I couldn't quite put my finger on what was bothering me through the first hundred or so pages of this book. Suddenly I realized – Garden of Eden is terrible. Just awful! Let me explain.

I have a deep and abiding love for the Hemingway canon from beginning to end. I even have a soft spot for those rather strange bullfighting stories in Death in the Afternoon. And I long ago came to terms with his many flaws as a person. However, in this case, the flaws far outweigh the brilliance. The book feels as if it was written through a haze of fear and anger, directed towards women, fathers, homosexuality, and any form of sexuality that is at all complicated. It's like a set of cobwebs that never got the chance to be swept away.

Do you have a grandparent who is kind and sweet and would never hurt a fly, but once in a while makes an offhand remark that is so casually and crushingly racist that it takes your breath away? You feel a mix of revulsion and a small kernel of affection for someone who has remained an unrepentant old sinner. That's exactly how it feels to read this book. And just like I can't stop loving my racist little grandmother, the very fact that Garden of Eden is terrible makes me kind of like it. One of our greatest prose-poets dedicated three hundred pages and untold energies to a book about a haircut, and that's hilarious. It's so grand and unapologetic in its awfulness that I almost want to give it five stars for being so good at being bad. It only gets two stars because I can't quite claim not to have liked it. But, of course, do not read Garden of Eden.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

3,5⭐
I'm not really sure what to comment here. This book has an erotic style that is something between art and perversity. It's good, but strange.

I'm not even sure if I liked it. Maybe if it had been finished, I would have had a different attitude. But considering the fact that Hemingway died before bringing it to a good ending, I think I should read some other works of his to convince myself whether I like him as an author or not.

It's a bit of a dilemma. On one hand, the erotic elements in the book are quite bold and unique, which shows Hemingway's courage in exploring different themes. On the other hand, the unfinished nature of the work makes it a bit unsatisfactory.

I guess only by reading more of his works can I truly understand his writing style and make a more accurate judgment.

This

object felt as if it had been glued together

in a rather haphazard manner. The various parts seemed to be attached without much precision or care.

It gave the impression that whoever had assembled it had done so in a rush or perhaps without a proper understanding of the task at hand.

The joints were not smooth, and there were visible signs of glue oozing out in some places.

Overall, it had a rather shoddy appearance, and one couldn't help but wonder if it would hold up under any kind of stress or use.

It was clear that more attention to detail and a better quality of workmanship would have been beneficial in creating a more durable and aesthetically pleasing item.

Perhaps with some improvements, it could have been transformed into something much more functional and attractive.

But as it stood, it was just a poorly glued-together object that left much to be desired.

Here is an expanded version of the article:

Another novel with autobiographical elements, revolving around the change of women and his creative work. What worked well in his shorter works seemed a bit tiring here. The story delved deep into the protagonist's complex relationships with different women, perhaps a reflection of the author's own experiences. However, while the exploration of these relationships was detailed, it sometimes felt overly drawn out. The creative process of the protagonist was also a significant aspect of the novel. But again, the way it was presented lacked the spark and energy that was present in his shorter pieces. Overall, this novel, despite its interesting themes, failed to fully engage the reader in the same way as his previous, more concise works.

It is truly hard not to draw a connection between the words of the writer-protagonist in The Garden of Eden and the novel itself. The quote "This was the first writing he had finished since they were married. Finishing is what you have to do, he thought. If you don't finish, nothing is worth a damn." (108) holds great significance. Hemingway dedicated fifteen years, starting from 1946, to working on The Garden of Eden, yet he never completed it. After his tragic suicide by using his favorite shotgun, his widow Mary took the manuscript of The Garden of Eden in a shopping bag to the publishers at Scribner.

The original manuscript consisted of 800 pages, 200,000 words, and 48 chapters. However, in the end, they published the novel in only 247 pages, 30 chapters, and 70,000 words. I have no idea how this could have happened or been allowed. It should be either publishing the man's work exactly as he left it or not publishing it at all. One should not take the liberty of editing the man's work for him, especially not to the extent of cutting more than two-thirds of the novel, including a long subplot. This is truly unbelievable. Ever since I found out about this, I have been angry and indignant. It makes it nearly impossible to judge the novel – at least the novel as Hemingway wrote it and intended it.

Yet, without access to the manuscript, all one can do is discuss the novel in its current, so-called butchered form. Unsurprisingly, it fails to meet Hemingway's own standards. It is not nearly as polished as A Farewell to Arms or For Whom the Bell Tolls, for instance. But it is, at least occasionally, still Hemingway. Now and then, you can feel his presence and voice. The story-within-a-story and the accompanying commentary on the process of writing – Hemingway's process of writing – are excellent. In the end, I don't know of any writer who can affect you as deeply as Hemingway can, who can make you feel just a little bit broken, right there with him. The happy note that marks the end of the novel sounds false, as if it were editorially imposed.

