The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Sun Also Rises
Book Review: Don't Forget to Think
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a response to some of the other reviews. You have to remember that there are such things as symbolism and metaphor in literature. Also, there is historical context to keep in mind when reading this novel. People who find this book boring are taking it at face value. Example, the bull fighting is not there just for entertainment, it is also a metaphor.Book Review: Early work from Hemingway, an excellent example of his style
Summary: 4 Stars
As you can tell from some of the other reviews, this is a rather strange book, with no major events or startling revelations occurring anywhere within. That is not to say that the book doesn't have a strong message. The redundancy and rather aimless lifestyle of the characters IS the point. What became known as the 'Lost Generation' were known for their living without goals and becoming despondent with the day-to-day that was their life. There is also the more subtle theme of rebirth and new beginnings that will always follow periods of despondency and helplessness.
Narrated by the main character, Jake Barnes, THE SUN ALSO RISES drops you into and takes you through a couple months of life for a few WWI expatriates, in which nothing much seems to happen. Drinking, talking, and occasionally fighting, Jake and his friends Mike, Cohn, Bill, and Brett take a trip to Spain for a week-long fiesta. Jake is one of the least developed main characters of any novel I've read, being extremely non remarkable and somewhat of a pushover. Nevertheless, you can't help feeling a great amount of empathy for Jake, despite not understanding his personal motivations. By far the most interesting and well-developed character is Brett Ashley, a free spirited and brash lady that delights and frustrates the reader in every scene she appears in. As the narrator is in love with Brett, it makes sense that she is portrayed in an ambiguously favorable manner.
This book is perhaps the best example of Hemingway's styles of bare-bones description and character development through dialogue. I'd say about half of the book is taken up by very realistic and choppy conversation among the characters. Much of this conversation (as well as the narrators musings) seem rather inane in many parts but help develop the characters into real people.
An excellent book and a great example of Hemingway's style.
Book Review: Easily my favorite book of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
Hemingway is my favorite 20th century author, and this is by far my favorite book of so many great stories written by "Papa". Essentially an account of the lives of American ex-pats in Europe with no particular aim other than to outline this group of friends' exploits, Hemingway could have ended his writing career with "The Sun Also Rises" and would easily rate among the great American fiction authors of all time.
I've read this book multiple times and even in multiple languages, and will undoubtedly do so again.
Book Review: Excellent Read
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent read. Hemingway writes using such vivid details that you will feel as if you are a character as well. It is also an inside view on the life of young American ex-patriots living abroad during the 1920's.
Reviewed by Kardia Williams
Book Review: Expats Party From Paris to Pamplona
Summary: 2 Stars
I have actually heard more than one person say that "The Sun Also Rises" is their favorite book. I have no idea why they would say that. Maybe I just didn't "get it."
The novel revolves around five English-speaking expatriates who spend their time drinking and carousing their way from Paris to a festival in Pamplona. The four men in the group are all in love with the one woman to some extent. And the woman has affection of some type for each of the men.
There is some humorous drunken dialogue from time to time. There are some good descriptions of bullfighting and trout fishing . Beyond that, there is not much to recommend "The Sun Also Rises."
There is very little story to be told. The book reads like the travel journal of a lovesick person that has been translated from another language into English. Perhaps it just hasn't aged as well as some of Hemingway's other work. "The Sun Also Rises" was lost on me.