Gary’s Comments (group member since Jul 26, 2009)

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

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/boo...

This is an article about the new hardback version,and the dust jacket has the original cover's artwork!

The Great Gatsby is an amazing book, Dougal.

Shots of Bourbon works..... Here's to Ernest,and tip it in. ha!

Don't forget to celebrate Ernest's birthday , July 21,1899, with a stiff drink, or your favorite shot of whatever,and reading one of his novels, or how about a
short story of his? Toast with me folks!

I plan to make one of his fav drinks, Mojitos with fresh mint that I grow!
gary

I thought this is a great story,and one of his stories, that I don't need to reread to remember it's premise or theme. It was great fun to read it aloud at our Bookclub Christmas Party,and to see the looks on some of the members' faces.....they haven't,and won't forget this one either..... I know,I am so evil, but also have a load of fun.......

The boy wanted it all removed, or at least his balls, because he felt he was tempted to have sex.... and when the doctor didn't do as the boy requested...the boy attempted to do surgery on himself....... because someone in "religious authority" made the boy feel so unclean to have such impure thoughts.... of lust.... I think Hemingway was making "his point" about some religious people's ideas of sin, just being a normal boy who experiences sexual lust as part of growing up....

This is a story every Hemingway fan should read....great to read at Christmas time, after singing the carol of the same title beforehand........... and yes .... there is a ,Comma, in the story title.......

This is one short story that I have never forgotten the storyline of..... and neither have any of my bookclub members after I read it aloud at our Christmas party.

This story and it's theme is that memorable.... that's why you need to read it,and share it during the holiday season by reading it aloud..... the looks on their faces will be priceless....I promise....

But you need to read the story first....so who's game???? Who's gonna discuss it? I am anxiously waiting for a lively discussion on this one......

I have to say that many times I need to reread a short story to remember it's theme....not this one....

Francis Macomber is another one I always remember it.... and definately this one....definately......to find out why..... you gotta read it.

*smirk*

Wow, I totally agree. And I love both novels for those reasons, David..... Amazing!

I have a copy of Hemingway and His Boat. Have seen wonderful reviews,and anyone that has read it says it's great. It's on my list for July around Papa's birthday.

:-)

This is so what I love about Hemingway. We aren't told for sure. We all think we know. We all know slightly differently. We all have the general idea. We all have our own details. I just love it.

Hills Like White Elephants is like that to for me too.

Brunhilde, have you read his short story called GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN?

It is a must......it's one you won't ever forget....my bookclub members won't forget when we sang the Christmas Carol at our Christmas party,and then I read this story......after you read it, you will see how"evil" I truly am. When I finished everyone's mouth was hanging open....what a memorable Christmas party that was!!!!! REad it!

Ifound this book to be as difficult to read as you, and yet the ending is amazing...... I love the part also where the father tells his son goodbye,and his son is embarrassed, but the father tells him that he and God will be with him.....I feel that way about my sons.....so that was emotional for me....

"May the Lord watch between thee and me while we are absent from one another."

I tend to agree that THE SUN ALSO RISES & A FAREWELL TO ARMS are masterpieces,and I'd throw OLD MAN AND THE SEA in that list..... this one....not so much......

However, things about FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLLS is memorable in some of the quotes, and especially the ending...... suicide runs in Ernest's family,and is a theme in his novels......

I would love to see that video!

I have an audio text, about Hemingway, I am sending to all my friends.....interested in it? I could send it to your email if you want........ or directly to your cell phone???? not required of course...

:-) gary

Brad wrote: "That's my kind of evil, Gary."

I just knew you'd appreciate it.... if you wanna steal my idea for your next Christmas party, or when attending one, you have my permission. Be sure to sing the song first. I also talked about the reference to it in A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, then I said.....here's a story I imagine you've not heard.... then I began to read..... it was so delicious....I about wet my pants..... lol!!

However, I always assumed Jake had nothing down there, but felt Psychologically impotent,and thought he needed sex but couldn't get it..... like that old saying... 'absence makes the heart grow fonder"???? LOL!

I know the title of the short story about the boy and his penis.....

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen. With the comma....

At my bookclub's Christmas party, I read the Christmas story about the birth of Christ. We sang Christmas Carols, then I read a poem....more singing.... Then We sang the Carol "GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN". Then, I read Hemingway's story.....The reaction of the bookclub 'members" (pun intended) was quite interesting. Mostly dead silence.... however, afterwards most of the members said they thought it was a great story,and an interesting twist for a Christmas story....others thought it was awful. I loved the different expressions on people's faces,while I was reading the story!

I know, Brad, I am truly evil,but I have a lot of fun!

gary

http://quizicon.com/Authors-of-Classi...

David is reading it now,and says he's struggling finishing it.....

