Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The Old Man and the Sea a short novel written in 1951 by Ernest Hemingway

It was the last major work of fiction by Hemingway that was published during his lifetime. One of his most famous works, it tells the story of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Florida.

I will be your Host/Discussion Leader!

Please join me in my new found love for an American Author, after visiting his home in Key West, Florida.

In 1953, The Old Man and the Sea was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and it was cited by the Nobel Committee as contributing to their awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature to Hemingway in 1954.

Anybody in?

I read this book last year and envy those who are reading this wonderful book for the first time. Enjoy!

I'm in...I will admit I have never read Hemingway

Samuel wrote: "I'm in...I will admit I have never read Hemingway"

Your not the only one Samuel, I have not either! This will be my first.
Welcome to the read!

Great book! I want to read it again

When will we start the reading?

I'm in! ;) Is there a deadline to finish the book? How can we discuss the book here without spoilers?

The read can start anytime and end when your done. I am almost finished with the Buddy Read with Tony. (I have about 1/2 chapter left).

Thinking maybe mid to late Sunday to give Members a chance to join in as well ;)

Ana to answer you question click on "View Spoiler"

(view spoiler)[If you type < spoiler > (with no spaces, inbetween or the start of the sentence) before the sentence and after the sentence type < / spoiler> (again no spaces inbetween) it will hide the portion you consider the spoiler and Members would have to click on "View Spoiler" to see it. If you preview your message you can see if it worked. (hide spoiler)]

I'm in! The book is really short it won't take long to finish
Can we all agree on a schedule?

Wijdan wrote: "I'm in! The book is really short it won't take long to finish
Can we all agree on a schedule?"

Wonderful Wijdan!

I have just completed the first 30 pages.

There are no chapters. If we read by pages maybe 20-30 in a day.
I can wait to read more. I was just excited and started reading a little bit ago.

Some history:
It took Hemingway over a decade to write this short. He actually started before For Whom the Bell Tolls and was totally side tracked by writing this novel as most critics were saying he was done as a writer.

Hemingway stated that the Old Man was not based off of anybody in particular, but many believe it was George Fuentes his Captain of his own fishing boat and fishing buddy. He as well was a blue-eyed gaunt thin man from the Canary Islands.

I am having a hard time leaving this book alone!

Has anyone else started?

Yes, I'm about 1/3 in

As I read, I'm reminded of a novel I read in college called Far Tortuga by Peter Matthiessen which was about turtle fishing off the Cayman Islands

I've read this book. I love Hemingway! I think I'll read it again!

Hi Delores! It is a wonderful read so far! I think this is one I will reread often!

Good Morning Samuel!
Santiago talks about which turtles are good and the ones he does not like.

A plethora of great passages:

Then he was sorry for the great fish that had nothing to eat and his determination to kill him never relaxed in his sorrow for him. How many people will he feed, he thought. But are they worthy to eat him? No, of course not. There is no one worthy of eating him from the manner of his behaviour and his great dignity.

The Old Man as a Character I have respect for. He praises the good in the Marlin.

"I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends."

"In all his greatness and his glory"

Love this:

“Ay,” he said aloud. There is no translation for this word and perhaps it is just a noise such as a man might make, involuntarily, feeling the nail go through his hands and into the wood.

Very nice! you must be farther in than I am! I do not recall that quote.

I just finished it...too good to stop. I'll reserve any more comments til your done. I can't seem to use the "spoiler" option on my mobile to hide what I type.

Samuel
Yes the app version on your phone is not very conducive for our homepage.
I will probably complete it tonight! As it is hard not to stop!
That I totally agree with!

I am at work and keep peeping at the site! shshshhhhh!

Ha! I jumped right into For Whom The Bell Tolls...I'm addicted now

I just ordered that one!

Hello everyone, "The old man and the sea" is my first Hemingway book. I was and still am curious about the story and what it has to offer. It seems, though, that I'm the only one stuck on page 27 unable to unroll! :) I won't give up! I'll let you know when I finish. ;)

Hi, I actually started reading this book a couple days ago. I haven't gotten very far yet as I was focused on finishing another couple of books, but I'll continue reading it to join your discussion. :)

A quote from Mr. Hemingway as he thinks about his book (as quoted in an advertisement at the time):

"Whatever I learned is in the story but I hope it reads simply and straight and all the things that are in it do not show but only are with you after you have read it * * *.

Question:
Is Santiago a prideful man? Your thoughts please?

Welcome Charles to our Buddy Read!

How far in our you?

Ana what has you stuck? Maybe we can help!

