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Lisa's Reviews > The Old Man and the Sea
The Old Man and the Sea
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Lisa's review
bookshelves: favorites, nobels, pulitzer, 1001-books-to-read-before-you-die
Jun 24, 2014
bookshelves: favorites, nobels, pulitzer, 1001-books-to-read-before-you-die
My children and I were crossing a bridge in Rome. Our senses were acutely sharpened. We were aware of each minute spent in this capital of human storytelling, of the neverending drama of human culture and nature in interaction and in occasional clashes. Looking out over the river, my son and I spot the sorry remains of a boat, just the bare metal frame without any "flesh", and we instinctively say at the same time:
"Hemingway's old man!"
We look at each other, smile at our simultaneous association, and start arguing whether or not one can see the fish in the same way as a boat, or whether the destruction of the boat is a more definitive loss. While we are arguing, my younger children are enquiring about the story we discuss, and we give them the details.
"Losing something means you really had it!"
That is their conclusion, and while my eldest son and I start pondering whether or not the younger two are ready for the old man and the sea in Hemingway's own words, we continue walking, and life goes on, and a new generation of Hemingway readers find sense and meaning in his parable on the human struggle.
We feel like saying: "I'm sorry, boat!", in the same way the old man said: "I'm sorry, fish!"
But the fact that it lies there showing its naked metal ribs tells us it truly existed. That's more than nothing. And it is not a bad place for a boat to rest. Just like the old man and the fish are in good hands between the covers of a Hemingway novel.
Nothing's lost as long as we can tell stories about it.
Brilliant parable of man's struggle with nature and himself. Beautifully written. One of my favorite Hemingways.
PS: And a Pulitzer that I don't find disappointing.
"Hemingway's old man!"
We look at each other, smile at our simultaneous association, and start arguing whether or not one can see the fish in the same way as a boat, or whether the destruction of the boat is a more definitive loss. While we are arguing, my younger children are enquiring about the story we discuss, and we give them the details.
"Losing something means you really had it!"
That is their conclusion, and while my eldest son and I start pondering whether or not the younger two are ready for the old man and the sea in Hemingway's own words, we continue walking, and life goes on, and a new generation of Hemingway readers find sense and meaning in his parable on the human struggle.
We feel like saying: "I'm sorry, boat!", in the same way the old man said: "I'm sorry, fish!"
But the fact that it lies there showing its naked metal ribs tells us it truly existed. That's more than nothing. And it is not a bad place for a boat to rest. Just like the old man and the fish are in good hands between the covers of a Hemingway novel.
Nothing's lost as long as we can tell stories about it.
Brilliant parable of man's struggle with nature and himself. Beautifully written. One of my favorite Hemingways.
PS: And a Pulitzer that I don't find disappointing.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
June 24, 2014
– Shelved
June 25, 2014
– Shelved as:
favorites
June 26, 2014
– Shelved as:
nobels
August 5, 2014
– Shelved as:
pulitzer
August 9, 2014
– Shelved as:
1001-books-to-read-before-you-die
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Violet
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 01, 2018 12:07PM
Did you experience the snow? I've never in my life known it to snow in Rome.
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Violet wrote: "Did you experience the snow? I've never in my life known it to snow in Rome."Yep! I've got the most adorable picture of my kids in front of the Forum Romanum, next to a gorgeous snowman with palmtree branches instead of arms. What a crazy day that was! But we've got 50cm new snow and temperatures around -15°C at home, so Rome was still light and reasonable!
My only Hemingway outing, it was short but utterly sumptuous. Glad to know you loved it too! :)
Ayush wrote: "My only Hemingway outing, it was short but utterly sumptuous. Glad to know you loved it too! :)"Then you have a lot of delightful reading ahead, Ayush!
wonderful personal review of a great book.
Beautiful review, Lisa! Loved the story that came with it.I read this when I was a mere slip of a lad (I realise now that I read a lot of parables back then, and it's been very much part of my psyche ever since).
An interesting take on The Old Man and the Sea, Lisa. The book has long struck me as the simplest of Hemingway’s “novels�. In many ways it is just man: goes fishing, catches a huge fish after a struggle, loses most of fish to a shark, arrives home with a skeletal remains. But of course, it touches us in a much deeper way and remains with us. (As it does with your son.)I have theorized in the past that the story is basically old-testament in style and that we are left with this stark image in the end because the writing takes us deep into something basic within us. And just as we may reject the religious specificity of the bible, we can reject all of that macho nonsense behind Hemingway’s writings and still grasp the humanity of the story which is finally brought to us by by that image of a skeletal monster of the ocean.