A member is reading FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS as we speak....he's shared some of his perspectives with me about the book thus far.

For those of you that have already read it....is it Hemingway's masterpiece as some critics say? Yay, or nay? Let's hear from you that have read it,and also from those of you that would like to start reading it now,and share your thoughts,and feeling about this book. Thanks! Greatly looking forward to hearing from you all out there,and getting a good discussion going...... please post....

I am including an email I sent to someone that asked me what they should read of Hemingway's first... this is someone that has not been exposed and is seemingly reluctant to plunge in....I thought it was a pretty good
little commentary of where to begin....so here goes.....

Message from Gary


subject: bringing Ernest into your life


message: The first Ernest Hemingway I read was OLD MAN & THE SEA. I loved it. People either love it or hate it. I have reread it numerous times during my life. Not cause it's short.....but because I think it's a great story. No.....not much happens, like wild sex, or blowing up buildings,and shit, but I have always felt Ernest really nailed it with the pyschological struggles of the old man,and his fish....

However, I would suggest you get a paper copy of THE COMPLETE SHORT STORIES OF ERNEST HEMINGWAY. They say it's not complete, but close enough. I have a dog earred copy, that I have read, and read and read.
Oddly enough many of his short stories are odd,and about odd characters, at least in my opinion.

I have been a leader of a bookclub for the past 10 years. We have had men in the group come and go, leaving due to job transfers. Anyway....I am the only guy left with 7 women, one of which is my lovely wife. (She hated OLD MAN AND THE SEA, BTW. *BITCH*. Did I say that outloud? LOL!) We have read two of Ernest's books,and some of "the girls" didn't like either one, but seriously they led to great discussions!!!! We did OLD MAN,and also FAREWELL TO ARMS. I had a cake made with Ernest's picture on it,and my dad had a typewriter that is a one of many models Ernest typed on. I decorated in honor of Ernest. We sang happy birthday, because we did FAREWELL in July for Ernest's birthday.

Anyway....back to the short stories......last Christmas I read a short story of Ernest's at our Christmas bookclub party. GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN. We sang the Christmas Carol first,and then I read it. No one knew I was going to read a Hemingway story at Christmas. I heard the groans, but a bookclub leader cannot be scorned,and I continued..... I am great at doing outloud readings dramatically, if I say so myself. While I read the story aloud, you could hear a pin drop. Since then I have heard comments about that story from bookclub members ever since,and they are reading some of his other stories now on their own. Bingo! Mission accomplished.......

The story is set in Kansas City, where Ernest worked as a reporter,and two of his sons were born there. That is a whopper of a story....believe me. it is a story you don't forget. I have to reread others to remember what they are about but not that one. Feel the same about Francis McComber (I think I misspelled, that, no, I know I did, but anyway....)

The first longer novel of Ernest's I read was FAREWELL. I was taking a class,and living in a dorm room for a week,and no tv. I was so enthralled with the book, I didn't leave my room in the evenings reading. Love it, love it, love it. Like THE SUN ALSO RISES a lot,and A MOVEABLE FEAST makes me weep to want to go to Paris. I have been to Europe but not France, yet.

I can recommend other short stories, but if you get a copy of THE COMPLETE, you can skip around, like I have done. There are so many wonderful ones.


I guess you can tell I am an Ernest fan..... I've been to his home in Key West.Twice in one week. I've walked the rooms of Grand Central Station , where he walked his beat, interviewed people and wrote articles for the Kansas City Star. I am dying to go to his birthplace in Oak Park, IL,and love to see Ketchum , Idaho,and leave a bottle of Jack Daniels on his grave. Yep....guilty as charged.....

Start with the short stories,and branch out from there.


I could talk more and more about this subject, but I will spare you the gore,and the nashing of teeth for now....any other authors you'd like for me to drone on about?? I have several I have a passion for. This year , in particular, Charles Dickens. 200th anniversary of his birth. I can steer you to a blog on here about doing A CHRISTMAS CAROL themed Christmas party for another bookclub party, if you'd like.....did I mention my obsession with EDGAR ALLAN POE? I did a POE reading last Halloween at a winery with about 30 in attendance......



I will end this now in "Ernest."


"In those days the distances were all very different, the dirt blew off the hills that now have been cut down,and Kansas City was very much like Constantinople. You may not believe this. No one believes this; but it is true. On this afternoon it was snowing...."


gary


P.S. After you have read some Hemingway,and F. Scott Fitzgerald you must see Woody Allen's movie, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS. Woody nails Hemingway and the way the actor talked, as if he was Hemingway writing in his speech. I just sat there watching the movie amazed how well the actor was cast playing Hemingway,and the way he spoke like he was writing.....what a movie.

May 28th, I heard.