Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Charles a great job expressing your thoughts!

"missing the point in my opinion. In a way, he is the best parts...of us"

'Never/always willing'...is what makes us successful no matter how major or minor that success is.

I have enjoyed how this simple fisherman's story has made us all find a greater depth to the tale.

It's being difficult to detach from this book - a tiny story in length, but so amazingly deep. Another cup of tea/coffee and i'd keep on talking about this book...
Lesle, to be positive, i think he was also lucky for catching the other fishes (the ones he ended up eating). But if we notice, when the story begins, the term 'salao' - the worst form of unlucky, is used on the first lines, like if foreseeing the outcome.
It's interesting the way each reader has his own point of view on the same book :)

Ana, thanks for explaining the 'salao' from the start. For some reason I thought it meant 'salty'?

I really got the impression from Santiago that he fished just to fish. Catch anything or not. It sure was not to feed himself, he lived on the oil, ugghh! It also was not for the sale of the fish to live in more comfortable enviroment. His bed of newspaper for covers as an example.

I agree Ana, if you thought this book was nothing than you sure did miss a lot!

Leslie, I know this book in years, since high school, it was a very famous Classic worth reading! But, for some reason, I had never read it so far. I probably won't reread it, but it sure keeps me thinking about it... Nice pick!

The "salao" explanation comes in the first page, if I'm not mistaken...

Ana wrote: "The "salao" explanation comes in the first page, if I'm not mistaken..."

It does, but I also looked it up and that definition stuck in my head.

Lesle wrote: "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?"

Sorry, sometimes I stream-of-consciousness type. :)

I was just thinking about how the men on the beach were staring at the skeleton of the Marlin tied to Santiago's boat. They were talking about how massive the fish must have been, but all they have are the bones, so in their minds they have to flesh out the grandeur of what the creature had once been. They were captivated by it, and their imaginations had to fill in the gaps. I was just thinking that perhaps this is how the boy viewed Santiago...a fisherman who was past his prime, just a shell of the person he must have been, and yet the boy was fascinated by him and only had his own imagination to create the mythos of Santiago as a mighty fisherman.

...or not :)

No great job in filling in the spots of the unwritten!

I can see that happening with the other men. Probably also of the 'wow how did he do it all alone!'

I agree with Manolin, Im sure he was taken with him. Man of little words and the life of a fisherman told in his face and Santiago happy to have one so young and interested in learning around him.

I thought when Santiago was wishing the boy was with him, kind of kept him moving forward, in a way.

Lesle wrote: "Ana wrote: "The "salao" explanation comes in the first page, if I'm not mistaken..."

It does, but I also looked it up and that definition stuck in my head."

How come, Lesle? :)

Why did I look it up?

That is just me. No real reason.

Guess what, I looked it up as well, but recently, after reading the book. They mention salty, saloon, salon, etc These terms are not related to Hemingway's term in the story. But since the story itself explains its definition, I accepted it.

I know! I wish I had not looked into it further. Oh well! Lessoned learned :>)

It mixed you up. Just stick to the story ;)

Are you going to read True Grit with me next month? Tony is in. That's all I know of so far!

I would like to read True Grit if I can get a copy from the library.

They have 10 copies, so I'm in.

I'm currently reading Frankenstein and I'm loving it. The book you're planning to read seems to be a quality one, as far as I could realise from my research. However, I'm afraid I'll have to decline for now and wait for the next book you suggest for a buddy read.

Hey everyone!
I see that everyone has finished the book already, I read this book before and I had to read "unwillingly" if I may say so and this left me feeling bitter about it.
I'm going to reread it again this month as a fun and short story but I have one question for everyone:

Is this a great book that changed something in you and made you think about it again and again after finishing it and why?

Nice question Wijdan!

Yes it still lingers with me a little still. He puts so much emotion into Santiago it is not hard to have compassion for him.

I can understand the bitter part about the Marlin. I myself just had so much sorrow for what Santiago went through.

I really enjoyed the read and felt like there was a much deeper meaning and learning experience behind the novel. Hemingway in my opinion did a wonderful job with this short story.

Widjan, this was my first Hemingway book. I feel a little like Lesle: the story hasn't abandoned me yet. Actually, i bring it along and apply it on real life, specially when i remember a few people i've met so far. If it changed something in me? Well, it's a tiny story that confirms my theories on existence and human path: we, humans, control our lives less than we think :)

Ana wrote: "I'm currently reading Frankenstein and I'm loving it."

I write: "Frankenstein is Great! The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a good follow-up."

Thanks :)