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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
"Mice: What is the best early training for a writer?
Y.C.: An unhappy childhood."
Darn! I will never become a good writer.
nitindangwal's review against another edition
4.0
Gem of a book. Hands down. If you are even remotely interested in writing, read it. READ IT. I can't be louder. Read it. For if 'writing' was a person, then this could have been its autobiography.
This book won't tell how to write like Hemingway. In fact it won't help you to write like anyone. But what this book will do is tell you that if you'd feared writing, frustrated by it, felt mad writing for that one line (especially when you wrote so lyrically only a day back), had given up thinking that writing is not your cup of tea, then you are not different than Hemingway. Yes, all those fears and doubts that have haunted you as a writer, were felt by Ernest Hemingway, one of the best writers, himself.
Hemingway never wanted to write a book on writing. He considered it to be a bad luck -writing about writing. But in years of his discussions on his own writing, his letters to his friends giving his advice -he left a trail that when compiled in this book, does provide a definitive guide to a 'writing life'.
Not giving 5 because in the end it dealt with writing issues which were beyond me. But I'm surely going to reread it. And then, with more maturity as a writer, I am sure I would increase it to 5. (It won't go down for sure :) )
This book won't tell how to write like Hemingway. In fact it won't help you to write like anyone. But what this book will do is tell you that if you'd feared writing, frustrated by it, felt mad writing for that one line (especially when you wrote so lyrically only a day back), had given up thinking that writing is not your cup of tea, then you are not different than Hemingway. Yes, all those fears and doubts that have haunted you as a writer, were felt by Ernest Hemingway, one of the best writers, himself.
Hemingway never wanted to write a book on writing. He considered it to be a bad luck -writing about writing. But in years of his discussions on his own writing, his letters to his friends giving his advice -he left a trail that when compiled in this book, does provide a definitive guide to a 'writing life'.
Not giving 5 because in the end it dealt with writing issues which were beyond me. But I'm surely going to reread it. And then, with more maturity as a writer, I am sure I would increase it to 5. (It won't go down for sure :) )
mariathemillennial's review against another edition
5.0
A collection of fragments about writing derived from Hemingway’s essays, letters, novels and interviews.
Maybe not all the advice here is valuable for every writer, but it is definitely entertaining and even motivating.
‘’What is the best early training for a writer? An unhappy childhood’’.
Maybe not all the advice here is valuable for every writer, but it is definitely entertaining and even motivating.
‘’What is the best early training for a writer? An unhappy childhood’’.
sarahalfa's review against another edition
5.0
i really enjoyed this, with a plethora of significant excerpts to choose from; i have been in a reading slump and have mainly been reading economics tests and articles, but i have found a lot of inspiration from this to continue reading and writing for pure pleasure and nothing more
some excerpts i liked;
‘he [the wolf] is hunted by everyone. everyone is against him and he is on his own as an artist is.’
‘if you write enough and as well as you can there will be the same amount of masterpiece material (as we say at Yale)’
‘mice: that is the way they teach you to write in college.
y.c.: i don’t know about that. i never went to college. if any sonofabitch could write he wouldn’t have to teach writing in college’
‘always stop when you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to the next day’
‘you just have to go on when it is worst and most helpless.
some excerpts i liked;
‘he [the wolf] is hunted by everyone. everyone is against him and he is on his own as an artist is.’
‘if you write enough and as well as you can there will be the same amount of masterpiece material (as we say at Yale)’
‘mice: that is the way they teach you to write in college.
y.c.: i don’t know about that. i never went to college. if any sonofabitch could write he wouldn’t have to teach writing in college’
‘always stop when you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to the next day’
‘you just have to go on when it is worst and most helpless.
katieproctorbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was a quick read, insight into Hemingway’s writing life. I liked some of the things he had to say, the practical advice and some great metaphors on writing and the process. But there was a lot of grumpy complaining, too, which seems about right for Hemingway. All in all, this was a fun little read.
lydiaer's review against another edition
5.0
This book reflected what associations led to Hemingway's style. It also showed experiences that inspired his novels.