The Sun Also Rises

Rating:
Summary: I was there once
Review: SAR was my first Hemingway book I read. I was in Europe with a friend whom had read SAR and she kept telling me about the book, the bullfights, the partying, lady Brett, Cohn the boxer, Romero the young and handsome bullfighter. Upon returning to the states my friend gave me a copy and again I was back in France and Spain. I could definitely relate the all night drinking, visiting the bullfighting arena and hearing the brute stories of the fights. Hemingway puts you in the story with his vivid description of the mountain sides in Spain and fresh water fly fishing. Who needs a European vacation? SAR takes you there without leaving the comfort of your own home. I've now read it twice and I've also read Hemingway's Short Stories. I'm not an everyday book reader, but now I realize what I've missed. If you are not a Hemingway fan this book is a great start,but if you've read it before enjoy SAR one more time.

Rating:
Summary: "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Ecc. 1:2
Review: Ernest Hemingway took the title for his classic "The Sun Also Rises" from Ecclesiastes. The characters and themes of this book make Ecclesiastes the perfect pretext for anyone about to read "The Sun Also Rises."

Hemingway's novel is a simple novel featuring several acquaintances and a few weeks of their lives spent mostly in Spain watching bullfights and Pamplona's now-famous Running of the Bulls. The characters are very human and in their conversations Hemingway shows the reader their numerous faults. They are lazy, selfish, untrusting, often drunk, and very shallow. Through each other they distract themselves from finding any deeper meaning in their existences. So they drink, admire the beautiful scenery in Spain, and watch bullfights. Like the repetition of life and death in the bullfights they frequent, the characters half-heartedly attempt to solve their problems and only find subsequent troubles replacing those they do manage to slay.

"Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun." -- Ecc. 2:11

Hemingway has created these characters to be endlessly frustrating and seemingly beyond hope, but in doing so he makes them approachable, captivating, and people that every human being can relate to. "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." -- Ecc. 7:20

"The Sun Also Rises" is probably Hemingway's greatest work, and it's main theme is even sadder when viewed in relation to his suicide. With this book, Hemingway left humanity a beautiful work of art, truly worthy of its classic status... but in taking his life, he showed us a very logical end result of characters such as these. Bright, lovable, passionate, and utterly hopeless.

"...for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" -- Ecc. 2:25

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad....
Review: The Sun Also Rises was my first sampling of Hemingway's novel length works. My verdict? Clearly, this is a first novel, but a very good one. The first half of the book is slow and not exactly compelling, and yet by the second half, it really takes off, and I found myself engrossed.

Basically, The Sun Also Rises is a portrait of the "lost generation", those who were so impacted by the war that their lives have no meaning in the traditional sense. They go about a series of meaningless activities that leave them feeling empty and unfulfilled. This premise is fairly existential and dark, and if that isn't your cup of tea, don't bother with the Sun Also Rises. That said, this novel does a great job of characterizing such members of said generation, and the style of the writing is attractively lucid and crisp, yet rich with symbolism. Despite the shaky start, I would reccomend reading this.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Hemingway
Review: There is a certain purity of language, a freshness of style present in The Sun Also Rises that is noticeably lacking in Hemingway's later works. As pointed out very capably by Mr. Mitchell in his earlier review, the plot of the novel itself is not likely to draw many readers, as the drunken revelry of the characters does tend to get a little old. Plus, I have my doubts that anyone can consistently consume as much booze as Jake Barnes, Lady Brett, and especially the "hangers on" did in this novel. Jake's fishing buddy Bill and Brett's fiance were in a state of inebriation virtually throughout the novel.Here the audio format works well, because listening to a good actor speak the words of a drunken character might be easier to endure than trying to read drunken dialogue.

For me, the novel works in a number of ways. Hemingway clearly loved the subject matter, and I thought the beginning of the book, as did his later masterpiece A Moveable Feast, provided a fascinating glimpse of post-WWI Paris. Then, when Hemingway and his friend catch the train for Pamplona to go fly fishing and catch the bullfights, the book really takes off. Hem loved to fish and he loved bullfighting, and his enthusiasm for these sports clearly shines through. Every year someone gets gored in Pamplona during the running of the bulls, and until reading this book I could never discern why anyone would put themselves in that position. Jake Barnes is clearly a true fan and "aficianado" of bullfighting, and his narration points out the many subtle ways to distinguish between a true master, and an overrated matador trying to make it look dangerous while he remains out of harms way.

All the while, Hemingway portrays a doomed romance between Jake and Brett, all the more painful for him since he has to watch one man after another follow her around and get caught in her web. The pathetic Robert Cohn is the most striking example, since the married Cohn sent his wife to England to visit "friends", so that he could follow Brett around Paris and Spain like a wounded puppy after she makes the mistake of sleeping with him. Cohn is clearly an unwanted companion, and the blowups between him and Brett's fiance were memorable. I also loved the scene at a Paris cafe where Cohn's wife bitterly denounces Cohn for sending her off.

