I really enjoy The Short and Happy Life of Francis Macomber. It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage in-depth discussion about all things related to books, authors, genres, or publishing in a safe, supportive environment. You know, I remember a lot of people I know reading that book and despising it. 12 of the best Ernest Hemingway quotes Ernest Hemingway is one of the most famous and celebrated writers ever to have put pen to paper, but he is also one of the misquoted people on the internet. Don't start with The Old Man and the Sea. It's not his best work by far. Where to start with Hemingway ... We have read two of Ernest's books,and some of "the girls" didn't like either one, but seriously they led to great discussions!!!! I'd say that's a good starting point. The best novels, works of non-fiction, and short-story collections by Ernest Hemingway. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Anything else is better. The only one of his I've read is Farewell to Arms and I found it very dull, except for the very end which was mildly better. We love Hemingway and ranked his 10 best books so that anyone who hasn’t read them can get started. It's set in Paris in the 1920s, and it follows Hemingway himself when he was still a young writer barely making ends meet, hob-nobbing with Scott Fitzgerald and Ezra Pound, James Joyce to name a few. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. My favorite is his collection of short stories called Winner Take Nothing. It says a lot without saying a lot. These are loosely called the "Nick Adams Stories" - short, easy to read, give you the Hemingway idea very quickly. We did OLD MAN,and also FAREWELL TO ARMS. I'd probably recommend either Farewell to Arms or For Whom the Bell Tolls first, or for short stories "Hills Like White Elephants" or "Big Two-Hearted River". The Old Man and the Sea doesn't do that at all. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Undoubtedly, one of the best books for outdoorsmen ever penned, this memoir is a true-to-life example of just how wonderfully the author balances brutality and beauty, animalistic instinct and higher-thinking humanity, and life and death. If you want short stories, "In Our Time" is a nice, slim volume that will give a very good introduction to how he writes, and also has his most famous short story (Big Two-Hearted River). People often say to read Old Man and the Sea first, but I find this actually turns people off Hemingway because they aren't familiar with the style and it seems dull and/or stupid if you don't. The book also tops my list because it reveals Hemingway’s courageous attempt to write in a new and different way by portraying the bad and the ugly as well as the beautiful. Sure some might say he comes off a little arrogant in this but you'll learn a lot about the writer himself, his thought process- and the prose is crisp. I think it's a great way to get into Hemingway because you really get a sense of his style and the stories are fantastic. Press J to jump to the feed. "too simple, almost childish, why is this guy considered greatness?" His writing is simply beautiful, elegant and has an eternal class. I recommend that you try The Snows of Kilimanjaro first. My favorite is A Clean, Well Lighted Place. For awhile I had dreams that were like the feelings I got from the stories. It's got its flaws, but I still love that book. Novel wise, I definitely recommend "A Farewell to Arms" or "The Old Man and the Sea". This is a moderated subreddit. It depends what you are looking for. Blog – Posted on Thursday, Apr 11 11 Best Ernest Hemingway Books in Chronological Order When puzzling over what the best Ernest Hemingway books are, a reader might not be burdened by a mountain of publications — as with trying to determine the best Stephen King novels, for instance.However, that doesn’t make the task any easier. If you're looking for help with a personal book recommendation, consult our Weekly Recommendation Thread, Suggested Reading page, or ask in r/suggestmeabook. I had a cake made with Ernest's picture on it,and my dad had a typewriter that is a one of many models Ernest typed on. No love for For Whom The Bell Tolls? His short stories might be his best though, so maybe look up Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber or Big Two Hearted River on the internet and read them to see whether you like him stylistically. Everyone will recommend The Old Man and the Sea but that's honestly insulting as fuck. He has written several works of fiction and nonfiction as well as several collections of short stories. Score A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. i love the old man and the sea, but even more than most hemmingway, it seems to be very much love it or hate it. With you on this one. I don't know if that's anywhere near a helpful description! ", I didn't enjoy it much. At the risk of sounding like a douche, I will say that you should start with a novel, such as A Farewell to Arms or The Sun Also Rises that forces you, as a reader, into Hemingway's style and then it will be easier to 'get' it. I always thought starting with Old Man and the Sea ended with an under-appreciation, i.e. Couldn't really see why it was so revered. It says a lot without saying a … Ernest Hemingway’s life and work are defined by … I finally got around to reading it and, well, saying I enjoyed it isn't quite right because it's pretty damn depressing, but I found it to be much deeper than anyone gave it credit for. If you have never read anything Hemingway previously and you want to get into his writing, I would honestly start with a short story as he is the master of this form. Those were the first two I read. It was Hemingway's big fuck you to everyone out there who tried to read into books, and as such, it's not going to interest someone who's just starting out with Hemingway. Start with The Sun Also Rises because that's a book that's engaging while still staying within the Hemingway style. Cookies help us deliver our Services. The short story collection In Our Time won me over in College. EDIT: I didn't see the first comment when I wrote this; I'm not trying to be deliberately antagonistic by saying I hated Farewell to Arms!:). Old Man and the Sea is probably the best novel introduction. It's not his best work by far. The Old Man and the Sea first. Here are 12 of our favourite (definitely) Hemingway quotes. After all, Hemingway wouldn’t be Hemingway without big-game hunting. If you have never read Ernest Hemingway, the best way to start would be to read his short stories. Dive right in... go for "The Sun Also Rises. So maybe don't start with that! I wondered what about it made you hate it so? You feel like you're there. In Our Time is a collection of short stories that's also great and some editions come with an introduction to Hemingway's style that can be helpful for first timers. The short stories and Sun Also Rises - the early stuff before he drowned in his own mythology. These are the two novels I would recommend starting with as well. Start with The Sun Also Rises because that's a book that's engaging while still staying within the Hemingway style. Bukowski joked somewhere that EH killed himself as a result of people adoring the relative fraud that was Old Man. Maybe I would like it more if I knew what he was talking about when he mentioned all those streets.