@MariaRomanov A few people have told me that the whole thing needs to be read in a single sitting for it to work.

Personally... It's just slow and depressing. Nothing that really keeps me, and nothing that makes it feel worth reading.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

It was very depressing, but I think it has a cool message towards the second half. I agree that it's probably something to read in a single sitting.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm with you. I didn't manage to get through the whole thing.

[–] asterfield 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don’t know how to explain why I like Hemingway. His work just feels hyper true in a way. Him and Steinbeck both stay with me for a while after I put the book down.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Not his best book (in my opinion), but a great one. It's a remarkable example of the "whole is much better than the parts": the start is a bit boring, the pseudo-dialogs with the fish are a bit silly and the climax is a bit disappointing, but when you close it you get the feeling that you experienced something great.

What is always superb in his work is the language economy, the to-the-point sentences, the lack of useless words and meaningless descriptions. Hemingway invented the modern prose and all of us readers and writers owe him a drink.

[–] mvirts 3 points 1 year ago

Read it long ago, don't remember it being depressing, but definitely had a raw feeling about the story. I see it as a piece that takes an aspect of life that may look devoid of meaning from the outside and reveals meaning buried within intricate detail... But take that with a squeeze of lime, it's been a while :P

[–] sustarces 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've had on my bucket list to do a short book/long cigar afternoon at some point and I've been saving this book for that afternoon.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Dude I wanna come, I’ll bring the scotch