I have no memory of ever reading a Hemingway novel or short story, although I find it hard to believe I didn’t make it through school without having read something by the man. But since my memory has failed me yet again, I’ll consider this my first Hemingway book.
A Moveable Feast is a collection of essays that Hemingway wrote on his years in Paris. They were originally organized and published by his widow Mary. The edition I read is the new version, re-organized by his grandson Sean, and with an introduction by his son Patrick.
I think I say this all the time, but I love stories about people living abroad. I must have been an expatriate in my former life. Or I’m destined to be one in a future life (and if so, I’d like to make a request: please let me live in London). Anyways, this is why I read A Moveable Feast. It’s Paris after WWI…there’s Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas (mostly Gertrude, poor Alice is the equivalent of the writers’ wives, largely ignored), Ford Madox Ford, F. Scott Fitzgerald and many other authors and artists. Hemingway describes all their eccentricities (and mental illnesses). He hangs out in cafes, and Shakespeare and Company, and cold hotel rooms. He travels to Switzerland. He may be poor, but he’s taking full advantage of his location and he’s hanging out with some damn cool people. Well, weird people. But still.
And in the process of reading this, I totally fell for his writing. It’s vivid, but it’s to the point. Hemingway doesn’t go on and on and on (and yeah, I’m looking at you, Rushdie). So now I’m ready to start one of his novels. Not soon, because I have 100 other books breathing down my neck, but someday. I promise, Ernest.
I will someday read this. And I just realized that I’ve read Old Man and the Sea twice in my life (and will never again.)
Care´s last blog ..Books in My Future
The only Hemingway I’ve read is Garden of Eden. Stylistically, I am not really a fan, but I will probably give him another chance!
Stephanie´s last blog ..Showin’ Off my Shelves: Shelf #2
Oooh, I love books about the interwar years. Thanks for the recommendation. I think I read a number of Hemingways when I was at school, notably The Old Man and the Sea, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and For Whom the Bell Tolls all of which my father loved. I only have vague recollections of the story and his style , so I think this calls for a re-read.
Sakura´s last blog ..Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
I’ve not read this one in particular, but I DO love Hemingway.
Amanda´s last blog ..Chicken With Plums, by Marjane Satrapi
I think this is my sister’s favorite Hemmingway book- and she’s visited Paris. My favorite is For Whom the Bell Tolls, but I haven’t read many others.
Jeane´s last blog ..Dingo
Oh yes, another Hemingway convert. He is one of my all-time favorites! We studied him a great deal in my master’s writing classes for the exact reasons you are attracted to him – for his spare, yet vivid style. You might start with A Farewell to Arms – a great, great love-story inspired by his experience in the war with a nurse he fell in love with. Great, great story!
Scobberlotcher´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday: Durable Authors
Of the very small amount of Hemingway that I’ve read, this is the book I liked the best.
Sarah´s last blog ..Penguin 60s
Vivid and to the point – I like the sound of that.
charley´s last blog ..A Year in Japan
Oh… didn’t realize these were essays. A Moveable Feast has been on my wish list for a couple of years and, since essays will complete my 2009 mini challenges, I’m giving myself permission to buy it! Hurray!
JoAnn´s last blog ..We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
You can’t do much better than falling for Hemingway. His collection The Snows of Kilimanjaro is one of my all-time favorite books of short fiction. He had such skill with language and using few words to say so much. Glad you love him now, too.
Rebecca @ The Book Lady’s Blog´s last blog ..Book Review: In the Woods by Tana French
I don’t think I’ve ever read Hemingway’s work either and I love stories set in Paris. There is a bookstore on the coast that has bookish events that they call “moveable feasts.”
Kathy´s last blog ..Review with Carl: Leviathan
I love this book! The only other Hemingway novel I’ve ever read is The Old Man and the Sea. But I liked this one because of all of the REAL characters!
Jessica´s last blog ..Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
I loved this book too. I first read it when I went to Paris, back a way long time ago. And then when we got there, I wanted to go to all the places he talked about in the book. We did actually go to the Cloiserie de Lilas, where they were taking full advantage of the Hemingway connection and charging a zillion dollars for anything whatsoever. I remember that my husband and I split a coke for $6, which in today’s money would have cost $23.75 according to the inflation calculator. But it was still wonderful to go around to all his haunts!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of “Dead As A Doornail” by Charlaine Harris
I read this a long time ago, but barely remember it. I have read two other Hemingways – The Sun Also Rises and The Old Man and the Sea. I absolutely loved the former, and I highly recommend it. Old Man, I’ve read twice; the first time I liked it and the second time I didn’t so much, so I don’t have a real opinion on that one.
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I loved The Sun Also Rises. What I would give to be able to live back then and hang out with those people! I think I was Gertrude Stein or Mabel Dodge in a past life.
EL Fay´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesday
I like Hemingway, but it’s been a long time since I last read him. I have never read “the Moveable Feast”….not yet. Is the edition you read the “restored” version by his grandson — I think it came out just recently?
Valerie´s last blog ..The Classics Circuit: Two Books by Wilkie Collins
I haven’t been a huge fan of Hemimgway’s novels but I did enjoy one of his shorter stories- The Snows of Kilimanjaro.
Nicole´s last blog ..Literary Feasts: Heaven to Betsy, by Maud Hart Lovelace
I read this book one day in the bookstore in one reading because I couldn’t put it down. There has been lots of controversy over this edition versus the original edition but I like them both because I like to read anything by and about Papa.
Can’t wait for the Letters Project that the Hemingway Society and scholars (namely from Penn State) are putting together. His personal letters are even more interesting . . .
M Denise C´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday
I’ve read some of his other works and I didn’t consider them ‘to the point’ but then again, I haven’t read this particular work yet.
So cool. I knew that Hemingway and other writers like Stein & Fitzgerald were abroad at that time. I didn’t know that there was a book about it! I’m going to go add this to my wish list. I adore Hemingway. Compared to Faulkner, I think he’s very succinct. And I like that about his writing. If you read a novel of his, you might check out A Farewell to Arms (I think someone may have already mentioned it earlier). I had to read it for a class, but it turned out to be one of my favorites.
Well I did complete my school without reading his books and I feel really embarrassed about this and many other things! Well I think I really need to correct this! This one sounds good. Like you I like reading about people living abroad!
Veens´s last blog ..The Piligrims by Mark Shelley
I listened to A Farewell to Arms this year and as far as I can remember it was my first Hemingway book too. I really enjoyed it.
Stacy´s last blog ..Fave Film #16 – A Walk on the Moon
I feel like I’ve read something by hemingway but I can’t remember what right now. This sounds fabulous. If I ever became an expat, I know i’d end up surrounded by people as boring as I am!
melanie´s last blog ..Weekly Geeks 43