In summary, this novel affords a real opportunity to see a good writer perfecting his craft. Hemingway hated phoniness in all things, bullfighting and writing among them, and for any serious student of twentieth century literature much time should be spent with this book. It is a pleasure to read (or listen to), and reveals more secrets each time you pick it up.

Rating:
Summary: The "Lost Generation" indeed. Kudos to Hemingway
Review: Although some complain that the novel, "The Sun Also Rises," by Ernest Hemingway is "boring" or has no plot, I believe that infact it's messages is somewhat elusive and takes a deep thinker to relate and understand why Hemingway wrote the way he did. Obviously his works are reflective of his life; this in itself is intereseting because it gives the reader and inside look into the life of one of the greatest writers of all time. Hemingway can be placed among the creme de la creme of "Lost Generation" writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and the like. The book accurately depicts life in post-World War I Paris, describing the scenery and attitudes of the expatriate writers and artists of the time. Each character has a story, which futher adds to the value of this book. The reader of this book must look deep within the words and not look for some dramatic plot or major happening to leave one breathless. But the reader should certainly appreciate this magnificent piece of prose, perhaps one of literature's greatest pieces of literature. As a High School student, I was required to read certain materials for my Advanced Placement English course, and I chose "The Sun Also Rises" to complete my requirement. And as a teenager, it can often times be quite difficult to reach young people on the level this book does, but Hemingway does it in such a powerful manner that the novel leaves the reader with a birds-eye view of the times. Kudos to Ernest Hemingway and I highly suggest this novel.

Rating:
Summary: wkrc wcpo cpo drehz
Review: krc.... you are interdimensional travelers

You are performing remote psychotronic psychomotor assault on
children...

You have a psychotronics armamentarium.

The Schottelkote five dollar bill is your regular programing
fare.

You are interdimenional travelers, krc.

You are above the law krc, and you act like it.

interdimensional travelers

You are psychometricians using electronics against children.

your jesus initiative shows the black cynicism within your
corporate mass consciousness..

you are dangerous krc... know that you are very dangerous

and now here is something that is not gillman

you will have the gps location of automobiles presently

what are you going to do with that information?

interdimensional traveling in a fullerene mine field may be
your next shapeshifting get away..

you are extortionists for profit

you are interdimensional travelers krc

Rating:
Summary: Hemingway's first published novel.
Review: Although this is Hemingway's first published novel, it was not the first that I'd read. I had read some of his later works before I came to this one. The novel has been misunderstood for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that many people do not get the irony that is behind the story. When it was published in 1926 it became the rallying cry for what people of that era called "the lost generation". The book is about American expatriates living in France and Spain during the late 1920's. Hemingway and some of his crowd actually did this, but in spite of that, Hemingway has stated that he didn't believe in the "lost generation" stuff. He is more a proponent of man being the architect of his own life, but sometimes things get in the way. I enjoyed the book because of Hemingway's wonderful characters, and because of his descriptions of things that he actually saw and did. The section that describes the running of the bulls in Pamplona is great. Although this book is a little lesser known than some of Hemingway's novels, it's worth a read. Especially if you love Hemingway like I do.

Rating:
Summary: Not To Be Missed! - Experience It For Yourself!,
Review:
The novel takes place after the cease of the First World War, where numerous survivors, combatants and non-combatants alike, battle their own demons each day to search for a meaning to their lives that has been shattered by the global conflict. The novel, being borne out of Hemingway's own personal experience, focuses on a group of expatriate individuals living in luxury and elegance in the city of Paris, where the first half of the novel takes place. Paris was a popular place for literary figures during the time, and as mentioned, several of the key characters in this novel are writers that are yet to be granted with global fame. The characters in this novel searches for their lost ideals, living in alcoholism and grandeur that the city of Paris has to offer, and while the Hemingway portrays his characters to do so, he uses the bullfight as a symbol of that moral struggle. The ability to confront your fears, to stand in the way of danger and NOT BREAK, is in direct contrast with the way he paints the lifestyles of his characters. Hemingway uses the perspective of Jake Barnes, the main protagonist, to present the action as it takes place first in the city of Paris, then in some quiet countryside where the novel takes a more "tranquil" turn, then in the city of Pamplona where the fiesta takes place, and lastly in Barcelona, where the novel ends.

