Spoilers, if you care about a nearly 100 year old book being spoiled
What a book! I knew nothing other than what was on the cover and so knew very little of what to expect. I can understand why this book would have been so impactful to so many who were reeling, wrestling, and coming to terms with World War I. The meaninglessness, the suffering, and the bleakness in this book surely would have resonated and, I imagine, would have felt very real. Everything being built up with meaning and emotion to only come crashing down with Catherine and the child's deaths left me feeling quite empty and frustrated with Hemingway for dragging me along this story for it to simply end like that. Yet, I think that's exactly what he wanted.
Of course, this book is not just about suffering. There is romance, which I thought was captured in a very unique, yet realistic, way. Hemingway's dialogue feels like it was captured directly from a conversation and placed straight onto the page. It felt surprisingly modern, especially after just reading Beartown, a more contemporary novel. Hemingway's style overall is famously unique and I enjoyed it a lot in this book, which is only my second Hemingway, after reading The Old Man and the Sea a few years ago. There is also action, which I thought depicted the War quite like how many who were there would have thought of it: boring, with life-threatening moments thrown in. It was certainly depicted as meaningless and empty; they were fighting over mountains without purpose.
Although perhaps better for its original audience, I enjoyed reading this classic from Hemingway. I enjoyed The Old Man and the Sea more, but I will likely return to Hemingway's other works eventually and see how they compare.
3.6/5