The Old Man and The Sea is a short read, but not a quick one. I had attempted it before but abandoned it after 20 pages, can’t remember why. This time I persevered. Maybe it was the pressure of years of forsaken resolutions. Maybe it was the fact that I am a more evolved reader. probably a bit of both. This was Hemingway’s last novel published before his death. It was also one of his most successful stories.
The story is about an old fisherman in the middle of an unlucky spell and his three day struggle, as he tries to bring in, against all odds, the biggest catch of his life. What worked for me was not so much the story as his writing style. The simplicity gripped me. I also could not help but admire the patience with which he delves into the details, thus conjuring up vivid images. For most of the book, the old man is the only character but Hemingway uses the fish, the sky, the sea, the sun, moon and stars as an effective support cast. And therein lies his brilliance. I must admit that I tuned off at times especially when he detailed the fishing technicalities, but was baited back after a sentence of two.
I finished with Old man and the sea last week. Hemingway has brilliantly delved into fine details. It was an enjoyable read.
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