These words of Colonel Cantwell truly caught my attention.

He said, “You just look at the pictures without prejudice, and you read the books with as open a mind as you have, and you live life.”

They were caught and held tighter than any part of the blurb such as “revitalizing love that is found too late”, “inspires light and hope, while only darkness lies ahead”, “resilience of the human spirit”, “defiance in response to the great dehumanizing atrocities of the Second World War”, etc.

Although all of those elements can also be found in the novel.

But if I were to narrow its context down to one sentence, it would indeed be Colonel Cantwell’s words above.

It also reminded me of Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms.

So I compared the two novels throughout.

Both novels received the same rating of 3 stars.

Although I feel more sadness after reading Across the River and into the Trees.

It is present in every chapter and lingers long after the last one.

UPD 24.09.24: Just watched the Paula Ortiz movie with Liev Schreiber and Matilda De Angelis.

What a great movie!

The casting was excellent, the interpretation of Hemingway was great, and the shots of Venice were amazing.

I don't know if I would have had the same feeling if I hadn't read the book before, but I liked the movie even more than the book.

‘Es un oficio bastante malo,’ he repeated, ‘loving me.’

‘Yes. But it is the only one I have.’

‘What happens to people that love each other?’

‘I suppose they have whatever they have, and they are more fortunate than others. Then one of them gets the emptiness forever.’

Love is a complex and often bittersweet emotion. In this conversation, the man seems to believe that loving him is a bad occupation. However, the woman persists, stating that it is the only one she has. This shows her unwavering commitment and perhaps a sense of helplessness.

The question about what happens to people who love each other is a profound one. The woman's response suggests that while love may bring certain blessings, it also has its consequences. One of them may eventually be left with a feeling of emptiness, perhaps due to loss or unfulfilled expectations.

This exchange highlights the uncertainties and risks associated with love. It makes us wonder if the rewards of love are truly worth the potential pain. But perhaps, like the woman in this conversation, we are willing to take that risk because love is such a powerful and essential part of our lives.

Yup... I have to agree... not his best work.

I gave it 3 stars because 2.5 stars isn’t an option, so I rounded up.

The duck hunting sections at the beginning and the end aren’t bad. They add a certain charm and a touch of the outdoors to the story.

But boy, the middle section was really getting on my nerves. All that “I love you, whatever that means” and “I’m not boring you” (actually, yes you are). It just seemed so repetitive and dragged on.

I have read most of Hemingway’s stuff, and I have to say that this one didn’t quite measure up.

I had avoided this particular work for probably 25+ years. I guess I should have continued to avoid it.

Oh, well... now I know.

Maybe others will have a different opinion, but for me, it just wasn’t what I was expecting from Hemingway.

Nevertheless, I still respect his writing and will continue to explore his other works.

Victoria pírrica (Comentario, 2022)

Vale, vale, vale. Is this really defeat? I think I understand. Beyond honor, beauty, glory, victory, and pleasure. Beyond all that lies the wound. A wound. That wound. And then everything else is like seeing blood drip, drop by drop, over the course of hours, along the path of days, within the fabric of words and gestures that fill our daily lives. There is a love, a city that is a love, and suddenly, as if struck by an ominous flash, the certainty that this too will disappear. It will last a little longer, but it will disappear. And that's okay, it's not a problem, and there is still some beauty there.

However, this is not about nostalgia. No. There is a fierce present, a learning that does not allow for painful doubt or lamentations. Continuing to live is necessary and sufficient, as long as one can catch one's breath. A little more, a little more, a little more. To persevere in order to preserve the memories, to be an archive of what is lost. To persevere in order to preserve gestures and codes, so as not to let everything that once shone with the power of a splendid dawn fade away. This is not about nostalgia. Maybe there is a bit of stubbornness. A bit of certainty: everything that has gone is lost forever, but we can pretend that it still exists.

This is a great novel. It delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the complex emotions and experiences that come with loss and the passage of time. The author's use of language is beautiful and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a world that is both beautiful and fragile. Through the protagonist's journey, we are reminded of the importance of holding on to the things that matter, even in the face of inevitable change. Overall, this is a thought-provoking and moving work of literature that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

Across The River and Through The Trees, Ernest Hemingway’s fifth novel, was published to a perfect storm of critical derision, and justly so.

