The Old Man and The Sea
by Ernest Hemingway 128 pages
I
haven’t read this novella since I was in junior high school (I think it’s
called middle school now). I didn’t care for it then. I have never been a
Hemingway fan. But I had three reasons for picking it up again.
First,
it was my turn to pick the book for my writing group. I knew I wanted something
short, as one of our members isn’t a big reader. Second, March’s topic for the On the Same Page with Central Library
Goodreads challenged its readers to re-read a hated book from high school.
Third, is I’m a big fan of Paula McLain’s The
Paris Wife.
The
copy I checked out at the Library has an introduction by Charles Scribner, Jr.
Interesting I thought as his father was one of the two men to whom Hemingway
dedicated this book. If you pick up this copy, DON’T read the introduction; it
gives the whole story away. I remembered how it ended, but I didn’t need to be
reminded of the details.
The
Old Man has been without a catch for 84 days. Everyone in his Cuban village
claims he is unlucky and begins to shun him. NOTE: Hemingway went to Cuba and fished
as part of his research. Still he goes out, sure that today would be his lucky
day. He hooks the fish of a lifetime and
spends the next four days, barely eating, drinking, or sleeping, reeling it in.
I
so enjoyed this story; it was unputdownable. It did take me two evenings to
read, but I tried to read slow and enjoy the adventure. I have to admit that I wanted
to read fast, but Scribner’s spoiler spoiled some of the fun.
After
finishing this story of the old man who has hooked the fish of a lifetime, I
may go back and try to read some more Hemingway.
I
give The Old Man and The Sea 6 out of
5 stars.
