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J.L. Sutton's Reviews > The Sun Also Rises
The Sun Also Rises
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My feelings haven't changed since my last re-read of The Sun Also Rises (my earlier review is below). I'm still amazed at how fully the characters come alive on the page! I don't think The Sun Also Rises is for everyone; however, nearly from beginning to end, I'm engaged in the story.
Just finished a re-read of The Sun Also Rises (my favorite Hemingway book-last read in 2014). I didn’t provide a review at the time so I thought I would (try to) explain why this book speaks to me. First, it is deceptively easy to fall into with its short sentences and simple language. Nothing is forced. However, it is the mood Hemingway creates in this novel which really engages me. Perhaps that says as much about me as it does about the novel. The appeal is not so much about the story; it is how the characters move through the scenes with a sense that nothing can touch them (while conversely, they can’t really touch or be important to anyone else).
This exemplifies that lack of hope in the so-called ‘lost generation,� that feeling that nothing you do will make a difference. The Sun Also Rises is not a feel-good book, but it allows you to re-evaluate people as social animals who constantly struggle and fail (and maybe once in a while succeed) in forging meaningful relationships. In some ways, the carefree expat life of the characters seems idyllic; however, Hemingway also makes you feel that slipping into this existence (even with its charms) might make you want to spit at the world. The Sun Also Rises captures a historical moment, perhaps not just of the lost generation, but also of future generations uncertain of their place in the world.
Just finished a re-read of The Sun Also Rises (my favorite Hemingway book-last read in 2014). I didn’t provide a review at the time so I thought I would (try to) explain why this book speaks to me. First, it is deceptively easy to fall into with its short sentences and simple language. Nothing is forced. However, it is the mood Hemingway creates in this novel which really engages me. Perhaps that says as much about me as it does about the novel. The appeal is not so much about the story; it is how the characters move through the scenes with a sense that nothing can touch them (while conversely, they can’t really touch or be important to anyone else).
This exemplifies that lack of hope in the so-called ‘lost generation,� that feeling that nothing you do will make a difference. The Sun Also Rises is not a feel-good book, but it allows you to re-evaluate people as social animals who constantly struggle and fail (and maybe once in a while succeed) in forging meaningful relationships. In some ways, the carefree expat life of the characters seems idyllic; however, Hemingway also makes you feel that slipping into this existence (even with its charms) might make you want to spit at the world. The Sun Also Rises captures a historical moment, perhaps not just of the lost generation, but also of future generations uncertain of their place in the world.
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Reading Progress
May 29, 2014
–
Started Reading
May 29, 2014
– Shelved
June 5, 2014
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Finished Reading
June 1, 2018
–
Started Reading
June 5, 2018
–
Finished Reading
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Choko
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rated it 3 stars
Mar 30, 2016 07:43PM
He puts so much thought and meaning behind every sentence - I am always humbled and awed when I read his work...
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Lovely review! I can't wait to add this book to my tbr list. :)
Thank you Choko and Hayat! Lots of people have opinions on Hemingway without having read much of his work. In my opinion, he remains an author we should still be reading and discussing.
I was supposed to read this for American Lit II. My Prof is a big Hemingway fan. I'm not a big Hemingway-type aficionado. So I read the cliff notes version. I still feel that I should give it a try at some point, but I'm not a big fan of the Modern era authors. But many people like his work...so I've got to be missing out, I'm thinking.
It doesn't mean you're missing out if some people like something and you don't; we all have our own tastes. And sometimes you just need to be in a certain place in your life to appreciate specific books so being open to a wide range of books and authors is a great thing!
I just finished reading "The sun also rises". It's written clearly but has something impressing. I like this quote in the book:"Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull-fighters". I think it's bad that people appreciate what they have only after losing it.
I really like this book, and I’ve read it at least 5 times. To those people who tell me it goes nowhere, I often say maybe that’s the point. The characters seem to know where they stand to me. I like the characterization. The prose is manageable for younger readers ( I teach). I will take it over A Farewell to Arms, which I like too.
Great review topped with the excellent Pan books cover. :)
Thank you! This cover doesn't look like the cover of the edition I just read, but I didn't want to change it.
I love this book too. Have you read A Movable Feast?
I've read A Moveable Feast several times too. After reading Everybody Behaves Badly and A Sun Also Rises (both in the last week or so), I'm thinking I need to pull out A Moveable Feast as well.
I used to chat with my grandma about how these authors were in the "social pages" when she was a young lady. I just got such a kick out of hearing about their personalities and interactions. The movie Midnight in Paris, I believe was based on Moveable Feast.
Very compelling thoughts, succinctly stated on The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway's often dismissed & frequently criticized early work. Bill
Quo wrote: "Very compelling thoughts, succinctly stated on The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway's often dismissed & frequently criticized early work. Bill"I understand why some people don't connect to it, but 'The Sun Also Rises' is probably my favorite work by Hemingway. Thank you, Bill!
J.L.: I've enjoyed reading several of your interesting reviews & commented on one or more as well. *Sorry to post a message here but it doesn't seem to be permitted elsewhere: with 4,600+ G/R friends, I wonder how frequently you find time to read their reviews? I have 125 & it can be very time consuming to read the reviews of even this fairly limited number of G/R reviewers, especially the ones who read & comment on my own reviews at the site. Bill
Quo wrote: "J.L.: I've enjoyed reading several of your interesting reviews & commented on one or more as well. *Sorry to post a message here but it doesn't seem to be permitted elsewhere: with 4,600+ G/R frien..."Thanks for reading, liking and commenting on my reviews! Very much appreciated!! I enjoy reading reviews and connecting with people about books on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. I saw that you had written other comments and I definitely plan to read them and reply. I feel like Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ is my Facebook. I spend a lot of time here, but this is where I choose to spend time (when I'm not reading or writing). Look forward to staying connected!
While you are right that the book is not for everyone, prime example me, I do understand people's feelings to the book and how they could love it so much. This book took me way too long to finish because I didn't enjoy it as much, but I will admit that closer to the halfway point, I started to appreciate this book more and not hate it. It not being a feel-good book could have drawn me away because of how many of those I've read but to be honest that's not a fair criticism on my part. I also agree on how the characters in the scene itself and how they move and act in it, is what got me hooked on it, not the story itself. That's really my opinion on the book, and I shouldn't have given it so much crap before.
