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Summary: Incredible - a masterpiece of American literature
Review: First of all, I admit I'm biased here. I am a tremendous admirer of Hemingway's writing style. The language - unbelievably minimal, declarative, free of any irrelevance - is absolutely intoxicating. This, by itself, makes Hemingway a joy to read. Every sentence is so tight, so compact, yet they all say so much and create as vivid a picture in your mind as a photograph. Hemingway's writing at its worst is amazing.However, "The Old Man and the Sea" is one of Hemingway's finest novels, fully deserving of the Nobel Prize. The story is simple and may seem boring to some, but the beauty of the old man's struggle with the marlin is heartbreaking and encouraging at the same time. Hopelessness and full awareness of defeat are contrasted with perseverance, determination, and an unwillingness to be destroyed. "The Old Man and the Sea" brings home all of mankind's failures and all of mankind's successes in every sentence. I can't recommend this book more highly. Read it and stand in awe, both at Hemingway's astonishing command over the English language and at the dignity he brings to the failed in mankind. Brilliant in every sense of the word.
Rating: 
Summary: Have Not, if it's all the same to you
Review: I am no fan of The Old Man and the Sea, but it's worth publicising more widely the little-known story of its genesis. The Old Man and the Sea was actually an allegory of Hemingway's doomed attempts at wooing Norma Jean Baker (Marilyn = marlin: geddit?). He saw himself as the "evolved" being of man against the "shark" of his contemporary Arthur Miller who nipped and nipped and was the ultimate victor of her affections.
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Summary: ". . . what a man can do and what a man endures."
Review: Ernest Hemingway's short novel "The Old Man and the Sea" received the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1953, and undoubtedly played a role in his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. The book tells the story of an elderly Cuban fisherman and of his epic struggle with a gigantic marlin. This is a simple, straightforward story of courage and endurance. For most of the book, the old man is totally alone (aside from the animals he encounters) on his boat. Hemingway fills the book with memorable details about marine life and the fisherman's trade. An interesting touch is the invocation, throughout the book, of U.S. baseball player Joe DiMaggio as an iconic figure. Hemingway's style has been justly celebrated over the decades, and his writing in this book is remarkable. In "The Old Man" he achieves a purity, clarity, and stark beauty that remind me of the poetry of Stephen Crane. This book is an enduring classic, and Hemingway's old man is one of the most memorable characters in American literature. If you like this book, also try "The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor," by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
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Summary: The Human Spirit Soars.
Review: What an incredible story. I read this in less than two hours (it is a novella) and upon completing this simple story, I had a incredibly overwhelming satisfaction toward the ferocity of the human spirit. Yes, this book is all story but the main idea is all spirit. Those that can't see the incredible battle within are not READING the story, just the words. As a simple by-product, this book led directly to Ernest Hemingway's receipt of the Nobel Prize in 1954. This story features three main characters: the old man (Santiago), a young boy (Manolin), and the human spirit. Santiago takes on the once-in-a-lifetime catch of a prize marlin which is described and portrayed in a manner to draw out the challenge facing each individual, both physically and emotionally. Santiago hasn't had a catch in 84 days. On day 85, he decides that, no matter what, he'll not return with a catch. Indeed, that was his fate. Santiago experiences physical pain, emotional pain, spiritual pain, and the pain of being alone with the elements. Yet, he continues on, creating hope where there is none. Before this story reaches it conclusion, getting right with life, Santiago decides it is he or the marlin. This story is incredible. It deserves(d) all the critical acclaim received. Once again, those who didn't find this story touching their soul didn't read the story.
Rating: 
Summary: The most boring book ever, but ...
Review: I must say that at the time that I read it, this was the most boring book I have ever read. 120 pages of mush on paper. It was so boring and it took me so long to read it that I got really frustrated and threw the book against the wall. But now that I have read it again, being older and more mature, I can recognize the book for its literary value. I still wouldn't reccomend this book as a free read to anyone who isn't really interested or a die hard Hemmingway fan.
Rating:
Summary: it was a big fish...
Review: i read this when i was in college, not for a class, just something on my own...hemingway could actually make the reader "feel" a story, put you right in the middle of the action. it's a sad book, but extremely beautiful. i wonder if when joe dimaggio was alive, did he ever read it? hemingway pays a sweet tribute to him here...the only pulitzer prize winner i felt that actually deserved it...
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece Novella!
Review: This is Hemingway's masterpiece novella! It is rare to find any novella that is even really good, but this one is great. The novella is a difficult thing to write, and even more difficult to publish. This is the story of an old man at sea, who catches a Marlin, and struggles and struggles to get it back to shore. The reader is RIGHT THERE with that old man, the entire way. And that is the genius of this work. There is no place where the reader does not feel this story, as a participant. Written with repetition of simple words, minimal use of adjectives, and gorgeous, hypnotic images that reveal great insight, this book is a timeless masterpiece, and I highly recommend it to everybody.
Rating:
Summary: Hemingway is a literary master
Review: The old man and the sea is just one example of what an extrodinary writer Ernest Hemingway was. This book was clearly written after Hemingway had reached his prime, and it's still excellent. The deceptively simple story of an old man fighting for his place back into society. It's filled with powerful emotion and description.
Rating:
Summary: A book to enjoy
Review: This is a most satisfying book to read. Within its 150 pages, one enjoys a wonderful fishing adventure story and a glimpse of a friendship between Santiago, a Cuban fisherman, El Campeon of his village in his prime, now gone old, and Manolin, a young boy who shares the love of fishing and the love of baseball with Santiago. The reader sees artistry as Hemingway weaves words to describe scenes, dreams, thoughts and fears. The fishing adventure story -- old man in a skiff, battling to land a marlin and fending off sharks - this story by itself is well-worth the 3 hours that it takes to read the book. Then the reader is provided a bonus of Hemingway's musings on a man maintaining dignity as he get older or a man bemused with the difficulties of his day's challenge with the thought of wretchedness if a man each day should have to try to kill the sun. This book -- truly representative of Hemingway's literary genius - is a must-read and is worth making required reading in high schools.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing "classic" about this novel
Review: I rebelled against my honors English reading list in high school. As a result, I'm not well versed in the American "classic" novels. You know, the stuff that practically everyone has read or had an assignment on at some point in their academic careers. In an effort to familiarize myself with America's prize fiction, I obtained a list of all the past Pulitzer Prize winning novels and decided I'd slowly get up to speed on the classics. Well, perhaps I'll have to start with the most recent novels and work my way backward (thanks for the suggestion Amanda!) because this early Pulitzer winner did not interest this reader at all. Although a short piece, I struggled to get to the middle of the book, then just gave up. I found neither the story nor the characters interesting. The writing seems uninspired and remote. After reading half the book I'd like to think that I would have developed some sense of closeness and/or fondness for the story/characters but it didn't happen. If novels are a reflection of the time in which they are written, then this sterilized 1950's publication is well suited for the period. I fail to see the literary merit in this novel. If you can pick this book up for under two dollars (as I did) give it try. It's not worth its retail value.
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