If Hemingway had managed to finish The Garden of Eden, it would undoubtedly have been a better book. Perhaps it also would have been a very different book. Some scholars even claim that the manuscript was actually a whopping 2000 pages. See: http://www.kentstateuniversitypress.c...

No, I didn't like it. It was just strange. The text was easy to read, yet it didn't really seem to lead anywhere. I do understand that it was left unfinished at Hemingway's death. This fact might have had some influence on my perception. However, I'm not certain how much of a difference it would have made. Maybe if it had been completed, it would have had a more coherent and engaging storyline. But as it stands, it feels a bit disjointed and lacking in direction. It's possible that Hemingway had some grand vision for the piece that was never fully realized. Or perhaps the unfinished nature is part of its charm for some readers. But for me, it just didn't quite hit the mark.

This book is an interesting exploration that is part reflection on the writing process and part a vivid portrait of a couple's descent into jealousy and ultimate demise. The leading man, David, is engaged in the process of paring down his writing to its perfect, whole centre. However, in doing so, he fractures his already seemingly perfect marriage by introducing another person into the equation.

There are many great lines in the book. For example, "He had not known just how greatly he had been divided and separated because once he started to work he wrote from an inner core which could not be split nor even marked nor scratched. He knew about this and it was his strength since all the rest of him could be riven." This shows the depth of David's connection to his writing and how it affects other aspects of his life.

David constantly refers to his father, a man who "ran his life disastrously." Interestingly, he seems to look up to his father for that. At least his father wasn't so easily fractured. As he says, "His father was not vulnerable he knew and, unlike most people he had knew, only death could kill him." This relationship with his father adds another layer of complexity to David's character.

The Garden of Eden bears all the unmistakeable marks of Hemingway. There are cool, tactile sense experiences, such as "...he carefully moved the cork between his thumb and first finger feeling the pinch of metal cap against his thumb and the long cold rounded promise of the bottle." There is also a lot of drinking, violent hunts played out in Africa, non-sentimental but warm sex scenes, and lavish natural beauty.

Overall, this book is truly amazing and I highly recommend it to pretty well anybody. It offers a unique and engaging look at the human condition and the creative process.

I read this book for a college course and was filled with dread. I thought to myself, "Here we go - another book by the manly hunter Hemingway, all about war, bullfighting, and everything manly. Ugh!" But to my surprise, it was not what I expected. This book completely changed my perception of Hemingway and made me realize the genius that he is. Sadly, the book was published posthumously, and there is some question as to how much of Hemingway's original work is in it. However, when I read it, I was not aware of the controversy surrounding it and simply enjoyed it for what it was.

The story follows the lives of David Bourne, an American writer, and his wife Catherine, over a period of five months. It begins on their honeymoon in the French Riviera, where they both meet and fall in love with a young woman named Marita. The story is essentially about how they balance this love triangle and how it eventually falls apart.

On a side note, there is a sex scene in the beginning of the book where Catherine uses a bottle on David. When I went to class after reading that section, our professor brought it up and wanted to discuss it. Although it was an uncomfortable topic, I understood her point. It was very shocking and interesting that, at the beginning of the novel and the start of their married life, the female would be so dominant over the male, especially in the time period in which the story is set and in a Hemingway novel. I think it's easy to skim over this part of the book (it's brief and not overly graphic), but our professor wouldn't let us. She made us see how significant it is to the overall story and why Hemingway included it in his book.

The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway is a novel that has left a lasting impression on me.

I can't quite remember if I was aware that it was unfinished before reading it, but I do know that it didn't feel that way.

Prior to delving into this book, I, like many others, had a certain perception of Hemingway. I admired his prose but didn't look beyond his macho image.

It took some time for me to truly explore this captivating author and learn more about him.

I can say with certainty that The Garden of Eden changed my perspective on Hemingway as a writer.

This novel follows the glamorous life of writer David and his wife Catherine. Young and beautiful, they enjoy a life of drinking and having fun, almost as if they are on a never-ending vacation.

David writes, but it doesn't seem to interfere with their drunken lifestyle, perhaps because he has no financial need to write.

The rich wife, Catherine, seems to be the one in control, making most of the decisions while David goes along with whatever she wants.

Immediately, I thought of Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald, as the characters in both novels bear a resemblance.

The only major difference is that Hemingway's newlyweds are childless, while Fitzgerald's couple has children.

Of course, there are many other subtle differences, but when examining the two and the basic plot, the similarities are hard to ignore.

Later, I learned that the similarities were not accidental. It is well-known that these two writers were friends and there was some competition between them.

Supposedly, Hemingway criticized Tender Is the Night, so perhaps The Garden of Eden can be seen as his attempt to write his own version and outdo Fitzgerald.

The setting is similar, with the Mediterranean sun shining bright. There is plenty of alcohol and an air of rich man's escapism.

However, one cannot say that Hemingway copied Fitzgerald's characters, as the husband and wife in Tender Is the Night are famously based on Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda.

