60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

I do not have the ability to give A Farewell to Arms by Earnst Hemmingway a proper review. I don't feel like I just finished a book but rather that I somehow have become aware of the memories and emotions of a former life. A Farewell to Arms was that powerful. I don't quite understand it but the way in which Hemmingway writes creates an emotional reaction, or relationship even with me. His Friends became my friends, his love become my love, his pain became my pain. A Farewell to Arms was the greatest reading experience of my life. It is also the only book to bring me to tears.

If you haven't please read this book. I will be doing so many times.

A Farewell to Arms [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

Up next
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers.

Also working on
Complete Works of OHenry Volume I
Inside the Poker Mind.

This week's Time magazine looks interesting by the way.

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

I read it in gr10, perhaps that is why I did not enjoy it so much. The ending didn't make much sense to me.

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

1. If you haven't read "Heartbreaking" yet, you should enjoy it -- it's my absolute favorite book.

2. Since you enjoyed "Farewell" so much, you should pick up his short story collection -- unreal quality there as well.

Keep up the good work with the reviews.

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

I always thought that book was about this chick:

http://www.cis.nctu.edu.tw/~whtsai/F...0postcard).jpg

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

Baron,

I will definently add both to my wanted list. thanks.

Gamblore: It seemed straightforward to me, just sad. What didn't make sense?

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

this is my favorite book ever! nothing else to add!

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

Censored friend to a friend here, don't read that Egghead book. I started a thread on it that I cannot find. It's one of the worst books I've ever read no exaggeration.

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

"A Farewell to Arms was the greatest reading experience of my life. It is also the only book to bring me to tears."

Wow, what a girly man. I liked the book too though. What I admire about Hemingway is his ability to convey sincere emotion without any sort of distortion or embellishment. His other great war novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was about a civil war he actually fought in (on the side of the communists) yet the book is absolutely a-political and honest.

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

i like your thoughts and agree that there is something about Hem's writing that is difficult to understand; he conveys so much, so perfectly, while doing so in a completely subtle and minimal way.

I love AFWTA, however, i have one criticism: i found the ending very predictable, although it is okay because it is executed so well.

im glad you enjoyed it so much, [censored].

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

Any efficient way to get other reviews?

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

[censored]
From what I remember,
He has escaped the war, and has found love. Things are looking ok...then BAM! his wife dies, he goes back to the hotel.

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

"A Farewell to Arms" is one of my all-time favourites. You describe the experience of reading it really well, [censored].

[ QUOTE ]
I love AFWTA, however, i have one criticism: i found the ending very predictable, although it is okay because it is executed so well.


[/ QUOTE ]

When I read it the first time, I distinctly remember that I also knew exactly how it was going to end. My question: did Hemmingway intend the reader to predict the ending, so that Federic and Catherine's happiness at being together and escaping was tempered (in our eyes) by a sense of foreboding that things couldn't last?

Two minor effects of the book on me:
1. I started drinking vermouth straight-up on occassion, so I could be just like Henry.
2. Overuse of the word "lovely," especially with my lovely girlfriend of the time.

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

glad you liked it....i'm so-so on the book

I liked the Old Man and the Sea and For Whom the Bell Tolls immensely

The Sun Also Rises = teh suck IMO

Re: 60 Books in 52 weeks #11. A Farewell To Arms
 

im pretty mystified as to how someone could like FWTBT yet dislike TSAR.