خیلى خیلى وقت پیش، زمانى كه هنوز نوجوانى بودم، داستانى نوشتم به تقلید از پیرمرد و دریاى همینگوى، ولى با لحنى به مقتضاى سنم، رمانتیك و شاعرانه. داستان ماجراى پیرمردى ست كه از این كه سیرى و گرسنگى خود و خانواده اش به دست بازى هاى دریا باشد، به تنگ آمده. روزى، پس از چهار ماه بدون صید ماندن، چهار ماه گرسنگى، تورش را بر مى دارد و مى رود تا صید اصلى را به تور بیندازد. نه ماهى هاى كوچك، نه نهنگ هاى بزرگ، خود خود دریا را.

خانواده اش از این جنون به وحشت مى افتند و مى خواهند متوقفش كنند، مى گویند: اراده ى انسان حدى دارد و هر چیزى را نمى توان به دست آورد. مى گویند: آن ها به همین اندك راضى و قانعند. خیلى چیزهاى دیگر هم مى گویند. ولى پیرمرد همه را پس مى زند و راهى دریا مى شود.
دریا نخست ریشخندش مى كند و آشغال به تورش مى اندازد. پیرمرد از اراده اش بر نمى گردد. دریا با بى اعتنایى چند ماهى به تورش مى اندازد كه برود رد كارش. پیرمرد ماهى ها را بر مى گرداند و باز تور مى اندازد. دریا مى لرزد و نهنگى برایش مى فرستد. پیرمرد نگاهش هم نمى كند و باز تور مى اندازد. دریا خشمگین مى شود، موج از پى موج مى فرستد براى واژگونى این بر هم زننده ى نظم آفرینش. پیرمرد، مصمم تور مى اندازد و تور مى اندازد و تور مى اندازد.

سال ها گذشته و هنوز پایان مناسبى براى این داستان به ذهنم نرسیده. در یك روایت پیرمرد غرق مى شود و دریا تا همیشه از گرسنگان تور به دست مى ترسد.
در یك روایت پیرمرد با اراده اش چنان تركى به نظم آفرینش مى اندازد كه بلور شكست ناپذیر كیهان به كل مى شكند و در هم فرو مى ریزد و هر تكه ى آن به گوشه اى از دریاى عدم پرتاب مى شود.
روایت هاى دیگرى هم هست. اما در هیچ یك پیرمرد موفق نمى شود دریا را به تور بیندازد، و در هیچ یك دریا موفق نمى شود پیرمرد را از اراده اش برگرداند. این دو در همه ى روایت ها، چون دو جنگجوى آشتى ناپذیر خصم ابدى یكدیگر باقى مى مانند.

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My very first time reading Papa and I absolutely LOVED IT. Sometimes the experience you have with a book can be effected by many things beyond the narrative itself, and I think that is certainly the case here. While I believe I would have loved this story regardless, there is no doubt that the stars aligned themselves perfectly to make this a singularly special read for me.

Let me explain...

Last year, I was in Napa with my wife and two of our best friends celebrating my (oh shit!!) 40th birthday. It was the latter part of October (near the end of harvest time) and the weather was perfect...DUH, it’s Napa.

We were staying at our favorite Napa sanctuary, the Villagio Inn and Spa.
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Though pricey, Vellagio is just about perfect, it's centrally located, with wonderful rooms, and one of the BEST breakfast spreads in the world...Hey, when you are going out drinking all day, it is important to load up on foodstuffs to avoid alcohol-related trouble. have a nice big breakfast before you go out and drink all day...it is called being practical.

Speaking of drinking all day, we had just come back from an awesome tour of the Castle di Amarossa Winery which is, I shit you not, a real castle in the middle of Napa, California...
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…complete with MEGA DINING HALL
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...and a TORTURE CHAMBER…..yep, a rack, an Iron Maiden and some device that made me constipated just looking at it.

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Anyway, we got back to the room and had a few hours to relax before a late dinner reservation. Well, I don’t sleep all that much and so, while my wife took a nap (light weight that she is), I decided I would find something fairly short to read. I choose this story because it was only 100 pages long (or just under 3 hours via audio) and it seemed to fit my time allotment perfectly.

So, feeling a little buzzed and in a superb, yet contemplative mood (I had just turned 40 for crying out loud), I poured myself another glass of wine (shut up and don't judge me), went and sat on the balcony outside our room and, with the sun starting to go down, began listening to the audio version of this story.

Well, this story slammed me and had me sucked in and captive from the very first words: “He was the old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.” By the way, now would be a good time to mention that the audio version I listened to was read by Donald Sutherland, and the marriage of the story with Sutherland’s perfect narration was nothing short of magical. In my opinion it is THE ONLY VERSION of the audio book that should be sold. 



As many have said (and almost as many have complained), this is in many ways a simple story about an old Cuban fisherman named Santiago, who has had a significant run of bad luck fishing (i.e., 84 days). "Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the 
same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated." Attempting to change his luck, he decides to take his skiff further out than he has ever gone before, "beyond all the people of the world." Eventually, he lands the largest Marlin he's ever seen and the bulk of the narrative details his epic struggle to reel in the fish and get it back to shore. 



