Read again today; I've done this a few times in my life now. It is such a great read, one can never really get tired of it. Beautiful tale of a man facing life's difficulties with bold resolve, even in the face of failure. It is a lesson for us all.

The story is spare and simple, yet the characters have such strength and love. ( )

I'm not sure what to say about this book. I confess: I read it because it was the shortest of Hemmingway's books I could find. Totally worth it, though. ( )

I just don't know. Seriously, I can not tell how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it is such a simplistic story and told with such plain prose that it is not tremendously exciting or interesting. On the other hand, the story moved me. I felt for the old man; I admired his courage, I felt his pain as the fishing line cut his hands, and I mourned with him over his losses. So, because of my confusion, let's start with a list:

What I Enjoyed
The strength of character shown by Santiago
The love between the young boy and Santiago
Some of the descriptions of animals were rather poignant

What I Didn't Care For
My inability to truly picture what was happening
The sadness inherent in the plotline and in the characters
The ending

Overall, I have to admit that I don't really see the major appeal of the book. I'm glad I read it...twice...but I don't ever think I'll have a burning desire to read it again. I would however, like it to be made into a movie, ala Cast Away, but I think this is just so I can have a clear visual.

Memorable Scene: At one point, Santiago sees a bird circling a school of flying fish, but the flying fish are being chased by a school of dolphins. The way the scene is set up the reader relates to the bird who has no chance of catching his dinner with the dolphins so close. I couldn't stop thinking about the flying fish though who are being pursued to their deaths by two separate animals. They are not safe above or below the surface.

Memorable Quote: "Do not think about sin, the thought. There are enough problems now without sin. Also I have no understanding of it...and I am not sure that I believe in it. Perhaps it was a sin to kill the fish. I suppose it was even though I did it to keep me alive and feed many people. But then everything is a sin...You did not kill the fish only to keep alive and to sell for food, he thought. You killed him for pride and because you are a fisherman. You loved hime when he was alive and you loved him after. If you love him, it is not a sin to kill him. Or is it more?" ( )

There are enough reviews here that I don't need to repeat the story other than to say this is great classic literature. It's much more than a story of a man and a great fish. It's the story of life itself and the battle we all face. Hemingways prose wastes no words and the reader bonds with the old man and his struggle. I liken this story to Steinbecks The Pearl. A very good read for all ages. ( )

My first Ernest Hemmingway book and I found his simple style refreshing.

My favorite line: "Fish, I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before this day ends."

The author endears you to the boy and the old man in many ways ie by the respect the boy carries for the old man, references to baseball and Joe DiMaggio.

The heaviness of gulit the old man felt was a weight on myself as the reader. Hemmingway's characters emotion was very real to me.

Why did the old man want the big fish so badly? I have many possible answers.

Not a book just about an old man and a big fish or maybe... it was. ( )