A Farewell to Arms

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about A Farewell to Arms, please sign up.

Answered Questions (8)

Elliotte Bagg I am half way through this book, it's my first Hemingway and it is completely baffling to me after having heard so much hype about him. He constantly …moreI am half way through this book, it's my first Hemingway and it is completely baffling to me after having heard so much hype about him. He constantly uses run-sentences that are exhaustively long. The dialogue, especially between the protagonist and love interest, just feels stilted and unnatural, like something from Tommy Wisseau's film The Room! I am a fan of WW1 era stories but this one feels pretty shallow. I do feel like I am missing something about why he is considered such an amazing author, is it just because his style is so different that it feels special? (less)
Austin Weirdly enough, men and women communicated differently 100 years ago. I know, it's off-putting! But there probably are multitudes of reasons the dialo…moreWeirdly enough, men and women communicated differently 100 years ago. I know, it's off-putting! But there probably are multitudes of reasons the dialog is written the way it is; maybe you should read some expert literary analysis to gain greater insight, if you're interested. I suggest Hemingway and Women: Female Critics and the Female Voice. And maybe not pay too much attention to 'this totally like sounded forced and false, OMG,' kind of comments that had 5 seconds of thought and research put into them. I mean, the guy did win a Nobel...maybe there was a method to his madness? Cheers!(less)
D'Arcy Multiple hemorrhages resulting from a strained labor and childbirth (as the doctor mentioned that the caesarian section procedure was mostly successfu…moreMultiple hemorrhages resulting from a strained labor and childbirth (as the doctor mentioned that the caesarian section procedure was mostly successful, we know it wasn't because of that). I read that Hemingway re-wrote the ending 39 times before settling on this one... 'wish he had re-written 40 times as the 39th re-write, to me, has always been unsatisfying. I want to see the protagonist re-integrate himself into society post-war and I feel like Hemingway could've said a lot more to that end - as an epilogue to Catherine's and the baby's passing - about the Great War and its after-effects, etc. Oh well...(less)
This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Grant Herron
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
Sara K Im not sure if you are after a spesific quote, but i find this one especially compelling:
"If people bring so much courage to this world the world has…more
Im not sure if you are after a spesific quote, but i find this one especially compelling:
"If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there wont be no special hurry."(less)

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more