The Old Man and The Sea, Book Cover May Vary Paperback – May 5, 1995

Hemingway delivered his last masterpiece with this book, a cultural phenomenon when first published in the early '50s: in an unprecedented move, Life Magazine published the novella in its entirety,recognizing that Hemingway, the most influential writer of 20th century American literature and then a world-wide celebrity, had delivered a long-awaited masterful story. The Life magazine edition sold more than 5 million copies in a week so this book reached tens of millions of people within days - not many authors can achieve that! And that's before becoming a much beloved story translated into scores of languages. It is fair to say that this book, which won the Pullitzer Prize, reignited the interest and respect for Hemingway as a serious writer and might have been the decisive factor for his Nobel Prize award.It is so disappointing when people say that story is boring and has too much simbolism... if you have experience fishing or sailing or simply appreciating the sea and nature, then the book offers a marvellous account of man AND nature (not man vs. nature). As for the simbolism, don't dwell too much on it. Hemingway himself said that the book is about "an old man, a boy, a fish and the sea", but if the story is told well enough (as it is on this book) it can mean so much more.And the story is indeed so much more, in no small part because of the inherent goodness of the old man. That's how I enjoy and interpret the book: it is a straightforward tale of an old man embracing the struggles and rewards of life with courage, dignity and still full of the human spirit. Santiago is one of the most dignified characters in Literature, and I have to say he is my favorite and a bit of a personal hero... the old fisherman strives to be the best he can be and do the best he can do... he does not complain of his living in poverty, do not blame others for anything. His spirit is big, generous, undefeated. While other Hemingway heroes might have disappointed some people by way of too much machismo, Santiago keeps all the best traits of courage, resilience and non-nonsense survivalism, while displaying more maturity and humility - perhaps reflecting the middle-age wisdom of the author (then is his fifties).Hemingway story-telling skills are at his best here. I am a big fan of his style, particularly in the short-story format, but here he is astounding all the way. yeah, the prose is deceptively simple at first, but if you pay attention we can see the craft of a master. The opening sentence alone is formidable and could only be delivered by a master of the short-story format. Ihe last sentence is also wonderful and pure Hemingway- simple but infinitely deep, and in this story hopeful and bitter-sweet.In between, Hemingway writes with uncanny power,in such a way that you can fully experience what the character is going through: first you see what the old man does, from mundane tasks and spadework to the excitement of the deep-sea hunt and the exhausting struggle, and in the process you start to think the way Santiago thinks and finally you are feeling the way he feels. It is magical if you only give it a try. Granted, it is easier to immerse into this story if you are familiar with the ways of fishing and the ocean, but in any case, when Santiago is alone in the boat looking at the sea creatures or at the night-sky... I guess the recognition of the infinite solitude of human condition, mitigated by the bonding with the life and the world around us, that is truly universal.I am so glad that such a sweet, simple, timeless story became the classic that it is. You have to try this one too!

I’ve always believed that the best stories ever written are those that sever the veil (screen) upon which our seeming lives are temporarily projected. Through the hole/tear we see an eye looking in, and lo, it is our own!This story is about ambition, love, resistance, resilience, acceptance, and ultimate triumph, but not in the way that the conditioned mind would expect or tend to think.This beautiful little story reminded me of a time when I thought that I’d caught my own big fish. I’d been hired by a prestigious company that promised to turn my life around. As soon as they hired me, I was able to purchase a fully loaded, top of the line luxury vehicle. The latest model. Something that had never happened in my life.My first car had been a used, Orange 1973 Volkswagen Beetle. Which left me stranded more times than I can remember. And the nice thing was that the company that hired me gave me a car allowance that well exceeded my car payment! The company issued me a beautiful smart phone to conduct business, the latest model. Nothing but the best. and furnished me with all of the office supplies that I could ever want or need. They paid for my airfare and hotel stays when traveling, and had a rule that I could never stay in hotels that ran under $140 a night. They had a reputation to uphold! They paid for all of my meals when traveling and even paid for the entertainment that I had to furnish to my top buyers, from my top accounts! In other words, I got paid to take my buyers golfing and seven to strip clubs, as some preferred.I was making more than four times what I made before and the company even paid for my relocation to the most beautiful state that I’ve even stepped foot on — Oregon. I had many accounts scattered along the breath-taking Oregon coast, which I loved to call on, because it meant spending a few nights in hotels just steps from the water. Eating fresh seafood while marveling at the in and out breaths of the mighty Sea.However, like Santiago in the story of The Old Man and the Sea, I became tethered to this huge fish. It was so big that it took me wherever it wanted. And my life became a tempest of temporal highs interspersed with tremendous pressures. Since I had never made so much money before, I began to spend as if I was a millionaire! As if money was infinite rather than finite. Little by little, the sharp teeth of sharks all around me began to eat away at my big fish and I couldn’t do anything about it. My great joy began to dwindle, daily. Eventually, when I could take it no more, I emailed my letter of resignation and sailed back home with only a carcass of a fish. My company t-shirts, my samples, office equipment, etc.I loved the way that Hemingway was able to express deep emotion with few and simple words. Like when the boy, who loved the old man, cried because he’d seen the wounds in the old man’s palms. Battle scars from the tussle he’d undergone with the big fish at sea.I loved how Hemingway pulled me into the old man’s mind. The reasoning process and respect that he’d developed for the giant fish. The flavor of wisdom that comes with age.I’m not old yet, but I certainly identified with the old man’s spirit. When he arrived back home, there was this sense of redemption that radiated from him. This sense of acceptance of life as it is. You get this sense that a deep change had taken place within him. That he no longer gave as much importance to the things that can be taken away, but to the things that last, that matter, that heal the soul and heart — like the Purity and innocence of unconditional love, symbolized by the boy.

A very matter-of fact writing style by Hemingway which is rather enjoyable to read. A story of will-power and perseverance out at sea. Solid read.

The intense struggle of Santiago when battling the marlin really spoke to me, as it emphasized the strength and perseverance of the human spirit. It really surprised me how respectful and compassionately the old man treated the marlin, as he talked to it as a friend rather than his prey. The shark attacks were heartbreaking, but they did stress the courage one must have to face loss. I'd recommend this book to anyone who desires a book about heroism and life lessons. I chose a 5 star rating because this simple yet profound novella stayed with me long after finishing it.

I just started to read Hemingway. The story is very engaging and has you rooting for the old man and the fish simultaneously, not an easy feat.