Thank you Lesle, i have the impression that the story itself is developing in slow motion... I thought it was easier to get it done. I'll get there anyway. Maybe I'm only adjusting Hemingway :)

I think you will understand, it does develop once he is out to sea. There is depth to the tale, more than just the sea!

Check out message 32 and share please!

Is Santiago a prideful man? Your thoughts please?

I don't think he was. At his age, he had a lifetime of confidence in his abilities, which shouldn't necessarily mean prideful. In fact, I felt quite the opposite, that he showed a sense of humbleness in several scenes; in reference to the Marlin, in reference to the boy. Plus, I tend to think that someone who has that much internal dialogue going on by their very nature would not be prideful.

Now, if it was the boy who went out and pulled this stunt...that would be prideful :)

I agree Samuel!
I thought he was very dependent on the Boy without him even realizing it!

I was proud of the Boy for taking such concern for Santiago!

I've just finished the book. It's a short story on perseverance, determination, friendship and...luck! We're unable to control everything in life - that's the lesson I get from this story. Santiago (I love his name) is a lonely old man, respected by everyone for his excellent fishing skills throughout his life. The boy means hope, i think. Maybe the old man sees himself through the boy. Santiago was strong and resistant, but unfortunate. I felt sorry for him in the end for the unfair outcome.

In your opinion, is Santiago successful as a fisherman?

In your opinion, is Santiago successful as a fisherman?

I guess it all hinges on whether you measure success over a whole lifetime, or measure it in the present only. He has not been successful the past 80+ days, but for his life as a whole, he has been. Success is fleeting in a temporal sense. The catch of the great Marlin and the bones that were left when he reached the shore symbolize his own life, does it not, that the great achievement is past and all that is left is for others to admire the skeletal remains of what you have done?

In my opinion:
Everyone has bad days or dry spells, it is part of the process of being successful.

The irony of this experience for Santiago is we expected him to bring the big fish home and receive the pats on the back for such a fine catch, but all the hard work and the perseverance he endured did not bring the fish home.

Successful in my mind yes! He did not achieve that during the 84 days prior.

All that was left were the bones and the other fisherman's imaginations to figure out how big the Marlin was.

Perhaps this mimics the boy's relationship to Santiago?

Samuel wrote: Perhaps this mimics the boy's relationship to Santiago?"

I am at a loss, not sure the meaning? Samuel can you help me out?

Lesle, you have an extra-positive point of view. ;) He deserves to be valued. However, if we define success as accomplishment of a certain aim, Santiago was unsuccessful (in spite of being capable, skilful, strong minded, etc).

Lesle, in second thoughts you have a point. If the point was to get a fish and to get him home, the aim was achieved. Even though the fish was meatless. It all depends on the perspective...

Ana, true. Kind of why I said my opinion!

Santiago, as I know you love that name :), did not have success in the material sense. I really do not think that even mattered to him. His spirit of self is where he was a successful person.

But, I can see where you are coming from.

Santiago's relationship with Manolin is...?

I just finished reading the Old Man and the Sea, too. I really enjoyed it, and while the final part of the book was a surprise and a bit depressing, the fact that the old man was left with nothing rather than bringing home the great fish in one piece was a much better story and, in my opinion, a better representation of reality.

The way I interpret the story is that life is a struggle, and while we can't control the final outcome, each of our lives will inevitably have an end. Though cynical, this might mean that all our daily struggles are ultimately in vain.

On the other hand, just because our lives are finite and we cannot know the final outcome doesn't mean that there isn't honor for the challenges we face and the battles that we go through.

Naturally, there is a certain kind of beauty in the struggles we face as humans. We continue trying to make the most out of life even though it can be very hard to keep on going sometimes. Similarly, we see Santiago catch a 18 ft. long fish after hours and days of determination and perseverance, not to mention the 80+ days of fishing previously with no luck. Next, we see the sharks attack the fish that the old man worked so hard for, but he was still not willing to give up - even though it almost cost him his life.

Moreover, whether Santiago is successful or not is missing the point in my opinion. In a way, he is the best parts of every single one of us; the parts that are never willing to give in, never willing to step down from a challenge, and always willing to keep going regardless of what comes our way.

On another note, Santiago says that Manolin is what keeps the old man alive. However, he appears conflicted because Santiago also says that fish is both the life and death of him. So - which is it? Does the boy keep him alive, or do the fish make him keep going? Well, I think that the fish keep him alive in a "survival" sort of way (he needs to fish in order to eat and live). The boy, on the other hand, gives him a sense of companionship (on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, that would be a higher level: belonging and love needs).

I'm sure there are deeper levels than this, but this is what I've thought about having just read the book. Well worth thinking over more over a cup of hot tea. :)