OLD MAN AND THE SEA

Rating:
Summary: An Original Story
Review: An Original Story

Do you know what makes a great story well I think I do. I believe that The Old Man and the Sea is a great original story. I will tell my thinking about a great story.
The Old Man and the Sea shows how life experience can make a great story.
For example Ernest Hemingway was a great fisherman; I know this from watching his biography. I like the way Ernest uses the intelligence of his own life in his story The Old Man and the Sea. I like this story very much; it is one of the best I have ever read. In the same way, other authors use bits of information from their lives. I do not like books or stories that I can't learn anything from it. I like to find information on the person or what they do. Therefore the style of writing in The Old Man and the Sea is the kind of writing that catches my attention the most.
In this story Ernest Hemingway uses voice very well. For instance Ernest didn't use voice in conversations with characters talking to other characters very often, he made up little blurts of speaking. I like Ernest's way of including a lot of voice without using vary many characters. Santiago talks to a bird that lands on the skiff that show Ernest's originality and how he uses voice. Likewise Ernest Hemingway's use of voice contributes to his overall story The Old Man and the Sea. I say this because Ernest used the exact right amount of voice in this story. When making a story I find that using original voice might make the story much better. All in all I say that voice was used very well in this story.
Using personal experience, originality, and great voice all contribute to a great story. This kind of writing is good for any kind of reading. This book is the second best I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: The Old Man and The Sea
Review: The sea is an empty and foreboding area. When left alone in its presence, it consumes the soul and destroys the mind. In the story The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago learns of this when he boats out into its depths. This intriguing tail is an enjoyable and exciting read.

I enjoyed reading The Old Man and the Sea. Even though the book was assigned to me as a class, I did enjoy it. This was well written and easy to understand and thus enjoyable. I like reading good books as long as the style is to my liking. Hemmingway, like many other great people in history, was slightly crazy when he wrote his master-piece which makes it all the more enjoyable. I think that Hemmingway's state shows through Santiago in a few ways, giving it more voice. Style, language, and structure add to this story significantly, making the story easy to read and understand. Overall the story was very enjoyable. Hemmingway makes his story as pleasurable as possible for the selected age group.

The Old Man and the Sea, along with being enjoyable is also exciting. Because it has many turns in the story it makes the reader not get bored. When Santiago hooked the Marlin it seemed to be the climax but the book continued on and that changed. Every time Santiago's World calms down another corner is turned and a new surprise is uncovered. In fact is an exciting and intriguing story that keeps the reader on their seat. I found this book very unpredictable. Rats aren't included in the book at all, but it is still an exciting story. From the beginning, The Old Man and the Sea, twists and turns till the end of the story.
All in all The Old Man and the Sea is an exciting and enjoyable novel. Hemmingway has an unbeatable style that is compared to his situation is amazing. The way Hemmingway weaves himself into his story in great. This is a great book that holds the story of Hemmingway in its pages.

Rating:
Summary: YOMOMMA
Review: Are you thinking about reading The Old Man and the Sea? Stop, right now. The Old Man and the Sea is at best very bad due to the poor plot, minor action, and boring characters.

The plot was boring and actionless. For example, only two things really happen throughout this whole book. The Old Man is completely insane, all through the book he talks to his hand trying to make it uncramp and if that is not crazy I don't know what is. Now the second thing that happens is the shark attack. When it attacks it is the most exciting part in the book, but if I was to say how good the scene was I would have to say only mediocre at best. Also throughout the book it is all one setting. I don't know about you but sitting through a whole book with just the ocean for a setting is boring. To say the least he could have improved on the plot and setting a lot.

As for the characters in this book, Oh, excuse me character as to that he was quite dull and not to bright either. For instance, the Old Man is always thinking about baseball and fishing and how he thinks everyone will think he is crazy nothing else. Being very one-sided like that the Old Man makes for a bad main character. The Old Man could have been made handsome, like myself, so he didn't have to be smart. He is also very simple minded he says he was put on earth to fish and nothing else. I myself would prefer a more multi faceted person. And if not that at least have more than one character. So the Old Man and the Seas lack of characters and the dullness and the simplicity of the character he does have does not help the book at all.

So in conclusion, it's a very bad book and if the previous paragraphs did not prove it go ahead and read it, I don't care if you suffer. Also keep this in mind If I were to rate this on a scale of 1to 1000 One thousand being the best I would give it a one.

