I never understood why Hemingway won a Nobel Prize for this. It's not outstanding in the same way that For Whom the Bell Tolls is, I think. Anyway, it's a good story, and I've lost my copy of For Whom... (and, I've just noticed, A Farewell to Arms, too), so I can't reacquaint myself with the story, in order to select an appropriate quotation. Oh, if it matters, like Of Mice and Men, it's short!
Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same colour as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated.
"Santiago," the boy said to him as they climbed the bank from where the skiff was hauled up. "I could go with you again. We've made some money."
The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him.
"No," the old man said. "You're with a lucky boat. Stay with them."
"But remember how you went eighty-seven days without fish and then we caught big ones every day for three weeks."
"I remember," the old man said. "I know you did not leave me because you doubted."
"It was papa made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him."
"I know," the old man said. "It is quite normal."
"He hasn't much faith."
"No," the old man said. "But we have. Haven't we?"
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7 comments:
I'm more of a crime buff myself, courtroom, law... the Grisham type of thing. I love nothing more than a meaty crime novel where Goliath is toppled by David.
I've often thought about writing a book, I've tried twice but could only get to the 'middle' section before throwing the manuscript in the bin!
Fuck, between us I think we could write one hell of a book Matt.
Fact or fiction? Whaddya reckon?
Stephanie: Thanks. I do my best! Btw, my daughter, and your namesake, Stephanie, says "hello".
Fidders: Write about your experiences, that way what you write will automatically come across as more authentic, because it contains the necessary detail, and will inevitably flow better. Even if one writes in metaphor (as science fiction writers do, for example), the story will still be plausible.
Matt
Matt,
So good to find someone who like to read!
I've read "For whom..." when I was a teenager and I don't remember very well. I just remember trying to figure out what does it meant "the earth moved". LOL
You see that I read the translation in Portuguese. I didn't know this is an English metaphor that means nothing in Portuguese if translated literally.
I've seen you like " The Autumn of the Patriarch".
This is the best of Garcia Marquez.
I also like "All Quiet on the Western Front".
Yours,
Ana
Justana: I'm a little behind in my reading, to tell the truth - I must have a dozen books that have been awaiting my attention for a couple of years, now. "Love in the Time of Cholera," has been sitting, half-read, on my bedside table since I had a nervous breakdown, nearly four years ago.
Matt
Had a nervous breakdown?
Who hadn't Matt?
I'm joking.
I've just read " The Autumn of the Patriarch". I'm not very fond of Garcia Marquez.
But at my age i don't read any longer. I re-read.
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