May 31 2007

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Category: PersonalChrisM @ 12:14 pm

For Whom The Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway

Again Hemingway famously volunteered to fight (this time against fascists) in the Spanish Civil war, so this book is based on his own experiences, though whether it was as close to real life as A Farewell To Arms is not known by this reviewer. I’m not entirely sure why, I just didn’t enjoy this book as much as A Farewell To Arms. I think it may have been connected to the supposed feelings Ernest held about the futility of war towards the end of the first book.
It is possible that if I had read this book, leaving a larger gap from having read the first, it would have captivated me more. Oh that, and maybe the fact that I can’t stand the Metallica tune that uses the same title. Not very professional as a reviewer perhaps, but I’m just posting my unfiltered thoughts on this…
The interplay between the Spanish mountain-dwelling freedom fighters manages to keep the story going, although it often felt quite predictable when it came to their military movements. I think part of the problem for me was that Ernest Hemingway has such a huge reputation, I was somehow expecting more…

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