Rating:
Summary: Some positive remarks
Review: I feel compelled to write a few words for Hemingway here after reading some of the negative reviews here. It seems that many of the people got bored of the book because there are no sucessive excitements throughout the story; and many just thought that this was merely one of the many books which has murmurred throughout on a boring theme---fishing.

But I think some of the commentators here have missed some important points. Firstly, Santiago is an Old Man as well as an experienced fisherman. It will be quite absurd to expect such an old experienced fisherman to become over-excited and hyper-sensitive because of some petty wounds or expected struggles with the fish. And as we all know one of the most important quality of a fisherman is to stay calm whether one has been waiting in idle for many hours or one is trying desperately to deal with a struggling fish. I think it is just unjust to expect Santiago to behave in a way that a younger college boy would do to make fun of himself and cheer up the audience in a Hollywood comedy. Anyway, you would not really expect to read some exaggerated sensational treatment of the theme by Hemingway, hear Santiago screaming because a few bloods came out of his slightly hurt right hand, or whine helplessly because the big fish was chopped off bit by bit by the sharks, would you?

Furthermore, some remarked that, despite whatever they have said negatively, they were still inspired by the theme, that if you persist on pursuing something, even if others think you are unlucky as well as incapable to achieve that, at the end of the day you will achieve that very goal. But in my opinion that is not the real inspiration of the story; the true inspiration comes from the dramatic plot towards the end that the big fish was eventually totally torn off and eaten by the sharks when Santiago finally came back to the shore. And I think this is where this story of Hemingway has distinguished itself from many of the other petty attempts by others to encapsulate the same theme. The message is that even if one has won something for a while, one may not be able to hold it for long and soon it will reduce to nothing. But one should not be discouraged by that. For the highest virtue and courage lies in doing something purely for something's sake instead of for its other rewards. Even if one fails to achieve something at the end, the very process that one has ever tried and persisted till the last minute alone is enough to justify one's effort. It is this 'attitude of a true man' that has driven us to build up what we refer to as the human civilization. And it is also this attitude that has embodied some of the most admirable elements of humanity.

The crying of the boy also showed that Santiago did not achieve nothing; at least he has inspired a boy, who was obviously much more 'valuable', if one wants to speak in this way, than the big fish. So, by changing one's perspective, one can see that Santiago's 87 days attempt was not futile at all; it has brought about a heart as passionate and courageous as his in his younger friend. Material treasures will not last, and it will have to go anyway when one moves his leg into the grave; But spiritual transformation can endure, and be spread from one to another and yet another, as through Hemingway's account of it, eternally from generation to generations to come.

Rating:
Summary: Please, do not read
Review: One of the greatest books of all time? I think not! Although a couple nearly interesting things happened, through out the majority of the book there was nothing to keep my attention. Had I slept through the reading, I wouldn't have missed a thing. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you lack a personality completely.
Every single aspect of the plot was stale. After all, only two exciting things happened. Even in those "action" scenes nothing really caught any attention. The setting didn't even change except at the very beginning and the very end. Beyond that, the very few characters didn't even do much. His actions only portray certain aspects, leaving much of his personality blank, and making him shallow and predictable. That's just why it was boring on it's own.
It was also boring because it didn't relate to the experiences of many readers. After all, how many people have gone marlin fishing? Very few to be sure. The size, style, characters, and plot of the book seem simplistic and geared towards a younger audience. The actions, though, are the things that adults would be the only, if them, group interested in. Yet The Old Man was the only developed character. He was very hard to relate to and seemed to make nonsense decisions. The Old Man was so simple, he seemed to fake to care for. When a novel is hard to relate to, it's hard to get into also.
With so many things wrong with the book, I never cease to be amazed by people enjoying this book. Nothing changes, very little happens, and it's more of a folk tale then novel. I would never recommend this book for anyone!

Rating:
Summary: The Old Man and The Sea
Review: The Old Man and The Sea was an incredibly inspirational story because Santiago gave it his all and never gave up. He set himself a goal at the very beginning, worked hard at achieving it, and over all, didn't give in to the trouble that awaited him. That is pure inspiration.

