Michael's Book Babble
I'm an indie author and a scribbler of inane babble. I talk about books I've read/liked. Or at least, that's the plan.
Most of the reviews will be considered "mini-reviews." Usually, it's mostly my reaction to what I've been reading. There are people who are far better at doing full and helpful reviews. But I still have fun doing them, and hope you enjoy them!
The progression of Mr. Adams
I admit I haven't read much Hemingway when it comes to novels. In fact, I know him more for his short stories. A few of the first ones I ever read by him are contained in this great collection, The Nick Adams Stories. It's all of the stories that feature the character, and it also contains unpublished stories and sketches. While I admit the unpublished stuff didn't quite have an impact on me as the original collected work does, it was still great to read them.
There are some brilliant stories contained within this collection. My favorites:
Indian Camp
The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife
Ten Indians
The Battler
The Killers
Now I lay me
A Way You'll Never Be
The End of Something
The Three-Day Blow
On Writing
An Alpine Idyll
Cross-Country Snow
Fathers and Sons
I really want to read his other collections. Even if his Nick Adams stories appear out of order in his other books, they're still strong enough to stand on their own. But it's a great way to give a new look to these stories, to see them progress in order. It almost has the feel of a novel. I highly recommend it to anybody who's a fan of Hemingway. Even though I've read a few of these in the past, it was great to re-visit them.
I listened to the audiobook, which is read by Stacy Keach. I think he did a brilliant job. It was a breath of fresh air after hearing Donald Sutherland's reading of The Old Man and the Sea. Sutherland was good, but he could put you to sleep if you weren't careful. I didn't find that problem with Keach. Not once. From my understanding, he reads the other collections as well. I will certainly seek them out.
4 and a half stars
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