Hemingway

I am currently sort of fascinated with Ernest Hemingway. I knew little about him before The Paris Wife, but couldn't get him out of my head afterwards. I checked out most of his work from the library the same day I finished Paris Wife and delved in. I am very confused by him, but equally as fascinated. I wrote up an essay, just to get all the facts straight in my head, and because I love to write anything and everything and have always loved to write about books or anything having to do with literature.

At first, and especially since I chose to read 'In Our Time' first, It blew my mind that he was so very famous and idolized. But the more I read, the more I began to see how remarkable his writing was, especially for the 20s. He was the first of his kind in those days and people craved his style. I have yet to finish his books, but I will. He, as a person and as a writer is what intrigues me. Even in Paris Wife, my first thoughts of him was that he was insane. And the more I've learned about his life, the more I know it for certain. The way Hadley describes him when they first met as passionate and alive, and later says those were his best years, when he was young in Paris, I do agree. The war I think was the major cause of his psychiatric problems, among other things. His upbringing, his drinking, and probably his brilliancy too. The way he saw things as 'work', such as going to the horse races and betting on them. He spent so much time there he honestly considered it a job and called it "hard work".

He was, in my opinion, terribly selfish. I think if I had to describe him in one word that would be it. But it's interesting that he truly did not believe he was or see himself in this light. Everything for Ernest was literature. He would study people and paintings and his surroundings, all for writing. He lived in his own reality and I honestly don't think he ever lived for anything other than his work.

After reading his stuff and learning about him, I think people either love Hemingway's work, or they hate it. I do not see very much room for in between. And at first, I hated it. But then I began to have a love hate relationship with it that eventually turned to love. He won me over. He has crept into my mind and took up permanent residency there. So much so that I have actually considered going back to school to study literature. I probably won't, but he does inspire me. And fascinate me. I am looking forward to reading the rest of his books and seeing more from his point of view.