The old man was an inspiration because always gave everything 100% and never gave up, even when the times got rough, he stayed strong. For example, many people thought he was very unlucky. Even though the townspeople would say things like that to bring Santiago down, sometimes it made him want to try even harder. Also when the old man was to prove them wrong they all had to show him respect. He tried to do something that not very many people thought he could do. For example, even though not too many people believed in him, Santiago's friend Manolin was there to help him through his hard times. In addition, the old man went for his dream because it was what he believed in doing. He wanted to do the right thing, and he can do anything he says as long as he believed in himself and didn't care what the others thought. The Old Man and The Sea was very inspirational because Santiago never gave up; even when people would make fun of him and tell him he couldn't do it. He always tried his hardest. That leads me to believe that the old man was an amazing role model and was extremely strong.

When things got hard, Santiago didn't talk negative, he always thought positive and just thought he'd try harder next time around. For example, when he caught the fish, he held on, and just kept going on with the trip, he didn't just let the fish go. On the other hand, the old man did all that was possible to stay alive and comfortable while he was working. Santiago didn't ever have any money because he was considered "unlucky." When he didn't ever have any money, he was alone at times, and thought that was the end, he still worked really hard to stay alive, and turned to the good things in life. For example, without his young friend Manolin there to help him by bringing food, the poor old man had a good chance of dying, but still he tried his hardest to stay alive and well. Likewise, even though Santiago has other things to work at, he always plans on paying the things that come first. In conclusion, when he was having a hard time on the land, and in the water, the old man always gave the situation his all, and always thought positive.
I enjoyed this book because it showed terrific inspiration. The way Santiago set himself a goal, and was his own person. Both Manolin and Santiago showed extreme maturity in everything they achieved. They also showed themselves worthy of a good fisherman. The Old Man and The Sea was a great book.

Rating:
Summary: The Old Man and the Sea a great edition to any bookshelf
Review: The Old Man and the Sea is a very simple, exciting and surprising book because of its low vocabulary level and descriptive scenes of a man fighting his bad luck and a huge fish. This review will tell what makes this book such a great edition to any bookshelf.
This book is a very exciting and surprising. Truly this book was very shocking as shown on pg. 62 when the great marlin jumped out of the water into the basking sun. The book tells of an thrilling battle between man and fish. Another great event is when the old man is protecting his fish from the Galanos (sharks) because they can smell the raw bloody body hanging into the water. In fact, the book had breath taking events for instance, when the old man sees just how big the fish is and realizes he is going to be in for a fight of a lifetime. These are some of the great events that take place in The Old Man and the Sea.
The Old Man and the Sea is a very simple book. Truly this great piece of work could be read by a 5th grader. The author Earnest Hemingway does not use figurative language at all in the book. The book has a very simple story line that is very easy to follow along with. That is what makes the book The Old Man and the Sea so easy to read.
This book has a lot of great turn of events some small some big and some gigantic. Earnest Hemingway uses his great talents as a writer to make this book spin every which way. Some of the small turns are for instance, when the old man told his friend the boy that he was not going to eat but he ends up eating. A bigger event is that the old man is a very unlucky fisherman and on the day that he goes out on the sea he catches a nice size tuna before hooking his larger prey. The 2nd biggest turn of events was after the 86 days of no fish the old man catches the biggest marlin Havana Cuba has ever seen.
Those are the elements that make Earnest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea such a good book. It's a nice book that is worth reading and something most anyone can enjoy. It has great action and dramatic scenes that will touch your heart and will put you on the edge of your seat wanting more.

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Summary: The Old Man and the Sea Review
Review: The Old Man and the Sea Review
Hemmingway uses his character Santiago to show how persistence pays off. Santiago sets his goals on catching the big one, a marlin. He sets out to catch this huge fish, and when he finally does, he is unable to reel it in. After many days of being pulled around the sea, the giant marlin stops and Santiago pulls him in. Knowing that his persistence has paid off, he respects the fish and does everything not to hurt the fish. On his long trek home, Santiago's great catch is mauled by sharks and Santiago realizes even more how precious the marlin was. The book, The Old Man and the Sea was rich in hope and full of thrilling events, making it worth reading.
I think the book flowed well and showed good style. I feel the book was good for both its time and style. The book fit its time well, considering how well Hemmingway described the technology and craftsmanship they had. Hemmingway's style was great in describing in detail everything that happened. The book was true to its theme, I thought, in saying that persistence pays off. Santiago proves while catching the marlin that persistence does pay off. Also with everything that's happening to Santiago, he kept working hard to achieve his goals. Hemmingway uses great descriptions in Santiago's problems, to say that persistence pays off.
Hemmingway's way of writing brought out the story to make it seem somewhat real. Also his way of writing brought out the effects of the story in a great way. He used great detail, and made sure to accurately describe everything. He used descriptions that set the pace of the story and made sure the reader could picture what was happening. Santiago and the other characters fit the setting and story perfectly, with their actions and personalities. Hemmingway did a good job of coming up with characters that fit the story. He also did a good job of making sure that you knew the characters. Hemmingway made sure that you knew everything about the story in great detail.
Hemmingway style of writing was very unique and had a good theme. His way of writing brought out the effects of the story very well. The story brought good thought to the saying "persistence pays off." The book The Old Man and the Sea was rich in hope and full of thrilling events, making it worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Intriguing Story
Review: Tami Robinson
Period 6
3-13-02
A Very Intriguing Story
What happens when Ernest Hemingway, Santiago, a marlin, Manolin, and the ocean are put together? A really great book is created! Ernest Hemingway brings the characters and setting to life. The Old Man and the Sea proves to be a very intriguing story.