Yes, a simple story and Hemingway uses sparse, straight-forward prose...and devastates with them. The most powerful emotions, passions and struggles that people experience are often tied to the most basic needs and the most elemental aspects of who they are. I felt an immediate connection to the story and was deeply moved by the restrained, yet palpable power of the narrative.

The most lasting message that I took away from the story was that, despite the many hardships Santiago faces, and the titanic trials that he endures on the open sea, I NEVER ONCE felt that I was supposed to pity or feel sorry for him in any way. Here was a person doing what he loves to do, what gives him purpose in life, and struggling with an iron will to accomplish his goal. The struggle is hard, it is difficult, but it is who he is and what gives him fulfillment in life. All I could feel was giant admiration for this man.

I found this uplifting and a powerful reaffirmation of what is truly important in life. "But a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed 
but not defeated."

Whether it was the setting I was in, the mood I was in, the wine I was drinking, the wonderful narration or the power of the words themselves, in the end the result was the same. I felt ALIVE, and for that I say thank you “Papa” wherever you are!!! 


That is basically it, but I wanted to leave you with my favorite line from the story, one that I think encapsulates everything Hemingway set out to accomplish in his tale. "And what beat you, he thought. 'Nothing,' he said aloud. 
'I went out too far.'" 


5.0 stars and one of my “All Time" favorites. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!

The book that I can trace back to my love affair with the classics. After reading it I was 'hooked' for life. Interesting fact: I have known several individuals who have called this book 'just an old guy catching a fish' story - and they have turned out to be amongst the most shallow individuals I have ever met! Thanks again Papa Hemingway!

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3+ out of 5 stars to The Old Man and the Sea, a classic book that most Americans read in middle or high school, written in 1952 by Ernest Hemingway. When you hear the author's name, it's a famous one, and most likely, everyone's familiar with the title, too. But not everyone enjoys reading this book, as it's hard to connect with as a teenager -- at least on the outskirts. But when you look deeper, it's probably a very similar plight when you compare that of the old man and a kid trying to make it through school. The book has many key themes. Courage. Strength. Nobility. Humility. Power. It's a struggle to be successful with your goal, with the destiny you believe is yours and with the way you handle your every move throughout the path. Like kids trying to fit in during their awkward years, the old man is trying to end his life with a big win -- something he feels must happen for a variety of reasons. The book has a good story. It's not easy to get into. The language is a little stilted, but it's pretty. Hemingway had a way with words, and sometimes, it was perfection. Others, it flies over your head. It's the kinda of book you need to read in utter silence while out in nature without any interruption. Then read it again. And you'll get a lot from it. You'll decide what kinda of (wo)man you want to be. But if you just do a cursory read, it''ll come across as a bit boring.... you'll ask, why didn't he just give up? And when it ends, you'll say "well that sucks." But when you step away, you'll see we are all that old man in our own battles each day. And at that point, you're ready for another read, as well as to take on more of Hemingway's novels.

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For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.

If this story can teach us anything, it is that sometimes you just need to let go. To let go of your selfish ambitions. To let go of your absent youth. And to let go of a fish (or a prize) that is going to bring you nothing because life is transitory.

It is a powerful allegory and one that extends far beyond the actual scenario, which I naturally found repugnant because it glorifies fishing. If it didn't have such a strong universal value, I would likely rate this differently. But that aside, I think it says a lot about the idea of chasing our dreams. The chase can be noble, but the actual catch can decay quickly.

Overall, it is an extraordinarily potent piece of writing, I just did not enjoy it as much as others have.

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3.5 stars but rounding it up because it's my first review for the new year. Happy 2016, Goodreaders!

"No one should be alone in their old age. But it is unavoidable."

And so the old man went to the ocean alone on his skiff to catch some fish but ended up being caught by the big fish instead, a fish so big, it controlled the skiff and took its own course at the sea. The big question is why didn't the old man just let go of the fish? It would have made his life easier. He was wise wasn't he? But again, who says wisdom always coincides with practicality?

I noticed when reading classics, I end up posing more questions than answers. I guess that's what most classic novels intend to do-to make you question life. To make you think and ponder deeply about the events in the story which may appear superficial and boring at the surface but dense and philosopical in their deeper meanings.

When you're old and wise and you catch the biggest fish (literal or metaphorical) in your life, you wouldn't let it go that easily. You'll fight for it no matter what the cost, the best way you know how even if it meant you may have to risk your life or swallow your pride.

What fate awaits the old man trapped in the middle of the sea, caught in both internal and external conflicts? You'll be surprised to find out when you read the novel. You'll be even more surprised at the amount of things you'll realize at the end of the story. ^^

For an excellent review that catches the novel's very essence, do read Vani's review.

“I may not be as stong as I think, but I know many tricks and I have resolution.”



