Ernest Hemingway.

[jukel123 9,090]

Just read The Sun also Rises and Death in the Afternoon. Read The Old Man and the Sea ages ago. Bit disappointing tbh. Find him stressing his own masculinity all the time.Bit of a poseur. Any recommendations as to his best work?

[DIDO.1 22,856]

Personally I think the sun also rises and death in the afternoon were his best works. You have to accept them as books of their time. Today everyone is an Internet expert and well travelled so the finer points of fact can be double checked and the works of prose can be dissected from the facts. Bullfighting aficionados look at every point he makes and balance it against the 500 bullfights they have seen and the hours of Internet discussions. Bit like plummer. In its day it excited and enthused, now people want to prove themselves against him rather than enjoying and enriching their own lives. 

Sun also rises and death in the afternoon did contain his interpretations, but they were also records of a time. Except them for that. Don't read modern day opinions of hemmingway (or plummer) and be drawn into dissecting the author, that will only lead you into becoming negative and cynical. 

Edited October 29, 2021 by DIDO.1

[greg64 2,996]

14 minutes ago, jukel123 said:

Just read The Sun also Rises and Death in the Afternoon. Read The Old Man and the Sea ages ago. Bit disappointing tbh. Find him stressing his own masculinity all the time.Bit of a poseur. Any recommendations as to his best work?

i enjoyed the old man and the sea but found death in the afternoon hard work 

[DIDO.1 22,856]

Just now, greg64 said:

i enjoyed the old man and the sea but found death in the afternoon hard work 

It's probably one of my favourite books. I return to it again and again. Not all of it, but certain sections. A book that contains so many lessons on writing and literature, but lessons that can't be learnt by modern day authors with access to the Internet. I must of read 8-10 books by English speaking authors on bullfighting that contain at least a few pages on how hemmingway knew fck about the bulls, they are to blind to realise what he was actually trying to convey 

[jukel123 9,090]

Watched  a 5part documentary about him on iplayer. Very good watch. I recommend it. He had a tragic, eventful, chaotic life. Drink destroyed him in the end

[greg64 2,996]

the green hills of Africa  when he's on a two month safari sounds like it coul

1 minute ago, jukel123 said:

Watched  a 5part documentary about him on iplayer. Very good watch. I recommend it. He had a tragic, eventful, chaotic life. Drink destroyed him in the end

well a shotgun to the head destroyed him in the end .very sad 

[jukel123 9,090]

Take your point about reading his work in historical context. Men were supposed to be John Wayne's in his day.Today we are more aware of our own frailties and don't mind admitting them.

[jukel123 9,090]

Yes but the drink led him into that state of mind where he thought suicide was the answer.

[greg64 2,996]

iv'e yet to read the green hills of Africa about the time he spent on a two month safari ,sounds good but havn't yet read it

[DIDO.1 22,856]

Just now, jukel123 said:

Watched  a 5part documentary about him on iplayer. Very good watch. I recommend it. He had a tragic, eventful, chaotic life. Drink destroyed him in the end

Yeah I saw that. 

Micheal Palin did a series on him. Now I like Palin but he fcked it right up. He went bullfighting and his comments showed he hadn't read death in the afternoon and applied himself to it. He went game shooting in America and shot clays. He went big game viewing and didn't even try to understand hunting. He went marlin fishing and blanked. It was a poor effort. 

[DIDO.1 22,856]

2 minutes ago, jukel123 said:

Take your point about reading his work in historical context. Men were supposed to be John Wayne's in his day.Today we are more aware of our own frailties and don't mind admitting them.

Fck off I'm a John Wayne

[jukel123 9,090]

Are you f**k mister. That sounds like fighting talk where I'm from. Step outside ya no good varmint.

[DIDO.1 22,856]

1 minute ago, jukel123 said:

Yes but the drink led him into that state of mind where he thought suicide was the answer.

Interestingly enough he wrote about suicides on a few occasions. His dad also took his own life. 

Bizarrely when I was young he was my idol. Bit weird for a young kid I know. As I got older I realised how he wasn't a very nice person to many people, especially towards the end. But his writing fired my interest in adventure, Spain, bulls and writing. Many times in my life I've taken a few moments to thank him for taking me on various adventures....sitting a bull ring or training with toreros in little parks hidden away in Spain. I'd like one day to visit his grave in ketchum, idaho. Again probably a bit weird as I'm not a graveyard or famous person groupy but I think it would be like completing a full circle. 

[jukel123 9,090]

Just now, DIDO.1 said:

Interestingly enough he wrote about suicides on a few occasions. His dad also took his own life. 

Bizarrely when I was young he was my idol. Bit weird for a young kid I know. As I got older I realised how he wasn't a very nice person to many people, especially towards the end. But his writing fired my interest in adventure, Spain, bulls and writing. Many times in my life I've taken a few moments to thank him for taking me on various adventures....sitting a bull ring or training with toreros in little parks hidden away in Spain. I'd like one day to visit his grave in ketchum, idaho. Again probably a bit weird as I'm not a graveyard or famous person groupy but I think it would be like completing a full circle. 

Brilliant. I like enthusiasm. Got me fired up to read more of him.

[jukel123 9,090]

Just now, jukel123 said:

Brilliant. I like enthusiasm. Got me fired up to read more of him.

Ever been to a bullfight? I defend the Spaniards right to continue their tradition. And I can see the drama, the risk and a bit 9f raw beauty but personally it would be a bit too gory for me. I would just feel sorry fora majestic animal literally brought to its knees.