I was at once thrilled with the character, Santiago, and the conflicts in the story. For instance, this wrinkled, sun-burnt old man passes the time by talking to himself. This is such a typical old man characteristic and it adds a dash of humor to the story. Santiago was not only entertaining but believable. Because of his knowledge of the sea and description of his many scars it was obvious he had been a fisherman for a long time. Also, a huge marlin drags Santiago around for a couple of days and he finds that he has no food on board the skiff. This creates quite a problem for Santiago. He is out in the middle of the sea, miles from shore, and there are not any boats around. But somehow he manages to catch some flying fish, while still holding on, for dear life, to the marlin. All in all, a great book starts with a believable character and a good conflict and Ernest Hemingway delivers.

In my opinion, The Old Man and the Sea deserves four stars. The story's strong point is not excitement. For example, it takes Santiago at least fifty pages to catch the marlin. I must admit that while I was reading I was thinking "Okay, he needs to catch the fish already." But the story makes up for it in other areas, which I see as more important. However, while the plot lacks in excitement, Ernest Hemingway excels with description. For instance, the description of the marlin when Santiago first sees it is extremely vivid. As I was reading this part the fish was not only jumping out of the water, but also out of the book! I felt as though I was sitting in the skiff alongside Santiago watching the massive fish explode out of the deep blue-green water. In summary, I enjoyed this book very much and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, easy read full of adventure and beauty.

Ernest Hemingway turned a simple story about an unlucky fisherman who hooks "the big one" into an epic. His description of the sea's beauty and the fish that belong to it can dazzle anybody. This story has a way of making me smile and pity the old man. This story is great for people of all ages! And I guarantee that anyone who reads it will feel challenged, inspired, and enlightened.

Rating:
Summary: A Review By Me!
Review: ... Isn't it great to be swept away into the thrill of the adventure in a story? I love that too, but that's not the experience I had when reading The Old Man and the Sea. Even this story's title lacks excitement! But the title really says it all. It's about an old man ... on the sea. I was expecting a little more from a book that won an award. It's not what I had anticipated. I was hoping to feel the sensation of the open sea snatch me away from the real world and drop me into a wet wonderland, but instead I ended up being taken to the land of slumber. The Old Man and the Sea needs more action.

From reading this book, I have come to find that The Old Man and the Sea has no point. For instance, half the book's dialogue is Santiago, the main character, talking to himself or the fish. A one sided conversation is like talking to a wall or in this case, it's talking to a fish. Conversations are interesting because people get to express their opinions; it's boring to read about an old man rambling on about his problems. What makes a story exciting is the adventure the main character has. Additionally, while having those '' fish conversations'' Santiago is just sitting in a boat. While he bobs up and down on the waves like a log on the sea, not much action is taking place. This book lacks the intensity that is essential to keep readers hooked.

Because I did not see the point of this story, I was not satisfied with The Old Man and the Sea. There is no stimulation when reading this book. The thrill of a book is like frosting on a cake, it's what makes it so good! For example, when I got to the middle of the story, I almost fell asleep! Additionally, I never felt a connection with any of the characters. It's important to know the characters to understand how they feel in different situations. If the readers can't make a connection then it's like being excluded from a group.

I wouldn't recommend this book to any one who likes to actually stay awake when reading. This book was very bland and boring. The reason for reading is to experience things you can't otherwise do in your own life. People know what it's like to be board. The Old Man and the Sea just isn't anything new.