The Importance of Reading Ernest discussion
The Hemingway Project
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Gary wrote: "http://www.thehemingwayproject.com/"what a GREAT GREAT Blog!! love the conversations between Alice and Hadley- also a big Fitzgerald fan here- so I was facinated by the whole "Lost Generation" info!
I'm sure you already know them, but I can also introduce you to Greg's daughter Lorian via Facebook, and also Mia, Greg's granddaughter. But if you know John you're all set. Jack's good friend from prep school and fishing buddy, Chan Stine, lives next door to me. He has some interesting stories...V
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Yah, I should get with Chan, who is an avid fly fisherman, to tell me a few of his stories and I can blog about them...I'll keep you updated for sure...another interesting tidbit in the 6 degrees of separation kind of way: my late father in law was Jack Hemingway's ping pong partner in college just prior to the war...LOL...
Thanks so much for the feedback and I would love to have some interaction on the blog - if you have ideas or questions for future and past "interviewees" it would add a great deal to the site and make it more lively. It's been a lot of fun and a lot of work too -- ! I am going to tackle facebooks this weekend - I don't know why I have avoided it so far, but it seems like a great way to connect -- thanks. If you think Lorian, Mia and Chan would be intereesting in doing an interview I would be honored to work with them.
Thanks again - I am always open to new ideas and even guest posts if anyone is interested!
cheers, Allie
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Very cool blog, Allie. I can't help but wonder what EH would make of the internet and email and blogs, etc. He was a man of letters, but I'm guessing he wouldn't have minded more and faster communication. How often did he write to fans, does anyone know? I mean the not-famous type ...
I don't think he would have texted much, particulary in the stunted word form, though I read where he cut certain words (pronouns?) from his own speech patterens sometimes. Vaguely recall it was when he was either immersed in writing or had just finished a novel and was mentally fatigued.
Hi John, Thanks - I wonder too - I often think that Hadley would just be floored by the number of people who care for her and think about her so many decades after her death. It is amazing how all of the Lost Generation characters stay with us. I don't think I will ever tire of rading about them!Do you have any ideas for my new wish list? I'm still working on it -
Thanks again, getting some feedback really makes my day! Allie
Glad to leave feedback, Allie. Left a comment on your blog. Basically, it's nice to see a Live site about EH as opposed to old sites that haven't seen an update in years. I'm a bit mixed about EH. I admire his skill as a writer and how he spearheaded American literature in his time, but I don't think I would have cared much for him as a man. He treated Hadley piss-poorly, wasn't such a great father figure for his sons from what I can tell, drank constantly, and while I admire fighting prowess, EH seemed a bit of a bully. I don't like the Great White Hunter thing or the killing of Swordfish, or bull fighting. I do like sport fishing; if only he'd released a few.
He was off base in supporting Castro, if memory serves, but was on target by opposing Franco in the Spanish Revolution of 1936, as we see in A Farewell To Arms.
Andy Rooney recounted the tale of how Hemingway blustered into some hotel lobby full of journalists in WWII (I believe) and tried to pick a fight with his slender friend who had done nothing to warrant it. When you've had to deal with bullies a time or two it gets wearisome to read of them.
His subject matter isn't always to my liking, but to this day I enjoy Old Man and the Sea, where he pared down the human condition so well. There's a cadence to his writing that sets in after a few pages; really admire that.
As for your new list, sorry, nothing comes to mind. What do you have so far, or can you divulge ...?
I really agree with you about Hemingway the man, I do a lot of reasearch (as you might guess!) and sometimes I just want to throw the book across the room! I think what keeps me going is how fascinating Paris and Cuba were, and how he set a kind of bar about being a writer and not sitting alone in a room dreaming about life but actually living it. To tell you the truth, the real pull for me into his life story was Hadley. I am really liking Martha Gellhorn too - and the Murphys . . . see, it goes on and on! But I do agree with you, he disappoints me alot. I will tell you about my new wish list in a couple of days --
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Cool recommendations, Gary. I'll look into them in the future. Always up for new perspectives on The Man from those who really knew him. Nobody's perfect, certainly. I don't think EH was a monster or anything, just not all that admirable in some areas.
He certainly could write, though.
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This comment you just made, John, is exactly why I like him so much,and read him often. He certainly could write!!! I think he's awesome in that dept.
I am hoping she'll see this and add a link for us to make it easy. I am at a loss right now with remembering the website addy. Pardon me! So, hope you add that link, Allie. Thanks a lot, Allie. Folks, you don't know what you're missing. Check it out!