You were in Rome on a historic date. Envious...
That is really interesting to have someone in the real world(not only good reads ) to share your opinions with about books. I remember reading The Old Man and The Sea long long time ago and that forgot almost everything about . I remember nothing but how a very old man is trying to take a large fish with him while he is struggling in process to do so ... I am .. well .. I did not even rate it because I could see the point of it . However, reading your review encourages me to reread it in order to judge it quite well .
Ray wrote: "wonderful personal review of a great book."Thanks, Ray!
What an outing you had, Lisa!
Kevin wrote: "Beautiful review, Lisa! Loved the story that came with it.I read this when I was a mere slip of a lad (I realise now that I read a lot of parables back then, and it's been very much part of my psy..."
It must have been a very good educational experience, Kevin!
It was the high school curriculum for 20 years in Ontario and then it got dropped. Perhaps it should be restored.
RK-ique wrote: "An interesting take on The Old Man and the Sea, Lisa. The book has long struck me as the simplest of Hemingway’s “novels�. In many ways it is just man: goes fishing, catches a huge fish after a str..."A good theory, RK-ique! The reason we felt connected to the boat skeleton in the Tiber was exactly that emotional acknowledgement of things that HAVE BEEn and remain with us in spirit. Most religions play to that human need to spread their power. They take advantage of our psychological need for belonging, memory and meaning.
Kalliope wrote: "You were in Rome on a historic date. Envious..."Yes, we were incredibly lucky... amazing sight!
N.KH wrote: "That is really interesting to have someone in the real world(not only good reads ) to share your opinions with about books. I remember reading The Old Man and The Sea long long time ago and that fo..."Yes, I am lucky to have kids who love literature - and discussing, hahaha! They have their oen ideas, and that is good!
Losing something means you really had it!Great line, great book, great review!
I'm trying to imagine the forum under snow and I just can't - it's always been hot when I've been in Rome!
Seemita wrote: "What an outing you had, Lisa!"Yes, it was great fun!
Czarny wrote: "It was the high school curriculum for 20 years in Ontario and then it got dropped. Perhaps it should be restored."I believe something by Hemingway should be on the curriculum, in any case!
Fionnuala wrote: "Losing something means you really had it!Great line, great book, great review!
I'm trying to imagine the forum under snow and I just can't - it's always been hot when I've been in Rome!"
We were quite amazed at the view as well, Fionnuala, as we are used to sweating in Rome even at Easter or during Autumn break. The funniest thing was that Rome was filled with snowmen - wherever we walked, we found creative little men celebrating the exceptional weather!
snowmen in the forum!That would make a great title for a book !
Your review was a beautiful 5-Star read for me, Lisa!
Jaline wrote: "Your review was a beautiful 5-Star read for me, Lisa!"Thanks, Jaline! That makes me happy. It was a5-star moment for me on that bridge!
BlackOxford wrote: "Wonderful review - and family."Thank you so much, Michael!
I am currently 'living' in Rome with Roderick Hudson and your review with its boat and the photos with the snowed Forum and Coliseum make me want to go there instantly...
Kalliope wrote: "I am currently 'living' in Rome with Roderick Hudson and your review with its boat and the photos with the snowed Forum and Coliseum make me want to go there instantly..."Oh, dear Kalliope, I understand that feeling. Having just left, I want to be back again immediately. I will have to "move into" a Rome-based novel as well!
Fionnuala wrote: "snowmen in the forum!That would make a great title for a book !"
Or a comic horror movie for kids!
Lovely review - especially: "Nothing's lost as long as we can tell stories about it."
Cecily wrote: "Lovely review - especially: "Nothing's lost as long as we can tell stories about it.""Thanks, Cecily!
I’m so glad you shared this story with your children and, beyond that, that it stuck with them in a way that they could apply it to the world around them and think about it post-read for more than an ADHD-rated 30 seconds. Haven’t read the book yet. I’ll try to keep in mind the points you seem to have highlighted here. “Losing something means you really had it.� And “Nothing’s lost as long as we can tell stories about it.�
Tina wrote: "I’m so glad you shared this story with your children and, beyond that, that it stuck with them in a way that they could apply it to the world around them and think about it post-read for more than ..."Thanks, Tina!
What a great story! Did you end up reading the book aloud to your younger children? I loved this book when I read it in high school as a school assignment but have not re-read it since.
