emma. my father died a few days ago. i havent been able to get around to finishing this book, and probably won’t do so until im in a better place. but ur videos have been such a huge comfort during these times, before, and always. so thank you, really thank you. ❤️
I’m so sorry to hear 😢. My dad passed away unexpectedly a week after my daughter was born (yrs ago) but it was so hard. I understand ❤, and hope you can find patches of comfort through the grief and healing.
I'm late to the reading but... I'm loving Hemmingway. I'm... feeling pretty terrible.. I'm almost done with the book, but his straight forwardness is how my brain works so I love how direct he is throughout this book.
Recently finished reading it myself and it just solidified Hemingway as my favourite writer. When I got to the end I wanted to throw the book as far away as possible. I just put it on the table, lit a cigarette and stared into nothing for a while.
I finished the book at the end of January and I was so shook. I was crying and mad and literally threw the book, haha. Ugh. BRUTAL. So good, though. "Where am I supposed to put that?" is a perfect reaction to the ending.
Hemingway is my favorite! Glad to see you talking about his work. I also love his dialogue, which is very simple, sometimes a bit weird perhaps, but profound. And the most amazing thing is his dialogue echoes loudly. It is like an abyss. I still remember the last dialogue in Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises. Brett said, 'we could have had such a damned good time together.' And Jake said: 'yes, isn't it pretty to think so?', and suddenly, end of the story. I mean, this is a symphonic ending, so quiet but so loud. He is really good at it.
Having read the book before, I knew this reaction was coming. One of the most relatable things that has ever happened in a movie is in Silver Linings Playbook where Bradley Cooper finishes A Farewell to Arms and then throws it out the window. Great book though
To me, there was no other ending possible. The book is an existential meditation on the toll of war on the human psyche and the relationship in the book is an expression of that theme.
For an interesting comparison with Steinbeck, you could read "The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, which was also a series of newspaper articles
💧🌧️ I cannot believe I am old enough to be saying this but it’s been about a *decade* since i read A Farewell to Arms, and watching this definitely made me want to reread it!
Loved this book! I felt the same way you did about the ending. Calcifer us too adorable. He reminds me of my kitty Mr. Whitetoes. He's vocal too. Hugs to you and Calcifer! Enjoy your weekend beautiful. 😘❤️💚📚🐛
By chance I encountered this poem by WB Yeats which felt like a good companion. I believe it was contemporary to Farewell, in addition to some boiling in the quest for Irish Independence. Here it is: An Irish Airman foresees his Death I know that I shall meet my fate Somewhere among the clouds above; Those that I fight I do not hate, Those that I guard I do not love; My country is Kiltartan Cross, My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor, No likely end could bring them loss Or leave them happier than before. Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, Nor public men, nor cheering crowds, A lonely impulse of delight Drove to this tumult in the clouds; I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seemed waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death.
I finished A Farewell to Arms a couple of weeks ago and I had never read it before and it seriously ruined me! 😭His descriptions of war and style of writing are so minimal but hugely descriptive. My new favorite. I just walked around with this book for days after I read it. I couldn't put it back on the shelf for a long while.
🌧☔️ - I'm also reading A Farewell to Arms, and I agree with the addictive quality of his writing! Even though I am not particularly invested, the prose makes it hard to stop
💧 hi Emma! I'm here with you and Carolyn and have read Farewell. Followed your thoughts and in agreement with the heart wrenching ending. Can't wait to tune into the live show tomorrow. For today ...Farewell.
