Book Review #9 – The Old Man and The Sea

One of the Nobel-worthy novella (un-chaptered for a novel, longer for short story) by prominent writer in history Ernest Hemingway, the Old Man and The Sea to me is a mediocre book of again the symbolism.

Written on back cover of the book are:

The powerful yet simple story of Cuban fisherman’s fight with great fish. It has the universal appeal of a struggle between man and the elements, the hunter and the hunted.

That poor old man Santiago, with passion for American football and sea befriend with his protégé Manolin, the boy he taught how to fish. The boy has high respect and adoration for him, as Santiago is an old widow. This story revolves around his more than ordinary trip to the sea. His bait was taken by 18 feet giant marlin. Being and old an underequipped fisherman he is, he let the marlin drag him out to the open sea hoping that once the fish tired of struggling, will succumb to his old-man wisdom and sheer determination. Along the waiting, he monologues to himself out of his self-reflection, suffering and respect towards the marlin. It took two days before the fish surrendered to be harpooned. Alas, since his skiff is modest, Santiago unable to bring it up so he tied the fish to the side of his skiff.

Blood of the dead marlin attracts sharks and piece-by-piece along the way ashore the fish was bitten until what is left of that 1500 pound is tail and spear. It breaks Santiago’s heart that his journey and suffering was ended up worthless. He is drained and exhausted but his spirit remained strong for the next time he is off to the sea.

This story narrated in pure simplistic way that you will not find it difficult to comprehend. Middle part of the story was kind of boring and describe mostly in flat tone. Towards the end of the book, it climaxed well though the killing of the fish did not took much effort as anticipated. Not much conflict and the only antagonist were the scavenging shark. All in all, it is a one day experience book worth reading.

RATING: 3 and half stars.