Final Thoughts

Overall I think my blog entries have made it pretty obvious that I wasn't entirely thrilled with the book. Who gets to decide what is and is not a “Quintessential novel of the Lost Generation,” as the back cover says. I guess what most of the “hype” I guess about this book is isn't really about the story itself its about the way that its written. I guess that the way it was written was okay. Maybe I'm just biased because the story was horrible though. It just didn't seem that impressive to me, even the style of writing. I just think that there are better authors that are alive today but their books aren't considered by whoever it is that decides we should read this book fore AP Lit because they haven't died yet. I'm really just hoping that The Things They Carried is better because it wasn't fun reading this book. That's probably the main reason I don't enjoy reading for school, if I don't enjoy the book I can't just abandon it and read something else I have to continue to read it and maybe its good for me, somehow. But I don't see how reading about a guy running around Europe with his friends drinking is any better for me than watching Eurotrip (they are essentially the same story just set in different eras, well and Eurotrip has the part with the robotguys fighting but thats kinda like the bull fights)

Chapter XIX Pgs: 231-251

Well its finally over. What a shame. I really don't understand the final chapter, it doesn't tie together any loose ends, it doesn't send us off with any type of ending really. It could have ended in the exact same way about 10 different places earlier in the book and all that would be different is I wouldn't have had to read about them going to another bar and drinking and saying things like “isn't something lovely” or calling things “rubbish.” The final chapter wasn't really anything either he received a telegram, went to the hotel Montana, found out Bret was fine, the end. I don't get it. It was basically a book about a random guy in the post world war era and what he did with the remainder of his boring life. Maybe that's kind of harsh to say but it had no plot, no excitement, just him and his friends running around Europe and drinking.

Chapter XVIII Pgs: 209-228

I think I finally get the separation of the books. Every time Brett leaves he starts another book. I'm pretty sure that's why but it seems kind of dumb he needs to get over Brett. I feel bad for him, well kind of, not really, but he needs to just get over it and stop wallowing around in his depression.

In this chapter there is a simile that is used during the bull fight. Jake is narrating and says, “It was as though he were rocking the bull to sleep.” (221) This simile is actually a little bit different then the conventional simile I guess since it seems like most similes use “like” not “as.” Never the less it is a simile and it is used to describe the degree of control and gentleness of Romero's bull fight.

Chapter XVII Pgs: 192-208 Pt. 2

Another literary term in this chapter was incorporated into the telling of the story of how Cohn fought with Romero. The line of time is interrupted when Hemingway makes use of a [FLASHBACK.] “. . . So the bull-fighter chap sort of rather staggered over to him. Cohn went back against the wall.
“'so you won' hit me?
“'No,' said Cohn. 'I'd be ashamed to.'
“So the bull-fighter fellow hit him just as hard as he could in the face. . .”
This flashback is effective since it illustrates the fight better than simply having mike explain the entire fight in his own words.

The punctuation, namely the quotation marks, seem weird here, it starts with a “ when mike starts talking but then we he mimics the dialogue of the fight they start each line with a “ then a ' but only end them with a ' the double quote marks are never ended.

Also the way that Mike tells the fight and just cuts into it like its happening in the present seems very strange. If someone were to tell you the story in the exact words of Mike then it wouldn't really completely make sense.

Chapter XVII Pgs: 192-208 Pt. 1

In this chapter something that has been brewing throughout the entire trip finally comes to be, Cohn gets into a fight with some of his “friends.” This event has really been [FORESHADOWED] for a long time whenever Cohn says something that makes the others mad they often talked about their dislike for him behind his back. “'That Cohn gets to me,' Bill said. “He's got this Jewish superiority so strong that he thinks the only emotion he'll get out of the fight will be being bored.'” (166) Another time Mike is drunk and a bit more honest about his feelings towards Cohn. “Do you think you amount to something, Cohn? Do you think you belong here among us? People who are out to have a good time? For God's sake don't be so noisy, Cohn!” And then the fight that seemed imminent from the beginning of the trip finally happened.

Chapter XVI Pgs: 173-191

This chapter was somewhat eventful. Jake continues to be reserved and always seems to be saying he feels weird because he's “far behind.” “I was drinking red wine and, was so far behind them that I felt a little uncomfortable about all this shoe-shining.” (177) It seems like Jake is always just feeling sorry for himself and acts like everyone else is always having fun but he's not. He never says anything in the actual conversations in the book to make people feel sorry for him but in his head he always seems somewhat subdued. I don't know if this has any direct correlation with his injury but I do think that indirectly it does since Brett won't be with him and that makes him sad and, well, we all know why Brett won't be with him.

Chapter XV Pgs: 156-173

This chapter is very long although I didn't notice any strikingly well placed literary terms in use. The one I did notice, however, was a [RHETORICAL QUESTION] that is asked to Cohn regarding his preconceived notion that the bull fight would bore him. “I thought he was going to be sick. You weren't bored, were you, Robert?” (169) This question was asked after Mike (the one who asked this question) had already badgered Cohn about his obvious lack of boredom throughout the fight. Mike or technically Hemingway uses the question to make fun of Cohn further since he was so far from boredom that there is no need for an answer.