For Whom the Bell Tolls in Never too Late to Read Classics

Aug 02, 2019 John rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I found this book very slow to begin with, before it then picked up and became much more engrossing. It was also very well written - the style, indeed, seemed more complex than normal for Hemingway. The book also has a great deal to say about war and its waste, life and death, friendship, how we live our lives, and what are our most important priorities. The central love relationship is also very touching. Yet, overall, I think I admired the book more than I enjoyed it.

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Oct 24, 2014 Christine rated it really liked it

Shelves: american-literature, country-spain, authors-e-to-h, radio-bbc-4, best-of-2014, romance-lovers-challenge-2014

classic serial

2 Episodes

High in the pine forests of the Spanish Sierra, a young American volunteer prepares to blow up a vital bridge as part of a Republican offensive during the Spanish Civil War. There, in the mountains and surrounded by the enemy, he camps with a band of guerrillas tasked with helping him. But he soon makes a dangerous enemy within the camp and, despite his better judgement, is drawn to Maria, a young woman who has escaped Franco's rebels.

Director: Sasha Yevtushenko.

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Sep 17, 2018 Sarah rated it really liked it

Liked it more than I expected to. Really had to force myself to read the last 100-75 pages. I don’t think anyone expects a happy ending from Hemingway, but I’d gotten to like (some of) these people and I was afraid for them. I can see now why Hemingway killed himself. The world is screwed up and the people in charge are idiots. And, mostly, I agree

I did find Maria to be a rather simple character. She has "troubles" after being gang raped and tortured. really? Those incidents are pretty much glos ...more

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