Jake, who supports himself as a journalist, is madly in love with a promiscuous woman, Lady Brett Ashley, who is in turn engaged to Michael Campbell, one of Jake's companions during the fiesta. Unfortunately, Jake had been injured during the war that left him sexually incapacitated, which served as his scar that shall forever separate him from the woman he loves. Then there is Robert Cohn, who is also in love with Lady Ashley but somehow portrays himself as a guy who sort of "just won't get the message" that he is actually unwanted and that creates tension among the individuals even before the fiesta ever started. (Note: I don't know but somehow I get the feeling that Robert Cohn is actually a physical manifestation of Jake, who is in turn himself is still unable to get over himself and his feeling. But on the other hand, Jake reacts very much differently to Cohn and that somehow Lady Ashley still leans on Jake on some issues regarding her sorrows which she is not able to confess to any other person). And lastly, of the expatriate group, there is Bill Gorton who, a writer just like Cohn, is also Jake's best-friend and much preferred companion than anyone else. And there is also Pedro Romero, the young matador who appears much later in the book, who shall soon participate in a love affair with Lady Ashley and is also a person of great respectability, who faces his fears and struggles "without falsity", which plays an important aspect in his career in the bullfight as well as in the lives of the expatriate personalities, such as Jake and Lady Ashley.

Just like the way he wrote his more accomplished novels like A Farewell To Arms or For Whom The Bell Tolls, Hemingway's gift of writing has already been established right from the start. The Sun Also Rises being his first published novel, Hemingway wrote in laconic, yet crisp prose and his dialogue never ceases to generate tension and anxiety between his characters, making this short-length novel a fully pledged work of art.

One of the most significant aspects of this novel is maybe the part which is mostly overlooked, which is the part where Jake and Bill goes fishing before they proceed to Pamplona, where the Fiesta de San Fermin is to take place. That part, where Jake goes fishing, somewhat signifies the contentment that Jake has long been yearning for, which shall serve as the catalyst that soon make Jake a different person altogether after the fiesta. With the feeling he experienced during that brief period of time in the midst of a fast-paced novel, he shall soon grow to accept that "he shall never possess the woman he loves" and that universal acceptance is the way where he shall finally be able to attain peace and contentment. By the end of the novel, Lady Ashley learns that too, when she "made him [Pedro] go" and decided not to ruin the young man's life. She said she shall go back to Michael Campbell, to whom she says her "sort of thing", and Jake learns to deal with it. And although he once again tried to lean on alcoholism, Lady Ashley prevented him from doing so and soon in the final scene, they were able to overcome their struggles and live a more normal life.

Even though the book focuses merely on the expatriate community in Paris, its moral convictions could adapt to the lives of numerous people, even "normal" people like us. By way of accepting the truth and trying to move on, we are able to break free of the past and in turn be able to adapt to the present world. The Sun Also Rises tells us that everything has a beginning and so is an end, but the earth shall stay forever across generations and that we are but "actors on stages" in this great pattern, and that life is but an unalterable destiny that we should learn to live with. This is a deceptively simple, yet terrific book. Along with The Sun Also Rises, another Amazon quick-pick I recommend is The Losers Club by Richard Perez, which has obviously been influenced buy The Sun Also Rises, not only thematically but stylistically.


Rating:
Summary: His Second Best
Review: Hemingway got the Nobel Prize for a later inferior novel, The Old Man and the Sea. This is unfortunate because Hemingway's best books were written early in his career, from about 1924 to 1940. I feel that his most complete vision was achieved in For Whom the Bell Tolls, which is a large book with all of Hemingway's ideas, interspersed with a thrilling plot. If I had a second choice, I'd vote for Sun Also Rises. Obviously the famous Hemingway style derived from Gertrude Stein and journalism. Then he wrote about Post-WW1 cynicism and a love gone awry. The famous Lost Generation mops up Parisian wine and European despair with vigor.

The villain is Cohn the Jew. I have some reservations here of course. I feel the same way about Shakespeare's Shylock, but putting historical prejudices aside, Cohn personifies what is not cool about intellectual society in the Twenties. Cohn doesn't get Paris, bullfighting, or fishing. He's a great boxer, but does not box for the right reasons. Don't worry, Hem will explain what are the right reasons. Worst of all, Cohn doesn't get the sexual revolution. An "affair of the lady" has certain considerations to uphold, but in the aftermath of his liaison with Lady Ashley, the flapper vamp, Cohn hangs around like a pathetic puppy longing for bitch's milk.

Barnes, the Hemingway surrogate has a problem. He's had a war accident and has lost essential male equipment, which makes it impossible for Lady Ashley and Hem, er Barnes to consummate a raging desire and love. Hence, the seething irony of Sun Also Rises, the uncool Cohn is able to perform while the very cool Barnes can only watch bulls being killed beautifully. "Wouldn't it be pretty?"


Rating:
Summary: Why the hype?
Review: My first taste of Hemingway and I've got to say I'm very disappointed. His style is crisp and economical and I like the dialog. Outside of that, there is no huge conflict here to keep you turning pages, save for Jakes love of Brett. I just got to the stage where I just didn't care what happened to Jake, Cohn or any of the others or where they were travelling to.

I still have Men Withhout Women to read but I will more than likely shift it to the bottom of the pile. I think Graham Greene is a much better writer. Greene writes with style and keeps you turning pages, i.e. The Quiet American.