The Works of Ernest Hemingway

[janejollity]

Ugh. Faulkner.

There's this one line from A Moveable Feast that always bugged the crap out of me, though- "She was very pretty with a face fresh as a newly minted coin if they minted coins in smooth flesh with rain-freshened skin..." It just infuriates me whenever I read it. Otherwise I absolutely love that book and have been after the boyfriend to read it since Hemingway talks about Ezra Pound, who is the boyfriend's hero. And the way he talks about poor Fitzgerald! Hemingway is so bitchy.

I realize that at some point I'm going to have to reread For Whom the Bell Tolls, when I don't have to do it for an assignment, and maybe I'll like it better.

[Smilla]

Hemingway's strength, IMO, is his short stories. They're amazingly polished gems. I also love A Movable Feast (soooo bitchy!), and Garden of Eden was breathtaking (especially once you see what was planned for the finished product). I can't get through OMATS.

OMG, Dwan, are you me? I was gonna post those exact thoughts.

I'll add that I think Hemingway's titles should get special recognition in the canon as being the best in American lit. They are just so perfect. He had a genius for titles that I'm desperately trying to capture in my own writing.

[thingamajig]

Hemingway's strength, IMO, is his short stories.

I totally agree with that. We read a ton of his stuff in 11th grade. I really loved his short stories and hated his novels. I do think that I should go back and reread some of his novels at some point, though, because I also hated Pride and Prejudice in high school, thanks to our crappy teacher who sucked every bit of enjoyment out of literature.

[dwanollah]

I'll add that I think Hemingway's titles should get special recognition in the canon as being the best in American lit. They are just so perfect.

I know!! I love looking through his list of potential titles.