Moreover, it is quite possible that Hemingway drew from his own experiences, adding autobiographical elements to the novel.

David in the book is clearly an alcoholic, and the way he interacts with women has a certain Hemingway-esque quality.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

What impressed me the most about this novel is the examination of gender identity.

It may come as a surprise to those who think of Hemingway as a macho guy, but The Garden of Eden explores homosexuality and gender identity.

Catherine, the protagonist's wife, likes to pretend she is a guy, even in bed.

Understandably, this makes David uncomfortable.

I had the feeling that David didn't mind Catherine's tomboyish behavior too much (perhaps he even liked it), but it was their sexual life that made him uneasy.

I'm not sure what was behind his discomfort, whether it was because he liked 'the reverse play' but couldn't admit it or because he didn't like it at all.

At any rate, David was clearly uncomfortable and Catherine didn't seem to care much about his feelings.

There is one scene where Catherine sodomizes him with a bottle, which was quite shocking to read.

Their relationship becomes even more complicated when a third party, an heiress, is introduced.

They both like the heiress, and Catherine decides to sleep with her.

Interestingly, it is Catherine who starts the affair, not David.

I'll stop here to avoid spoiling the whole plot.

The more I read Hemingway, the more I realize that his portrayal of female characters is surprisingly complex.

Both Catherine and the wife in Tender Is the Night have their issues, but they are also fascinating characters.

Catherine, in particular, comes across as a strong-willed character who seems to have everyone under her control.

Is it a case of her knowing what she wants and how to get it?

The more I read the novel, the less sure I became.

David is just as interesting as Catherine. He is quite different from other Hemingway protagonists, more vulnerable and perhaps a bit bitter.

I loved the parts where Hemingway, through David's perspective, wrote about writing. It was truly wonderful.

Both David and Catherine left me with many questions, but perhaps the same can be said for the protagonists of Tender Is the Night.

Since Fitzgerald and Hemingway were friends, it's interesting to wonder how they perceived each other's writing.

How autobiographical are these two novels? I still wonder about that.

In one of his short stories, Hemingway writes about a friend who thought the very rich lead different lives but was disappointed to find out they were the same as everyone else.

Was he referring to Fitzgerald?

Money does play a role in this novel, although it's not the most important theme.

There are many parallels between The Garden of Eden and Tender Is the Night, but I see them as distinct works.

The writing styles of these two authors are completely different. Hemingway's prose is simple yet brilliant, while Fitzgerald's is more poetical and eloquent.

Nevertheless, the themes and characters they write about are sometimes strikingly similar.

This book was not what I expected at all, but I love it all the more for that.

It was a fascinating read, albeit slightly disturbing at times.

There is a sense of bitterness hidden within the shadows of the Mediterranean sun.

Alcoholism is examined quite harshly, and by the end of the novel, there is a lot of sadness.

I'm not sure I understood everything the writer was trying to say, but I didn't mind the ambiguity.

It's quite possible that I'm reading too much into it, but The Garden of Eden seems to me like a profoundly complex and ambitious work.

This novel is different from most of Hemingway's other writing, yet not completely different, as I'm beginning to discover.

If anything, the uniqueness of The Garden of Eden fascinates me, and I would say that it's different in a good way.

Despite having a similar plot and setting as Tender Is the Night, this book feels absolutely original and fresh.

After all, you don't read many novels about a wife wanting to be a man in bed, do you?

I can say that I got a lot more from this book than I expected, and I'm not complaining.

Challengers in 2024

The year 2024 is set to bring a new wave of challenges.

In various fields, individuals and organizations will face numerous obstacles.

For example, in the business world, companies will have to adapt to changing market trends, intense competition, and technological advancements.

This may require them to innovate, restructure, or find new ways to differentiate themselves.

In the political arena, leaders will have to address complex issues such as climate change, social inequality, and national security.

They will need to make difficult decisions and build consensus among diverse groups.

Even in our personal lives, we may encounter challenges such as relationship problems, career setbacks, or health issues.

However, it is important to remember that challenges also present opportunities for growth and learning.

By facing them head-on and finding solutions, we can become stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to handle future challenges.

So, as we look ahead to 2024, let us embrace the challenges that come our way and use them as a springboard for success.

So tell me again why is it that Hemingway is considered a great author?

Well, there are several reasons. First of all, his writing style is distinct and influential. He uses simple and direct language, yet it has a powerful impact. His sentences are short and concise, but they convey deep emotions and complex ideas.

Secondly, his works often explore universal themes such as love, war, death, and the human condition. Through his stories, he makes us think about the meaning of life and our place in the world.

Finally, Hemingway's personal experiences also contribute to his greatness as an author. He lived through two world wars and witnessed the horrors of war firsthand. His experiences are reflected in his works, giving them a sense of authenticity and realism.

In conclusion, although Hemingway may not be everyone's favorite author, there is no denying that he is a great one. His writing style, themes, and personal experiences have had a profound impact on the world of literature and continue to inspire generations of writers.