The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

A+

A-

B+

F+

F-

Rating

Current

To-Read

Read Sample

The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway

July 25, 1952 / 128 pages / Fiction

The last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American fiction. It is the story of an old Cuban fisherman and his supreme ordeal: a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Using the simple, powerful language of a fable, Hemingway takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of defeat and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic.

↓ more

C+

Self-discovery

Fishing

Psychology

Metaphor

Work

Internal conflict

↓ more

Writing Quality

Originality

Addictiveness

Re-readability

Movie Potential

Sequel Potential

My Rating

F+

F-

Major Themesautofill

Minor Themes

Fiction

Nonfiction

Writing Quality

Originality

Addictiveness

Re-readability

Movie Potential

Sequel Potential

Review (optional)500 left

started

finished

Save Rating

Title

Author

Release Date

Jul

1952

Page Count

Genre

Fiction

Nonfiction

Series

Cover Image

(Must be JPEG and less than 1 MB)

Synopsis

Submit

Mark book as duplicate

Reviews

sort

A perfect balance of things said and unsaid, so the reader can fill in the spaces with his own imagined sequels, prequels, segues and interpretations.

Grade: A+ / alyosha / Sep 4, 2013

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. Excellently written, captivating story and the deciding factor for me to get more into Hemmingway.

Grade: A / Scerakor / Jan 17, 2014

The simplicity of Hemingway's language and structure is a striking achievement. But the process of searching for metaphors and extracting subtle messages is an unappealing exercise. The brief sections that take place on land, in which Hemingway describes the old man interacting with the young boy, start to push at something profound about aging and the experience of being human. Watching the man in isolation with nature, however, does not produce the same literary effect.

Grade: C+ / bennett_the_ceo

/ Feb 11, 2016

It's a good book. Pretty short, simple sentences and words. It would be a great way to introduce a younger person to Hemingway. A recommended read for all Hemingway fans.

Grade: B / noflag / Feb 18, 2014

Never read this in high school, but I'm glad I finally did. It's a small story but evokes wonderful imagery and a wide breadth of emotion. This was my first Hemingway also, the brisk and simple writing took a bit to get used to, but as with most other people, I loved it by the end. Deserving of its classic status, for sure.

Grade: A– / jtm / Feb 19, 2016

↓ more