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.
Rating:
Summary: To "A Reader from Texas"
Review: Kind sir, since you weren't good enough to leave your e-mail adress: I am not quite sure that your school system knew what they were doing when they forced some 12 year olds read Mr. Hemingway's work. There are some young people who might understand what he was talking about, but of course, as we see, you have missed the point. This is a story about struggle, and that "stupid fish" is what made this book what it is; one of this author's greatest books. I don't usually respond to responses like yours, but I couldn't stand this piece of art not getting defended by someone. I'm sure when you get older, and you are not forced to read this book, you will see it for what it is. This book means different things to some people, and symbolizes different things. This is a sad story, which you didn't read into deeply enough. For now, I advise you not to read anymore literature untill you have grown up a little.
Rating:
Summary: It had nothing to with real life literally or figuratively
Review: This book was terrible I had to read it for school which may color my opinion... The man did not shut up about the stupid fish. Hemingway was one of those authors who never got to the point If he was going to write about a sruggle could he write about one in real life. Comparing life and struugle to a fish suggestts serious problems some of you will say it was the struggle with the fish that was important but it wasn't. Joe DiMaggio was a bad code hero because he lived in the characters fantasy. and heros have to be in real life to all of you having to read it for school invest in CLiff Notes if allowed it'll save you the time and annoyance.
Rating:
Summary: The Old Man and the Sea
Review: This story is about an old fisherman. He hasn't caught a fish is 85 days, and was sleeping in an old shack with his own clothes and old newspapers as pillows. His apprentice, so to say, loves the old man, and would want to go with the old man rather than go out with other fishermen, who are having better luck catching fish. It is was a nice day when the old man went out to sea once again. And this is where the story begins to get interesting. I do not want to spoil it for those who have not read it. This is a story about determination, struggle, love, and hate for the different fish of the sea. It makes me sad that in the end, the author could not withstand his own internal struggle, and took the easy way out, committing suicide. Mark_Sigel
Rating:
Summary: Now a Hemingway Fan
Review: I read Hemingway as a young college student and missed the depth in his simplicity. Reading him again has turned my opinion around. I urge you to read this book.
In "The Old Man and the Sea," he shows the story is not in the language per se, but in the compexity found in the subtle reality of life.
Of course, "Old Man," is not subtle in the classic sense. What I mean is that Hemingway doesn't labor the book with fantastic descriptions detailing the intracies of the sea, or of being a fisherman. Instead, he delves into the mind of the old man, shows the fatherly love he has for a young boy, and the quest for his legacy.
A quick read, I finished it in three or so hours. I was captured by the smell of the salt and the slippery feel of fish squirming in a net. I felt the thirst of a long night fighting a huge fish, and the burn of a fishing line running through my hands. I missed the young boy's company late on the boat, and also wished he were to help !me fish. How Hemingway did this to me... I've barely seen the sea, and have never really fished.... a great book. Read it for the drama, the language, the psychology, the suspense... but, by all means, read it.
I fully recommend this book. ...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent. A masterpiece.
Review: I only started reading Hemingway last year, yet he's become one of my very favorite authors. In this book, "The old man and the sea", he writes about a lonely old Cuban fisherman, Santiago, that goes out fishing, desperate to catch a big fish. A fisherman's crusade for final glory. Santiago, the fisherman, is poor and his only friend is a young boy. The young boy used to be his fishing-buddy, but as the luck left Santiago, the boy's father asked the boy to go out fishing in someone else's boat. We enter the story as Santiago has gone 84 days fishing without catching any fish. On the 85th day, alone in the boat, he manages to hook a huge Marlin, the biggest he's ever seen. A fish that is much stronger than himself. Santiago's effort and suffering are brought to us in such a way only Hemingway could do. Hemingway uses such a simple language, yet one feels it as the richest ever. We follow Santiago's fight with the huge Merlin, and his return to town after days of fighting, catching the fish. What happens on his way home is just heartbreaking... He succeeds, but only to lose it in the end. Hemingway writes in such a way that you feel the pain of the fisherman struggle yourself, and you can nothing do but to love the old fisherman. "The old man and the sea" is a moving story, of a man with great persistence, and with a message to never give up. Very highly recommended! (If you like this book, I suggest you read Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" too...)
Rating:
Summary: Simple and classic
Review: Anyone who denies that Hemingway was a genius is probably either 1) a fool or 2) a dilettante intellectual trying to impress you. This story is about the incredible impact work has on human beings. The daily grind and the beauty found therein, even when we fail. Santiago only lives because he has a purpose and a job to do.
Rating:
Summary: Never give up!!
Review: Ernest Hemingway's Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a lonely old Cuban fisherman's went out to the sea, attempt to catch a big fish.The quest however lasted longer than he expected. A touching story which illustrated the meaning of great determination and one should never give up.
Rating: 
Summary: A snoozer!
Review: Yes, this book has lots of symbolizm. Yes it has universal themes. Yes, Hemingway employs a great use of symbolism. Yes his sentences are short and he uses simple, easy to understand vocabulary. BUT this is one of the most boring books I have ever read!!! Hello! The guy sits in a boat in the middle of the ocean for a hundred pages trying to get a fish. If you love fish or just happen to love any book you read, then you'll love this book. However, I, personally, was not fanscinated. Had the book not been required for my Honors English class summer reading list, I wouldn't have finished it. I gave this books two stars because I realize it had deeper meanings and so forth, plus, thankfully, Hemingway spared us and kept the book fairly short (as opposed to some boring books that are 400 pages) but on a surface level it was an unbearably drawn out book about a fish.
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