The language of Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea evokes some bygone fable, but it is still direct and powerful. For those who want it, there's a simple story here of a down on his luck fisherman, Santiago. In order to change his fortunes, Santiago takes his boat out further than he's ever done before. What seems like good fortune on this fishing trip turns into a fight for survival. For those who want to look deeper, in addition to the man vs. nature theme, there is a multi-layered story which isn't bogged down by the symbolism. Enjoyed and would recommend The Old Man and the Sea, even for those who haven't enjoyed other works by Hemingway.

It's a bit shameful that it took me so long to understand such a renowned work. Perhaps my literary foundation wasn't strong enough, the first few times I read it (over a decade ago), I couldn't grasp the deep-rooted Christian themes or the profound insights mentioned in many critical analyses. I only had a superficial understanding of the inherent dilemmas in literary creation.

Did I understand it now? Well, before reading others’ reviews on Goodreads, I expected to find unanimous praise. But to my surprise, everyone had their unique perspectives. I suppose that's the power of a classic. You see only what your own life has prepared you to see. I've realized that searching for a definitive interpretation is pointless.

I always thought of myself as a pessimist, but while reading The Old Man and the Sea, I didn't feel a sense of despair. Many readers have pointed out Hemingway’s deep-seated despair, but I didn't see it.

To me, the boy represented hope, the lion symbolized strength, the great fish embodied life, and the sharks were like fate. I especially loved Hemingway’s description of the first shark: It was beautiful and noble and above everything else, afraid of nothing."

I noticed Hemingway’s use of words like "beautiful," "noble," "excellent," and "champion." It seemed like the old man was almost boasting about his life, despite his poverty and hardships. He praised the fish, the boy, the lion, and even the world that had given him so little.

He helped me see beyond my own pessimism. He taught me that even in the face of despair, it's important to hold onto hope and believe in oneself.

First, do your best. Second, do your best again. Finally, accept what fate brings. When faced with difficulties, remember the old man's words: ”I must kill him. Though he is great."

Perhaps I haven't experienced enough hardship to lose all hope. Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, I'm still willing to try.

Dreams may lose their significance as we grow older, replaced by the realities of life. But I believe the greatest obstacle we face is ourselves. Just like the old fisherman and Hemingway during his writing slump, we often have to battle against our own doubts and fears. On one side, fate deals us blows, urging us to give up. On the other side, there's the indomitable spirit that refuses to yield. Some people win, while others succumb to their own limitations.

Hope is a choice. It's up to you to believe in it or not.

There's a certain beauty in failing while still believing in tomorrow. Perhaps Hemingway, despite his reputation for pessimism, held onto a glimmer of hope. When he wrote about the old man dreaming of lions and the boy by his side, he was affirming the enduring power of hope, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Many might disagree with my interpretation. You might say it's too simplistic or misses the deeper meaning of Hemingway’s work. But I believe that a great work of literature can have many meanings, and it's up to each reader to find their own personal connection.

After all, I think I finally got it, and that is it.

4.8 / 5 stars

I believe The Old Man and the Sea reflects Ernest Hemingway’s own life crisis…
Any fishing feats, even picturesquely portrayed, don’t sound like some heroic doings…

The sun was rising for the third time since he had put to sea when the fish started to circle. He could not see by the slant of the line that the fish was circling. It was too early for that. He just felt a faint slackening of the pressure of the line and he commenced to pull on it gently with his right hand. It tightened, as always, but just when he reached the point where it would break, line began to come in. He slipped his shoulders and head from under the line and began to pull in line steadily and gently. He used both of his hands in a swinging motion and tried to do the pulling as much as he could with his body and his legs. His old legs and shoulders pivoted with the swinging of the pulling.

If the caught fish, however big, is man’s greatest achievement then his life is frittered away…

If pressed, I would probably say this is the finest novel ever written in the English language.

English required reading. I hated this book. Not a Hemingway fan.

I have been thinking lately, I read these in high school and I was only a young reader. I might go back and re-read this some day, or one of his books since I haven't read anything of his as an adult. Maybe I could appreciate him as an adult. I doubt it, and maybe it needs a 2nd opinion - some day.

The Old Man and The Sea is a short story by Ernest Hemingway which talks about an old lonely fisherman who was being shunned as he was considered bad luck when it comes to fishing and those who live around. Except for a young boy who takes care that he sleeps, eats and carry on with his normal daily routine, the old man lives a rather lonely life who takes pleasure in talking about baseball and his old fishing adventures.

The plot revolves around two days and nights when he sets out to get hold of a big fish being unable to haul it alone and getting carried by the fish until he reaches the shore.

I enjoyed reading about this character who's symbolic of resilience, loneliness, adventurous spirit and the writing is thoroughly engaging till the end.

I feel how the book ends leaves m the readers as how to interpret the story in their own terms, mine being the main character showed what he could do inspite of all the challenges and the constant criticism he was facing.

This is my second read from the author, the first being A Farewell To Arms which I read years ago and loved it inspite of the unlikeable main character. Looking forward to read more of the author's work.

The author's life story is pretty interesting as well. Love how this book's introduction gave a short information on the author.