Review: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Today the news media covered the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.It reminded me of Ernest Hemingway’s famous novel, The Sun Also Rises. This is the novel that introduced a generation of Americans to the running of the bulls. The story is built around an ensemble of English and American expatriates living in Paris.

Soon the group is traveling to Spain. They end up in Pamplona. Along the way there is drinking and crisp witty dialogue and drinking and fishing and drinking and bulls running through the streets and drinking and bull fights and more drinking.

This story is full of humor — from the first paragraph where a certain boxer gets his nose flattened. Jake, the main character, remarks that it improved his appearance.

The story moves quickly and produces various moods for the reader; from melancholy to joy. I highly recommend The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway.

Check out this link to Amazon.com to get your own copy.

– Thomas

Review: Life of Pi by Yann Martel

A boy. A tiger. And the vast Pacific Ocean. This is the beginning of the brief tease on the front inside flap of the dust jacket of Life of Pi, a novel by Yann Martel. I read this novel in 2001 or the following year. It is a good story, well told.
The title character begins life with the name Piscine Molitor Patel. A sensitive child, he tires of people mispronouncing his name. The other kids often call him Pissing Patel. So, he shortens his name to Pi.
He was born in India and fills us in beautifully on his life with his family and their business. His family owned and operated a zoo. His father sells the animals and uproots the family to start a new life elsewhere. They travel on a freighter along with some of the animals. Catastrophe strikes at sea. Pi ends up on a life boat with a tiger.
The author gives us much to ponder as he weaves layers of allegory into his novel. Mr. Martel tells a great story. I couldn’t imagine how it was going to end. It holds hours of enjoyment for the avid reader.
Oh, and one more thing; Yann martel won the prestigious Man Booker prize for Life of Pi.
Check out this Amazon.com link to get your own copy.

– Thomas