🌧️ I read and loved both ! At first I was so sure I was going to love a farewell to arms more but there's something in once there was a war that I found so profoundly human and touching, I think of it extremely foundly now, so much that I don't know which one I like best haha ! As always it's a pleasure to hear your thoughts, I hope you're well and can't wait to watch the liveshow tomorrow 🥰
🌧️💧💧💧☔️ I love both authors so much, East of Eden is one of my favorite books and Hemingway is kind of a comfort author for me, but this time around I loved Hemingway‘s work a lot more :)
I should read more Hemingway. I read The Sun Also Rises but wasn't particularly enamored with it. I'll tell you a book that broke me emotionally was Michael Shaara's Killer Angels based on the American Civil War. Two best friends become generals on opposing sides but they always swore they'd never fight each other personally. Then in the climaxing charge, the general on the Southern side has to lead an attack against his friend's troops. He gets shot doing it and just before he dies, he learns that his friend has also been shot so he begs the soldiers around him, "No! Not both of us. Not all of us! Please tell General Hancock that General Armistead sends his regrets....please tell him how very sorry I am." Definitely heightens the emotional factor. WWI would do for the world at large what the Civil War did for the US--shatter their idealism. Great video, Emma--have a wonderful weekend!🌧
Just finished the book. Totally agree with you about his writing style. I found myself craving some flowery language 😂 I was enjoying the book but wasn’t in love with it. And then! That ending! That ending just broke my heart.
Yay I finished yesterday! Starting Once there was a war today. I’m a bit behind but this one should be faster. I didn’t want to rush through AFTA I loved it so much.
i completely agree with you on your views about hemingway's descriptions i found them really dry as well. i kind of dissed the dialogues though, except very few ones. as this was my first hemingway it took me a while to get used to his writing style. when i finished it i had to re-read the last page to perceive what had just happened... i saw it coming but- overall, it definitely wasn't my favorite but i'm curious to read more of his works! thank you so much for all this wonderful content that inspires so many people including myself to read more 💙💙💧
So interesting to hear your thoughts! I honestly prefer Once there was a War to A Farewell to Arms, is this an unpopular opinion? Hemingway truly does write great dialogue and I too enjoy being punched in the face (that ending, what was that?). He is without doubt an author who has mastered his craft. However ... The "love" relationship made me really uneasy at times. I was hoping it would get better once Catherine doesn't cling to the shadow of her dead boyfriend which she can't afford to lose a second time... But no, it didn't get better. If only I could become the way you want me to... No! Also I did not warm up to his writing style. Hemingway really should have written plays (dare I say, instead of novels?) As to Steinbeck, the introduction really is key! And it's a beautiful one. I'm a short story person, so maybe that's it worked for me. I underlined so many quotes, it's crazy. There were funny stories (the food!), ones that made me cry (the moving pictures, the dog and the plane...) and so many in between. Of course, you realize quickly that he is a war correspondent, contributing to the "effort". So if you come to see all these little figures and people in his stories as in a theater, playing out this and that so that Steinbeck can show you big truths about war, life and meaning... Wow -End of the rambling, sorry
I haven’t finished Steinback yet, but I totally agree, I’m enjoying it, it’s just really hard to get into it and it’s hard to pick it up. I’ve just been reading a few pages a day so it feels like it’s taking forever! I definitely like it, but like you said it’s not gripping me at all. Hands down, Hemingway won for me! I loved that book ❤ 🌧
Ah, so happy to watch your videos right when they are uploaded! I’m so surprised you didn’t like Steinbeck’s book cause I thought you really were going to! I haven’t read neither of them but I would really love to read A farewell to arms just because you describe it so amazingly and every recommendation you give sounds really good, I read The phantom of the opera thanks to you and I absolutely loved it, so I’m definitely going to try to read every book you recommend! Thank you for your videos, Emma! I hope I can get to watch them for a long, long time ❤❤
I haven't gotten around to this yet, but I want to express my appreciation for your content right now, Emma. comforting during the worst periods of my life.
I recommend you to read All quiet on the western front, not only watch a movie. It's a very good book and Remarque in general might be interesting to you because he is part of the lost generation just like Hemingway and his books are similar to Hemingway's
I recommend "Maybe I'm Dead" by Joe Klaas. I first read this book when I was a teenager because it was one of the few books in my house and we got it at a yard sale. It's such a well written gripping book about war.
If you want to read bit more about trench warfare in the first WW and it not being "all quiet on the western front", id recommend "Storm of Steel" by Ernst Jünger. Where Remarques "All quiet on the western front" is the book focusing on the storys behind the characters and their feelings, Jünger focuses more on describing the actual war and fighting in it. Its quite graphic from time to time, but thats how the war was. I actually read both those books back to back few years ago and thought it a good starting point to get into the WW1 subject and having different viewing points on the same thing at once.
