Reviews

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

calebdunson's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.0

vavocado's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

dellaposta's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this more than I expected. Hemingway dispenses so little information that it really focuses you on the few details that are offered, not to mention the arguably more important details that are left to be inferred. He staunchly refuses to describe or introduce his characters (with the exception of the first page’s description of Robert Cohn). Those characters also seldom reveal anything much about themselves through dialogue. We’re left instead to determine character purely from their actions. I can completely understand the critiques of the book’s perceived anti-semitism (and misogyny, homophobia, racism…). For whatever it’s worth, though, I read the Cohn character as one of the more sympathetic ones — or at least authentic in his actions, as opposed to all these other drunk losers. That might be reading Hemingway with rose-colored glasses, but just putting it out there.

libraryofdreaming's review against another edition

2.0

Serious question: How drunk was Ernest Hemingway when he wrote this book? Some of it is super random! I get that Hemingway's personal experiences enriched this book and made it incredibly important to the period, but I must say, if I wrote a book like this today I would get rejected from each and every publication house on the planet! I've heard Hemingway's style called "sparse" and "editorial" but dang, there was a run on sentence in this that went on for a page and a half! I don't call that "sparse"! I really enjoyed The Old Man and the Sea and, to a certain degree, For Whom the Bell Tolls, but this book just didn't work for me. After the twelve thousandth mention of how much liqueur cost I could feel my eyes rolling back into my head. Also, I now know more about bull-fighting than I ever, EVER wanted to. *shudder* It does kind of boggle my mind that this is a thing that still happens in Spain... It just wasn't my type of book and to be quite honest, after all the hype about "The Voice of the Lost Generation" I expected much more emotion and punch than I got.

Something I'm noticing about Hemingway's war novels is how very little the war is actually mentioned. What he doesn't say seems to mean more than what he does say. Some might enjoy this intellectual puzzle, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

smiling_plum's review against another edition

3.0

A little boring and repetitive at times but I understand the sentiment of it (simping for someone who will never care for you in the way you do for them). The dialogues are beautifully written though which makes up for the lack of action and description.

rachaelsedona's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This book is great, but takes patience. It focuses on characters who tend to rely on distractions from their own miseries and shortcomings. The book touches on themes of masculinity, isolation, and difficulty expressing one's inner turmoil. It is not a book to go to for plot, but elicits many feelings.

mkepper's review against another edition

3.0

Lost is definitely the word for it.. glad I read in the dog days of summer

sophie_paterson's review against another edition

adventurous reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

bperl's review against another edition

3.0

A dissipated look at the Roaring Twenties and the urbanized men and women who lived them. Hemingway explores a world whose morals and values have been brought to the brink by the Great War, and the disappointing choices subsequently made by his disillusioned characters.
Not as well-written or as insightful as I would’ve expected. Hemingway of 1926 isn’t nearly as powerful as the Hemingway of 1952.

ryanskiba's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.25