To a generation haunted by war, Hemingway created a colonel who bragged of killing 122. His portrayal seemed callous and out of touch with the reality of the war-torn world.

In an era still traumatized by Hiroshima and Dresden, he wrote of war in scenery flowery enough to be obscene. The beauty he described seemed inappropriate when compared to the horror and destruction that war had brought.

To a culture grappling with the experiences of blacks and Jews, he name checked a confederate general and forgot one of the most significant reasons World War II was fought. His omission and insensitivity showed a lack of understanding and respect for the diverse experiences and struggles of different groups.

It was one of those epic failures that scar a career. Just like Bob Dylan’s Self Portrait or Lauryn Hill’s Unplugged, it was so bad that it changed the perception of the artist’s work for the rest of his career.

Even with The Old Man and The Sea, a novella that many consider as good as anyone has ever written, Hemingway never regained the place in the public’s consciousness. The raised consciousness from the feminist movement shed light on his grotesque sexual politics. The explosion of Jewish and African American writers, who saw the country from a new set of eyes, rendered his heroism, philosophy, and prose style all but moot.

There were reasons he had to go away, and this book, a portrait of masculinity in its own filth, is one of them. It serves as a reminder of how an artist’s work can be influenced by the times and how failure can have a lasting impact on their reputation.

Dreary, verbose and mawkish - these are the words that come to mind when describing this particular work.

A fifty-year-old American General, now demoted to Colonel and on the verge of death, revisits Venice. This is a city he discovered in his youth and loves with great passion. There, he drinks to excess and engages in long conversations with a much younger Italian aristocrat, Renata. However, their love is doomed. His failing health and the fact that he is divorced both stand in the way.

The book begins and ends with a duck hunting scene in the marshes. Sadly, there is no real momentum to the story. Neither the embittered soldier nor the ethereal contessa truly comes to life on the pages. It becomes quite obvious why this novel doesn't feature in the Hemingway canon.

Having just visited Torcello for the first time, I am even more disappointed. Hemingway failed to communicate the magic of the place in a book that was largely inspired by it. But perhaps by that time, putting an end to his own life was already his chief concern.

Hemingway is one of those indispensable writers for anyone who loves to read. Reading his works, we come to understand the reasons why an author is praised. But sometimes, we may not fully understand the fuss around a particular literary work or writer. I read him as if no one had ever said he is one of the greatest writers of our time, which sometimes might be confused with looking for his flaws. At first, this happened quite often, but later I got involved in the story and my appreciation became more refined, with an anti-influence filter. I like to evaluate things based on my own thinking, not on what others say about the book or the author's status in the literary world, but on everything else I have read.

One of the highlights of the book is the dialogues. Although they may not make much sense as they seem to follow the rhythm of thoughts and associations of ideas, they have some more important features for understanding the characters and their inner world than the descriptive content of their heads. The writing is also easy, light, and fluid, although sometimes it gets lost in overly technical or frankly unnecessary details. The author is very visual, which sometimes benefits the work and sometimes makes it more boring.

In this specific book, Hemingway explores the life of a colonel who fought in World War II, with part of his mission taking place in Italy. We are thus in Venice, where Ricardo (I think it's Richard in the original, not understanding if this is the reason for this translation) lives what he tells us (about ten times) is his "last and only and true love." I found the colonel too egocentric, imposing authority from time to time, giving orders about everything. I liked his rude treatment, the roughness with which he expresses himself, and the cynical way he sees the world, power, war, and its spheres and "heroes." Some reflections are interesting. One of them that stuck with me was the colonel's "only, last and true love" suggesting that he write his war memoirs. The colonel tells his "only, last and true love" that this kind of war novel is better written by those who did not fight or really live the war. I had to agree.

Hemingway is clearly very - too - related to the conflict to write something that is not realistic, technical, fussy, and, of course, sometimes annoying, regarding the so-called war. From a certain point on, the novel became a long monologue of the colonel about the war episodes. The female character (Renata) seems to exist only to beg him for explanations about the war. I think I understand the author's idea: let's say that she really loves him, even with his maimed hand, and that she is interested in what is greater in him; the profession, the war. In my opinion, this woman does not exist. Secondly, when she sleeps, when he thinks, when he looks at her portrait, in the mirror, at the boatman, at the Grand Maestro, at Count Alvarito, and all the other characters, it is always the war, always the same shadow interfering in every thread of the narrative. As I said, the book is a long monologue with secondary characters as a receptacle for these words about the same subject.

