Litwit Lounge discussion

I'm supposed to be reading this for my local book discussion but I'm just not enjoying it at all! Often I can't tell who's saying what when reading a dialogue. I may still forge ahead, not sure... was just wondering if anyone can give me a reason to continue. Please?! :-p

lol

Reggia, I have to agree with Charlie! I read (or should I say "suffered through?") that novel in high school --it wasn't assigned, but back then I felt that I needed to read writers like Hemingway in order to be "educated." (Subsequently, I decided that I'm now "educated" enough!) It's drenched in more or less pointless angst generated by the characters' own nihilism and self-absorption; none of them are likeable, and it has no constructive plot that goes anywhere --basically, about all they do is drink and fornicate. (Oh, and it has a dab of Hemingway's anti-Semitism thrown in for free.) All of that, coupled with his wooden, dull, easily-parodied writing style, made it one of the worst reads I've ever experienced.

For the most part, I didn't care for any of the short fiction by Hemingway that I had to read in high school or college, either. But I did like "A Days Wait," which I discovered as an adult. It's very short (probably the ideal length for reading this writer!), well conceived and executed, and in my limited experience of his work, the best thing by him that I've found.

I am the back of the class giggling. It has definitely shifted its way to the bottom of my stack. I'd like to read it for the "slamming rights" but the discussion came and passed without my participation. Oh well. Seriously, since it's somewhat small I might get back to it one day just so I can slam speak with some authority. Thanks for the input, all!!