My dad emailed me and asked,
"I read on holiday, for the first time ever, "Catcher In The Rye" and "To Kill A Mockingbird" and loved them both. In the back of one of these books they recommended the "First 49 Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway". I read a few of his novels in my younger years but had no idea that he had written many short stories. Have you read any? Would you recommend them?"
My reply is as follows.
I read 'Catcher in the Rye' many moons ago and whilst it was a good enough read, I failed to see quite why it had such an impact. I think it may be one of those books that had such a kick due to the time it was published etc. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' however, I could see why it was such a classic. Wonderful book, well written.
Hemingway? Hmmm. I have mixed feelings about him now. Yes I've read the 49 short stories and enjoyed them immensely. They were written at the start of his career when he was fresh and full of vim. They are very much in his early journalistic style and very enjoyable. I have read every single one of his books and adored a handful of his novels, was ambivalent about most of the rest and thoroughly underwhlemed with another handful. I remember one particular part in a generally underwheming book 'Island in the Stream' which broke my heart though. It describes the loss of a son and the way it is written breaks you. Hemingway makes you love the boy and then when he dies it crushes you.
I like how his novels (the good ones anyway) kinda mirror life, in that they have moments of great happiness, moments of great sadness, but mostly end with tragedy. 'Farewell to arms' is one like this, such romance and passion and yet such sadness in equal measure, that you feel all the more because of the prior romance.
My aunt and I have spoken about Hemingway in great length (at times heatedly when I was younger!) and we have come to the conclusion that Hemingway is great for adolescent or young men and if you find his work at that time (such as I did) then you love the machismo and message, but if you find him later (or even as you grow up) the appeal wears off. He used to be my favourite author, but that hasn't been the case in a long time. Now I adore with an unbridled passion the work of Steinbeck and having read all of his novels I can say, whilst some are slightly less powerful than others, all are beautiful and emotive.
I took pilgrimages to Hemingways house and haunts when in Cuba, in fact it was a big part of my decision to go there. I took even more of a pilgrimage to Salinas and the Steinbeck museum when in California and again his books were a big part of my decision to go there.
What can I say, books move me to take pilgrimages!
Anyway, I digress. Yes read Hemingway's short stories, but if I had to recommend a short story collection right now I would suggest 'My Fathers Tears' by John Updike. I only found Updike in the past 5 years or so and fell in love with his style immediately. His style grips me in my stomach and twists the whole time I read him. 'My Fathers Tears' was his last collection before he died and I love it.
Another short story collection I recommend is 'Eleven Kinds of Loneliness' by Richard Yates whose style is very similar to Updike."
After this there was some other points about other books that aren't relevant here. But that was the crux of our exchange. What are your thoughts on Hemingway, Steinbeck, Updike and short stories in general? Hells, as this was originally a music inspired blog, do you read in silence or do you play music as you read? I'd love to hear your thoughts?