I've been to where much of that was written, in Piggot. Arkansas, in a barn loft converted into a writing, drinking, card playing space. The original burned down, and Hemingway rushed in to save the manuscript from the fire, tossing it out the loft door.
I gave this 4 ⭐, but it is more like 3.5 ⭐ for me.... There was just something about it that I couldn't get into... I am starting A Movable Feast and have finished Once There Was a War which was very hard for me to find. I have also finished Catcher in the Rye and am on Chapter 22 of David Copperfield. I just got my beautiful copy of The Brothers Karamazov. Thanks for another great video Emmie... Love to you, Calcifer and Partner from Ohio, U.S.A.
I pretty much agree with all of your thoughts on A Farewell To Arms. Did not get the chance to pick up "Once There Was a War", but by the way you described it, I think I'm not going to. Rain for the win! 🌧
I'm struggling with Steinbeck too. I may not have it finished by tomorrow, even though I only have 70 pages left. Same thing here, the introduction was the strongest. Hemingway won for me as well. But: I do really appreciate Steinbeck 's other work. My favorite is "the winter puts our discontent"
Looking forward to the live! I probably won't have finished Steinbeck but since it's nonfic it doesn't matter really. To me it's worth reading just for the intro. I like history and communications so I also just find it interesting to see what was being sent back 'from the front'. It was my first book by either author
Omg you started watching All Quiet On The Western Front! I started reading the book just before starting A Farewell to Arms. You should read it eventually.
I love that you picked out a lot of the same quotes I did from each book. We have totally opposite emotional reactions which is super interesting. I also tabbed a lot in Steinbeck’s intro! I actually really heavily tabbed OtWaW compared to AFtA but I think mine was looking more at his writing technique rather than the emotional impact of the book.
I loved Hemingway. I was about halfway through when I went out and bought a giant collection of his short stories. I loved it so much more than Steinbeck's but they interestingly ended up similar in rating for different reasons
im so excited for the Liveshow tomorrow!! am currently wrapping up once there was a war and I can already tell that it won this round for me.. so total opposite from you xD but I'm so happy I got around for reading both thanks to this bookclub! 🌧💧
Thank you Emile. This channel and CarolynMarieReads are my first RU-vid subscriptions and comments. I appreciate having a peaceful place and friendly people to share a joy of reading with. It is something lacking in the physical world. As for the books, I have to give the edge to Hemingway. But overall neither book really did it for me.
I only read the introduction of "once there was a war" but as soon as I started the book I felt like I needed to read in my mother language to really understand all the manipulation the text had suffered because of censorship. And I couldn't find any portuguese edition of it :((((((( I'm gonna watch you guys tomorrow as well !
🌧️ I don’t know if it’s my bias speaking. But I enjoyed Steinbeck way more than Hemingway. For me, I couldn’t get over Hemingway’s writing style. And I actually felt like Steinbeck was more direct in how he related the going’s on in war. Because he was more “embellished.”
I've tried reading that book twice and I can never get past the middle -- so freaking boring. I might give it a try again some time, maybe with age I might appreciate it. Btw, what is your skincare routine? lol
You have convinced me to give Hemingway another try 😊 I found his style quite dry and inconsistant, which for me, made it hard to read and sympathise with the characters. I read The Sun Also Rises, and A Farewell to arms. Maybe I should try a Moveable Feast - would you recommend?
Hi Emma! I liked it as your every other video but you were saying that you will do a reading vlog on every shatter me book. So when are you uploading that?
It would be fascinating to read some of Hemingway’s journalism as a war correspondent. I imagine it would be very different than Steinbeck’s as I can’t imagine Hemingway putting a positive spin on it.
I just started this today, I have read his The Old Man and the Sea which was good, am only 30ps in, somehow low/mediocre quality esp if compared to Ernst Jünger's In Stahlgewittern/Storms of Steel.
