Review 4/23/2026 7/10

Short review for a rather short book. I felt that it deserved a 7 because it really was enjoyable but it didn't sit well in certain areas. The bits I liked were numerous, the fishing scene, the descriptions of crowds and beaches and cafes and pubs really set a vivid atmosphere without the need to be overly wordy. I never knew the color of the curtains for example but my minds eye had me in the setting and I could feel the heat, the cramped confines of the crowd and the redness in the cheeks as they drank. I think that Hemingway is brilliant at description in that way and if thats all I read it'd be an 11. The bullfighting scenes had me in the arena and the conversations with the bullfighters back in the bar were incredibly engaging. Unfortunately there were love triangles that were annoying and kind of worthless to follow? The whole infidelity with Brett and Mike and Romero just felt gross. I really didn't understand why Brett even liked Mike? What was the point of them being together? Mike honestly was the least likable character. He's roudy and drunk constantly and seriously anti-semitic which rubbed me the wrong way when Cohn was ostracised more than Mike was. I understand that the times were different, I read a lot of old literature and part of that means wading through prejudice and slurs that would be appalling today. I think that this book was very similar to Gatsby. Fantastic first 2/3rds or even 3/4s but then it loses me near the end. At least Brett and Jake got a nice moment in the conclusion of the story (if you can call it that since it was really just a return to their normal lives. More like our last scene before stepping out of their reality and back to our own.) 11/10 if you remove Mike.