This is the book that chronicled the lives and times of "the Lost Generation," American expatriates that filled Europe between the world wars. Hemingway's expatriates are there for two different reasons: one is there solely for entertainment, the other, to heal from the horrors of war and create something worth living for. Wounded Jake Barnes narrates a great, difficult love story.
I liked the biographical information section. It added to my understanding of the book. In the future it would be helpful to read this along with each chapter.
haha! Not really. I'm actually reading the actual book by the real Ernest Hemmingway. It's kind of slow going. I like his descriptive writing, but could do without the dialogue. Rather! Ok, so I finished it and it is a really good book. I feel like I could have done without the first 75 pages or so... it really began for me when he left Paris. And I wish I would have read the bullfight parts before I saw my first bullfight. There's a good interview with Norman Mailer in last (this?) month's Harper's in which he puts forth his fantasy-theory about Hemmingway's suicide. I don't know what to read next. Anyone?