The colonel, however, is a very realistic character. I understand the nuances of his thinking, how much he struggles to be cordial when, in his nature and experience, he has only acquired habits of brusqueness and roughness.

The highlight of the book for me was one or two paragraphs (at most), in which the colonel finally tells two details, two human episodes about the war. An episode in which finally people talk about the names of generals and lieutenants, not about airplanes, operations, specific stretches of a road, in operation such and such, with a motor type X and a pistol type Y, or in the uniform with the medal Z for the officer such and such.

I will not give up on the author, but it was not unforgettable for me.

Classification: 3.5

http://castelos-de-letras.blogspot.pt...

What is one to do with Hemingway?

He is truly a complex figure. On one hand, he is regarded as one of the best writers. His works are renowned for their简洁明快的 prose style, vivid descriptions, and profound exploration of human nature. His stories have the power to transport readers to different times and places, making them feel as if they are right there experiencing the events along with the characters.

On the other hand, some might argue that he is the worst of writers. His writing can be overly simplistic at times, lacking in the depth and nuance that some readers expect. Additionally, his personal life and the way he presented himself in the public eye have also drawn criticism.

Overall, Hemingway remains a controversial and influential figure in the world of literature. Whether one views him as the best or the worst, there is no denying the impact that his work has had on the literary landscape.

As with "The Sun Also Rises", this is one of the works that I knew nothing about or didn't understand after the first reading.

However, after my second reading, I must say that I have grown very fond of it and it has become my third favorite Hemingway novel.

Sure, there isn't much to say about the plot in a traditional sense. But what I find most interesting in this work is the dialogues between people of different ages and the view of historical persons and events through the perspective of the main protagonist.

This is especially significant considering the fact that after years of bloody conflicts, men are trying to be human again, something that many of us cannot fully comprehend.

Just like the novel "To Have or to Have Not", this is an underrated title that readers should give a chance, especially when on vacation. It offers a unique and thought-provoking look into the human condition and the impact of history on our lives.

So, if you're looking for a good read that will make you think and feel, give this Hemingway novel a try. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.

Average rating of 3.33 indicates that those who have read this novel understood nothing. This is also due to a criticism contemporary to the novel that has buried the novel itself. I'm not talking about those who give 5 stars to the novels of Donato Carrisi or Erin Doom or Saviano, who don't even know the existence of this novel, whether or not they know who Ernest Hemingway is. I'm talking about those who have read more than one of his novels and know his story, what he has been through. This novel is a testament, a novel of memories much more than "The Sun Also Rises". The protagonist is an elderly Hemingway wandering in a desolate Venice immersed in an equally desolate lagoon. It's not the Hemingway who blows up the bridge in "For Whom the Bell Tolls". It's a tired, defeated Hemingway, a lion who fought in his youth. It's a Hemingway who until the very end has repeated that war is shit, it's a horror.

Hell, that took way too long. I can't believe how much time has been wasted on this. And hell, I've really read an excessive amount of Hemingway. His writing style seems to have seeped into my consciousness.

Hell, I'm even starting to sound exactly like him. It's almost as if his words are coming out of my mouth.

Hell, this is not what I intended. I wanted to have my own unique voice, but now it feels like I'm trapped in his literary shadow.

Maybe I need to step back and take a break from reading Hemingway for a while. I need to find my own way of expressing myself, without relying so much on his influence.

Otherwise, I'll just continue to sound like a poor imitation of a great writer. And that's the last thing I want.

I'm not entirely certain as to why this particular book is regarded as one of Hemingway's worst. However, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. There is an abundance of content within its pages that truly makes one stop and think, or as the saying goes, "a lot to chew about."

Specifically, the manner in which the characters, especially Colonel Richard Cantrell, face various situations is truly inspiring. His actions and decisions serve as a model for how one might approach life's challenges.

I fully intend to sit down and pen a more comprehensive and detailed review at a later time. For now, I would rate this book a solid 4 out of 5. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me, it had enough depth and substance to keep me engaged from start to finish.

I look forward to sharing my more in-depth thoughts and analysis with others who may be interested in this often overlooked work by the great Ernest Hemingway.