The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway

100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: [from the dustjacket] This short novel is the tragic story of a Cuban fisherman in the Gulf Stream and the giant marlin he kills and loses.

Expectation: A philosophical and meandering over-rated classic.

Reality: An intimate and deeply affecting reflection on growing older and feeling needed.

Recommended For: People curious to read Hemingway but not wanting to commit to one of his longer novels.

Why I Read It: A copy has sat on my shelf (or in a box) for decades.

My Take:

Let’s get this out of the way: I’m more intrigued by the mythos of Ernest Hemingway than the actual artist. I made it through secondary and higher education without needing to crack the spine of one of his novels and had no intention of doing so.

But for most of my adult life, I’ve moved from house to house with a beat-up paperback edition of “The Old Man and the Sea,” and it seemed like the time was right to tackle my first Hemingway.

For those not familiar, it tells the story of Santiago an elderly Cuban fisherman struggling through a dry spell on the water and attempting to reconcile his aging body with the person he used to be. Deep in the ocean he battles — both metaphorically and physically — with a marlin and his need to feel vindicated and necessary.

Not going to lie, I was impressed. Hemingway lives up to the hype by presenting an intimate and layered story about re-assessing one’s life.

It is heartbreaking, relatable and utterly engrossing. I didn’t expect to care about Santiago’s battle, but as I age it’s hard not to see yourself in him and wonder if, one day, you too will feel like an outcast where once you were wanted and revered.

Donald Sutherland narrated the two-and-a-half-hour audiobook, and did a fantastic job providing an internal dialogue to Santiago’s struggle. If classics are a struggle for you, then it’s a worthy way to experience Hemingway’s swan song.  

Rating (story): 4/5 stars

Rating (narration): 4/5 stars

Formats: Audiobook (library loan)

Dates read: October 15 - 16, 2021

Multi-tasking: Not recommended. This is an intimate story, and it requires attention.