Discussion of the October book, Islands in the Stream, is held here!

[Chris]

The group has voted for Ernest Hemingway's Islands in the Stream as this month's book, from the Bahamas.

Feel free to talk about it here.

[Rebecca]

Just started reading it and this is my first Hemmingway. Love the way it starts..

[Chris]

My first book by Hemingway too ... to me it feels like an adult version of the books I used to read as a boy (books like the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton). Really enjoying it!

[Lara]

Yeah, it's also my first time reading anything by Hemingway. For some reason I always had the impression that his stuff would be pretty humorless, but I'm finding this quite amusing at times. Some of the conversations are kind of great...

[Chris]

That wasn't half bad for an unfinished novel! I lost interest in the middle section a few times, but apart from that I was hooked.

[Angie]

I picked up a copy of Islands in the Stream from the library this afternoon. Just finishing Dracula and then I'll be getting onto it. Looking forward to reading my first Hemingway!

[Chris]

I went to see Midnight in Paris at the cinema last night. I didn't even know what it was about beforehand so was pleasantly surprised that one of the main characters was Ernest Hemingway! In the film he speaks exactly as he writes, and was probably my favourite character.

Amongst a host of artists and musicians, F Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and TS Eliot (briefly) appear. Good film :)

[Angie]

I'm actually really enjoying this book - I did have my doubts. I loved the scene in the bar where they were all acting as a 'rummy' in front of the tourists from the yacht. I think I could quite happily live on this island too.

[Angie]

I finished Islands in the Stream this morning. I loved parts of it, I laughed out loud in parts of it, I found some bits dragged on a bit, but all in all a good read. I certainly learnt a lot about the Bahamas, Bimini and Cuba that I had no knowledge of before.

[Chris]

Did anybody have a favourite section? I have to say mine was probably the final third, 'At Sea'. Either that or when his boy was catching the fish. I don't think I've ever had whiter knuckles from gripping a book so hard!

[Lara]

Yeah, the first section was definitely my favorite. I loved the conversations and the realtionships between Hudson and the boys, and between Hudson and Roger. And the end of that section? Wow--just...so heartbreaking.

I actually had a really hard time with the third section, even though I felt like it was probably the most cohesive part, just because it felt so different from the first two; I think I'm going to have to reread it on its own at some point.

[Angie]

My favourite section was Bimini. I liked the interactions Hudson and his friends had with the boys. It also seemed like such a precious time. At Sea was my second favourite. What a great range of characters on board his boat.

[Phylwil]

I just finished this one and found it a giant bore. I guess I am not a Hemingway fan.