Yeah, possibly Hemmingway overestimated the indulgence of his audience to understand what he was trying to express. Sometimes writers ask the readers to do their jobs. If he wanted it to be ironic foreshadowing then maybe there was too much space between them. If he wanted to express the headaches of the long hangover in the period when Henry got his act together to write his memoir, it was unclear.
Henry's relationship with the priest, I think, is critical if you want to see the progression of Hemmingway's thought. For example, it is very fruitful to compare the priest to the old man Anselmo in For Whom the Bell Tolls. Hemingway believed in an innocence in humanity that is rooted in the natural world. It was an innocence that Hemingway himself knew as a child and a young man, but I think he knew he lost touch with it through his alcoholism and how that alcoholism affected all his relationships. Hemingway could never make it back to that pristine innocence symbolized by the priest and later Anselmo. Very tragic, especially when you consider how he died.
Heartless is such a good way to describe it. All throughut the book it felt like there was no point to the story, and the writing style wasn-t engaging enough to make up for it. So stale.
I read AFTA and I found the dialogue disjointed and hard to follow but hearing you read them I kind of have an appreciation for the dialogue?! Like maybe I should read it again, see if I would like the book? But no, won't do that. 😅 Hemingway could have written the book better imo cause there are segments where he does do well. Steinbeck has won this round for me.
If you like Hemingway then you might think about reading Writer, Sailor, Soldier, Spy: Ernest Hemingway's Secret Adventures, 1935-1961 by Reynolds, Nicholas
Emma, I bought A Farewell to Arms because of you! I’m looking forward to getting to it. Also, I think you should check out a book called Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi! It’s magical realism but people don’t seem to enjoy it or understand it much compared to other magical realism authors. I’d love to hear your review of it one day.
I'd try to be helpful and say something about how trench warfare works since WWI is one of my areas of interest, but unfortunately I really can't stand doing military history (just a social historian vibing lol) Personally I enjoyed Steinbeck a good deal more than Hemingway but to each their own ☺️ very much looking forward to the live show 🌧️
I didn’t like A Farewell to Arms when I read it back in high school. For me the plot went nowhere slowly and I didn’t like the ending. I fell asleep so many times while listening to it. But I’m happy you enjoyed it.
I can’t seem to get into Hemingway. I love character development and beautiful yet simple prose and I find none of this in Hemingway. It’s very plain almost diary like. I haven’t read many but the only one I kind of liked is “A Moveable Feast”.
I read this last year and it gutted me. Hemingway's writing is a bit terse and dry but the whole journey following couple will definitely make any reader invested to their happiness
I couldn't get through A Farewell to Arms so I DNF and my library didn't have Once There Was A War. But if I compare the authors based on what I have read by both of them (20% of A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway and Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck), Steinbeck wins by leaps and bounds!
All Quiet on the Western Front. The film is very different from the book (and far less bloody). A two hour film simply can't cover the book. Anyway ... I recommend reading the book as well. The film doesn't really spoil it. Both are great.
On the topic of All Quiet on the Western Front - I was quite disappointed with the movie (admittedly I didn't finish it so idk, maybe it redeems itself towards the end?). If you haven't read the book yet, I can't recommend it enough! It's very different from the Netflix movie and very focused on the internal lives of the German soldiers, I think you'd love it! 🌧
Trench warfare not difficult: An army invades hoping to capture a city, with its banks, and stores, airports, and radio stations, etc. The other army gets in their way. They dig long deep trenches where they live for months at a time. In WW I there were some inventions that made trench warfare especially brutal. The first is barbed wire, which makes passing through the trenches slow and painful, the next is the automatic, or machine gun, which was particularly gruesome against men stuck in barbed wire. The third was mustard gas - which was quickly outlawed in the rules of war as too barbaric. With nowhere to run, the men in the trenches were especially vulnerable to gas bomb attacks.
hemmingway is so sad! aperantly, the way you describe his prose makes me think of the weird teaching about suchness. fom the Buddhists!... almost like the lost fellaheen. how have you never read a good collection! that you enjoyed!!? ive read a several! gah! I love you, emmie 😙😖
11:42 I think Hemingway is a great writer. Read A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin. In my opinion, I think that novel is even better than Hemingway ‘s novels.
