Michael's Book Babble

Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is about as straight-forward of a story as you can get--but then again, it's very possible that there are hidden meanings and symbolism that I might've missed out on, but in the end for me this was a tale of a very unlucky fisherman who hopes to finally have a good fishing trip. When he sets out, he hooks a giant fish and the battle between the two takes place while the old man is trapped alone with his thoughts and doubts.

I enjoyed this little novella. I may not view it as one of Hemingway's best--but I also have a feeling this is one of those stories that will stay with me and I'll want to revisit, and when I do I'll probably have an even greater appreciation for it. John Steinbeck's The Pearl was the same thing for me. When I first read it when I was younger, I only thought it was a so-so story. But now I have more appreciation for it than I ever did, and recognize it as a stunning piece of fiction.

I don't doubt that The Old Man and the Sea will also have a similar effect on me, in time.

For the audiobook, Donald Sutherland gives a very good reading, although he's a bit soft-spoken at times. He doesn't really change voices when characters are speaking, but thankfully the old man is really the only character throughout most of the book.

I'm glad I finally read/listened to Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. I probably wouldn't recommend it as a first book for anybody who wants to give Hemingway a try, but it's still a worthy read. I loved Hemingway's straight-forward pose. It may seem simplistic on the surface, but he can make it flow beautifully.

4 stars