This book may not be a classic in the traditional sense, but it is indeed a nice page-turner.

It has the kind of engaging story that makes you eager to find out what happens next on every page.

Whether you're lazing around on a holiday weekend or looking for something to pass the time during a break, this book is a great choice.

It doesn't require a huge investment of time or mental energy, but it still manages to provide an enjoyable reading experience.

You can easily get lost in the story and forget about the outside world for a while.

So if you're in the mood for a light and entertaining read, give this book a try.

You might just be pleasantly surprised.

A story by an author I don't know about an author I don't like

Padura really surprised me.

With a clear and engaging style, he presents a novel that hooks the reader from the start.

This work shows a Hemingway on his darker side, revealing aspects of his character that may not be as commonly known.

The story unfolds in a captivating manner, drawing the reader into Hemingway's world and making them eager to discover more.

Padura's writing is masterful, painting vivid pictures and creating a palpable atmosphere.

It is a must-read for fans of Hemingway and those interested in exploring the complexity of his persona through the lens of fiction.

The novel offers a unique perspective on the renowned author, adding depth and dimension to our understanding of him.

Overall, it is a remarkable piece of literature that leaves a lasting impression.

Easy read, easy review.

Adios Hemingway is a truly remarkable book. It offers a quick and light reading experience that is still highly entertaining.

If you can overlook some occasional crude language and the somewhat typical sexism found in this genre, then you are in for a great treat.

The plot is not overly complicated or overheated, which allows for a smooth and enjoyable reading flow. The treatment of Hemingway in the story provides a fascinating and unique backdrop.

Fuentes' detective, Mario Conde, is a well-developed character. He is human, with his own flaws and virtues. He is also thoughtful and likable, which makes it easy for the reader to connect with him.

While this book may not be considered high literature or a fast-paced thriller, it is still a very enjoyable and interesting read. It offers a unique perspective on Hemingway and the world of detective fiction.

Overall, Adios Hemingway is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable and easy read.

If you are not a fan of Han Menghua, then don't read this. However, if you are a fan of his, you also shouldn't read this...

Divertido, de rápida lectura. This phrase implies something that is not only enjoyable but also easy and quick to read. It could refer to a variety of things, such as a light-hearted novel, a humorous article, or a short story.

When we encounter something that is divertido y de rápida lectura, it can provide a welcome escape from the stresses of daily life. It allows us to relax and unwind, while also being entertained.

Such reading materials are often perfect for those moments when we have a spare few minutes, such as during a commute, on a break at work, or before going to bed. They can quickly transport us to another world and bring a smile to our faces.

Whether it's a fictional adventure, a collection of jokes, or an interesting piece of non-fiction, divertido, de rápida lectura offers a simple and accessible form of entertainment that can brighten our day.

A short literary exercise that encourages a deep exploration of the life of the mythical Ernest Hemingway.

It is the first work by Padura that I have read, and thus, I have no prior knowledge of Mario Conde, the protagonist of a famous series of detective novels.

The plot is simple: Conde, already in retirement, becomes involved in an investigation due to a corpse found on the estate where Hemingway lived in Havana.

Narrated on two temporal planes, the novel aims to explain the mystery and bring us closer to the controversial North American writer.

It seems that the work is well-documented and takes some biographical elements of Hemingway to propose its plot.

Like any fictional exercise that takes historical figures as protagonists, it will not be without controversy for many readers.

Padura's writing style in this novel is engaging and draws the reader in from the start.

The descriptions of the settings and the characters are vivid, making it easy to imagine the scenes and the people involved.

The exploration of Hemingway's life and the mystery surrounding the corpse add an element of intrigue that keeps the reader turning the pages.

Overall, this is a promising start to my exploration of Padura's work, and I look forward to reading more of his novels in the future.

A captivating and winding story unfolds, centered around a forty-year-old mystery. Bones are discovered on the very grounds where Hemingway last lived before his departure to the USA. A wannabe detective takes on the case, determined to solve the enigma of whose bones lie beneath the wood chips. The narrative skillfully weaves in and out of the past and back to the present, as the investigation spans different time periods. This unique structure, however, makes the story a bit challenging to read at times.

Despite this, the story does offer some interesting glimpses into Hemingway's writing life. We see his anger, his struggles with alcohol intoxication, and his need to prove his manly prowess with any female he encountered. It's a fascinating look into the complex personality of the famous author.

Thankfully, the story is relatively short in length, which is probably one of its redeeming qualities. It manages to hold the reader's attention without becoming overly cumbersome or dragging on. Overall, it's an engaging read that offers a unique perspective on Hemingway and a mysterious case that keeps you guessing until the end.

Mario Conde, the alter ego of Leonardo Padura, returns to investigate after leaving the police to focus on writing. He delves into a cold case related to Hemingway, the person who inspired him to become a writer and with whom he now has a love-hate relationship (similar to Padura himself).

