Brad’s Comments (group member since Dec 27, 2008)

Brad’s comments from the The Importance of Reading Ernest group.

Just as long as it isn't a steer.

I want to run with the bulls. And I want to watch the bullfights, and then after that I would love to make love in a dirty back alley at the height of the fiesta. Did I just write that out loud?

Stephen wrote: "The real difference is in Portugal where they fight the bull from horseback and the bull is not killed in the ring...." Aha! That sounds like what I was thinking. Thanks for that, Stephen.

I understand, though, that only Spain retains true bullfights in the Hemingway vein. Isn't the Mexican bullfighting altered in some way to reduce danger?

Manly men, indeed (as Gary suggests). What do we think of them in The Capitol of the World? What do we think of their presence in the world of today? Is there an equivalent in the non-Spanish cultures?

Mithraic cult? Sweet. Add some links for us, Stephen.

Here is the place to talk about bullfighting. I imagine there will be talk about bullfighting in the story, about Hemingway and bullfighting and even about the ethics of bullfighting. Let 'er rip!

Kick us off, Gary.

I should have, Stephen.

I wrote my long post here last night after writing an equally long review of Hyperion, and I just couldn't face rewriting. I'll try to do it again in a day or so. I promise Gary.

Wow am I pissed! I just wrote a monster response, and the damn thing had trouble with my post and it disappeared. SHIT!

I have to add tickets to a bullfight and a football match; sorry, Meredith. And you're all coming to those damnit!

Gary wrote: "Brad wrote: "I'd be in if there was a way to afford it, but I think it should be worked out so that we could end in Pamplona. That way Gary and I could get into a fist fight ;)"

fist fight? "

Yeah, I'll be Mike Campbell. I can drink that much easily. And you can be Robert Cohn. We have to have a fist fight if we're going to San Fermin together. Someone needs to get beat up. I volunteer for the beatee.

And then we can run with the bulls together.

So much to say, but I am busy cooking pecan encrusted chicken ;)

I like it. I will start my very own $20/month bottle.

I'd be in if there was a way to afford it, but I think it should be worked out so that we could end in Pamplona. That way Gary and I could get into a fist fight ;)

I think it is quite possible, Gary, but I don't think he was a "queen" the way we, or even Capote, would have meant it. I imagine he was more likely bisexual. I think he loved women, but I'm guessing he loved men too. I also think that bisexuality is far harder to deal with than heterosexuality or homosexuality. There is a sense of belonging to the latter two, while the former often finds itself mocked or belittled by the "heteros" and "homos". Bisexuals are often seen by both groups as people who are simply unable to commit to their "true" sexuality, and their sexuality is often written off as impossible. I can see this being extremely difficult for both Papa and his father if it is true.

don't you mean winterpeg?

Gary wrote: "....and yes, we had our issues too."

I hope you had some issues. Carefree, though, I don't think I've ever thought of the folks in The Sun Also Rises as carefree. (and as for my previous stream of thoughts, well...the chicken killed my flow. But it was some seriously yummy chicken with a fruity Chilean Sauvignon Blanc)

The fishing trip is so different from the Fiesta and the time spent in Paris. In the mountains we have camaraderie. The focus is on male-male relationships. There is not the complexity of Brett messing things up (interesting that Brett has a man's haircut and a boy's name, no?). There are shifts in intimacy between the high and low lands, which is impossible to ignore. And there's more to say , but my tarragon chicken is beeping and I've got to go baste.

Great comment on Papa's age, Kevin. That's something I sometimes forget when reading The Sun Also Rises, and it is such an important thing to note.