The last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American fiction. It is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, Santiago, and his supreme ordeal: a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. The struggle isn't so much over one fish, but the act of living -- fully, actively, and robustly.
Showing posts with label Cuba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cuba. Show all posts
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Cuba
Jill said, "I just finished The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, which is set in Cuba. Here is my review.
The last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American fiction. It is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, Santiago, and his supreme ordeal: a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. The struggle isn't so much over one fish, but the act of living -- fully, actively, and robustly.
The last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American fiction. It is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, Santiago, and his supreme ordeal: a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. The struggle isn't so much over one fish, but the act of living -- fully, actively, and robustly.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Cuba
3M said, "I plan on reading Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene for Cuba. I haven't read it yet, though, so I can't vouch for it." Bonnie's response, "I just looked it up and discovered a couple of GOOD things about the book: (1) it's a comedy, and (2) it's just been released in a new paperback edition on July 31, 2007. Thanks for the suggestion, 3M, because I plan to read this book."
This is from an Amazon reviewer who gave the book FIVE STARS:
This 1958 novel was a complete surprise to me. I'd read three books by this author before and found them dark and introspective. But Our Man in Havana is a satirical spoof and I found myself giggling throughout. It deals with a theme that Greene has revisited on many occasions - that of a spy in a foreign country. But this time, it's all in fun, although between the 220 pages of this slim volume, he manages to say a few important things about social class, the Catholic Church, and the absurdity of international relations.
The hero of the story is Jim Wormold, a divorced vacuum cleaner salesman from England in pre-Castro Cuba. His 17-year-old daughter is growing up fast and he finds he needs money. So when the British Secret Service recruits him, he invents a whole world of secret agents and intrigues just to keep the money flowing. He is even sent a secretary, which introduces a bit of romance to the outrageous plot. All of a sudden, the lies he has invented seem to be coming true and the plot thickens, moving along at a breakneck pace. I was totally involved, and found myself laughing out loud at times. What a delightful read! Highly recommended.
This is from an Amazon reviewer who gave the book FIVE STARS:This 1958 novel was a complete surprise to me. I'd read three books by this author before and found them dark and introspective. But Our Man in Havana is a satirical spoof and I found myself giggling throughout. It deals with a theme that Greene has revisited on many occasions - that of a spy in a foreign country. But this time, it's all in fun, although between the 220 pages of this slim volume, he manages to say a few important things about social class, the Catholic Church, and the absurdity of international relations.
The hero of the story is Jim Wormold, a divorced vacuum cleaner salesman from England in pre-Castro Cuba. His 17-year-old daughter is growing up fast and he finds he needs money. So when the British Secret Service recruits him, he invents a whole world of secret agents and intrigues just to keep the money flowing. He is even sent a secretary, which introduces a bit of romance to the outrageous plot. All of a sudden, the lies he has invented seem to be coming true and the plot thickens, moving along at a breakneck pace. I was totally involved, and found myself laughing out loud at times. What a delightful read! Highly recommended.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Cuba
Bonnie said, "Adios Hemingway is a book suggestion for Cuba, until we find a better one. Here's my review of the book. Since I was not overly impressed with the book, I'll quote a review by someone who liked it."
Library Journal's review, edited slightly: "When asked by his former partner to help solve the mystery of a dead FBI agent found in Hemingway's Cuban home, Finca Vigia, Conde cannot resist the opportunity to investigate the murder and cross swords with the literary lion who helped him define what it meant to be a writer. As he interviews those still living who knew Papa or worked for him and follows various clues, including a pair of Ava Gardner's knickers, Conde ruminates on Hemingway's legend, his failing health, and his relationship with Cuba. Fuentes provides a detailed and credible portrait of Hemingway's last days in Cuba in this entertaining literary whodunit. Perfect for readers of detective fiction who happen to be Hemingway aficionados."
Library Journal's review, edited slightly: "When asked by his former partner to help solve the mystery of a dead FBI agent found in Hemingway's Cuban home, Finca Vigia, Conde cannot resist the opportunity to investigate the murder and cross swords with the literary lion who helped him define what it meant to be a writer. As he interviews those still living who knew Papa or worked for him and follows various clues, including a pair of Ava Gardner's knickers, Conde ruminates on Hemingway's legend, his failing health, and his relationship with Cuba. Fuentes provides a detailed and credible portrait of Hemingway's last days in Cuba in this entertaining literary whodunit. Perfect for readers of detective fiction who happen to be Hemingway aficionados."
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