The body of a man is found at Finca Vigía, the Cuban home of the American writer. Many believe that the man was killed by Hemingway himself and that he was even an FBI agent who had been keeping the writer under constant surveillance due to his sympathies for communists in various parts of the world. In a non-historical reconstruction that sometimes draws on the fantasies of Mario Conde/Leonardo Padura, we relive the last days of Hemingway in Cuba and the different attitudes of the Cubans towards the American writer.

Hemingway was indignant at being accused of living in Cuba because it was more convenient and because he was like all Americans, superficial and overbearing, who went around the world buying everything for sale with their dollars. But Miss Mary's latest accounts showed that he had spent nearly a million dollars on the island in about twenty years, and he knew that a good part of the money had gone to pay the thirty-two Cubans he employed. On more than one occasion, to silence the insinuations, he had declared to the press that he felt Cuban, that he was truly a Cuban, a bastard Cuban, he had said, a bastard like Black Dog and his other dogs. And he had delivered the coup de grâce to the polemic when he had given the Nobel Prize medal to the Virgin of Charity of Cobre: she was the patron saint of Cuba and the fishermen of Cojímar, and no one better than her could keep a medal that owed so much to the simple men who had given the writer the story of a fisherman who had spent eighty-four days fighting the current of the Gulf without catching a single fish because he was definitely and irreparably unlucky.

[...]

«What happened on the night of October 2, 1958 was a real tragedy for Hemingway. I don't know if you're aware of it, but in the last few days he said he was being followed by the FBI. The doctors thought it was all hallucinations, a kind of persecution delusion. And to cure him they subjected him to twenty-five electroshocks. And yet, damn it, he was a maniac!» exclaimed Conde, unable to hold back. «At first they prescribed fifteen and then another ten. The doctors wanted to make him pass the manias that were driving him crazy, and they only managed to fry his brain and then stuff it with a million pills… They killed him alive. Hemingway was no longer able to write because along with his manias they had also taken away part of his memory, and without memory you can't write. And he was a bit of everything, but above all he was a writer. In short: they fucked up his life. And this is really sad, Ruperto. As far as we know, his Papa didn't have cancer or any other fatal illness: but they castrated him. He, who had always tried to prove that he had balls and had even shown them to several people to convince them, ended up castrated here» and Conde pointed to his temple with an open hand, two, three times, forcefully, with anger, until it hurt him.

Literary criticism has never been quite like this. The question of whether the Hemingway image was largely a self-made myth is one that is explored in this piece. As you read it, you might be inclined to think so.

Despite this, it remains a good read. The character of Conde is interesting in his own right. He adds a unique dimension to the story, bringing with him his own set of experiences and perspectives.

Perhaps it is through Conde's eyes that we are able to see a different side of Hemingway, one that is not as glamorous or larger-than-life as the public image might suggest.

Overall, this article offers a thought-provoking look at Hemingway and the mythology that has grown up around him, while also presenting an engaging character in Conde. It is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in literature, biography, or the intersection of the two.

“Very Hemingwaynian” is a concise and evocative phrase that immediately brings to mind the distinct style and tone associated with the great American writer, Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway's writing was characterized by its simplicity, directness, and economy of words. His sentences were often short and to the point, yet they carried a powerful impact.

When we describe something as “very Hemingwaynian,” we imply that it shares these qualities. It might be a story, a piece of dialogue, or even a description that cuts through the clutter and gets straight to the heart of the matter. There is a sense of authenticity and rawness in the Hemingwaynian style, as if the writer is laying bare the truth without any unnecessary frills or embellishments.

This phrase can also be used to describe a person's character or behavior. A “very Hemingwaynian” individual might be someone who is tough, resilient, and unafraid to face life's challenges head-on. They have a no-nonsense attitude and a preference for action over words. Just as Hemingway's characters were often depicted as strong and independent, a “very Hemingwaynian” person embodies these same qualities.

“Lo remitían a un mundo perdido que en el territorio libre de su memoria se parecía mucho a la felicidad.”

This sentence seems to transport us to a lost world, a world that in the free territory of memory closely resembles happiness.

A story revolves around Hemingway. Many years after his death, a corpse is found on his estate. A police officer, who is also a writer and a fanatic of the author, takes on the task of deciphering the case to clear the image of his idol and a highly beloved character in the Cuban territory.

At the beginning of reading, it was a book that didn't raise high expectations for me. However, the grammatical beauty with which the author writes was a pleasant surprise and a weighty reason to read this text. The author's writing style is so captivating that it draws the reader in and makes them eager to uncover the mysteries hidden within the story.

As the story unfolds, we are taken on a journey through the life and mind of Hemingway, as well as the efforts of the police officer to solve the case. The details and descriptions are vivid, painting a clear picture in the reader's mind.

Overall, this is a book that not only tells a compelling story but also showcases the author's talent for writing. It is a must-read for fans of Hemingway and those who appreciate good literature.