November is the month for expressing our thankfulness. It's a time for reflecting on the things in our lives which make us truly grateful. In that spirit, I am devoting this blog entry to the top ten reasons why I am thankful for Ernest Hemingway.
- The opening paragraph of A Farewell to Arms.
- The closing line of The Sun Also Rises.
- His description of F. Scott Fitzgerald in A Moveable Feast (the butterfly analogy).
- His selected letters edited by Carlos Baker, which contain countless pearls of wisdom.
- Introducing the world to the iceberg principle.
- Coining the phrase, "grace under pressure."
- His innovative writing style, which has inspired many authors.
- One can reread Hemingway and always find something new and compelling.
- His ingenious ability to construct a fiction, which is more realistic and truer than any life event could ever be.
- His enduring and human themes. From death to loss to perseverance to courage, Hemingway writes of the subjects that affect us all.
In what ways are you thankful for Hemingway?
Posted on November 12, 2006 | Two comments
This is a good list. Ernest was truly innovative and ingenious. Here are a few of my favorite moments:
* Nick looking into the mirror when he gets drunk in The Three-Day Blow.
* "I didn't know sharks had such handsome, beautifully formed tails."
* "Any part you make will represent the whole if it's made truly." [EMH]
* The opening of The Killers.
* Cat In The Rain.
* Big Two-Hearted River: "They were both males; long grey-white strips of milt, smooth and clean. All the insides clean and compact, coming out all together. Nick tossed the offal ashore for the minks to find."
* This ["the awful?"] hints at Nick masturbating.
* Nick looking into the mirror when he gets drunk in The Three-Day Blow.
* "I didn't know sharks had such handsome, beautifully formed tails."
* "Any part you make will represent the whole if it's made truly." [EMH]
* The opening of The Killers.
* Cat In The Rain.
* Big Two-Hearted River: "They were both males; long grey-white strips of milt, smooth and clean. All the insides clean and compact, coming out all together. Nick tossed the offal ashore for the minks to find."
* This ["the awful?"] hints at Nick masturbating.
for this I'am thankful this author has enriched my life with his ability to describe his writings so vividly you feel you are a part of the scenario which you are reading.