Comments for The Big Read at Kansas City Public Library http://bigreadblog.com Discussing A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:39:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on Epilogue by Maura http://bigreadblog.com/2007/11/27/epilogue/#comment-106 Maura Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:50:03 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/11/28/epilogue/#comment-106 What?! Henry moves heaven and earth to get to her after he abandons the military...he could have let everyone think he was dead and gone on to the next woman or thing....but he doesn't. He finds her and then rows in a row boat in the midst of a storm throughout the night to escape the war and save the both of their lives for a reason. Hemingway's novel is entirely existential because after all of this energy and love is expended, Catherine still dies....as does the baby....the only symbol of their love....great writing, great plot, horrific conclusion....love it! What?! Henry moves heaven and earth to get to her after he abandons the military…he could have let everyone think he was dead and gone on to the next woman or thing….but he doesn’t. He finds her and then rows in a row boat in the midst of a storm throughout the night to escape the war and save the both of their lives for a reason. Hemingway’s novel is entirely existential because after all of this energy and love is expended, Catherine still dies….as does the baby….the only symbol of their love….great writing, great plot, horrific conclusion….love it!

]]> Comment on Big crowd for Big Read by Patricia Zoellers http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/30/big-crowd-for-big-read/#comment-23 Patricia Zoellers Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:01:52 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/30/big-crowd-for-big-read/#comment-23 I really like stories of love and Italian war, but this is a sad story. Ethical theory person I really like stories of love and Italian war, but this is a sad story.
Ethical theory person

]]> Comment on The Sun Never Rises by evette m orozco http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-22 evette m orozco Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:46:02 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-22 i like this story even though it is sad and depressing because it gives a vivid explanation of the dark side and i believe hemingway does a great job of doing so. i like this story even though it is sad and depressing because it gives a vivid explanation of the dark side and i believe hemingway does a great job of doing so.

]]> Comment on The Sun Never Rises by Chelsea Brauninger http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-20 Chelsea Brauninger Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:37:11 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-20 PL: 3100 I like the way the religious (or non religious) thoughts and struggles of Frederic are portrayed. In my opinion, it shows that although he is a non-believer, he still turns to someone or something for hope. It is interesting because he is supposed to believe in nothing, yet when tragedy strikes, he wants to believe in something to make everything better. It makes one question, is the only reason why people believe in something is for comfort? Is it better to have something to believe in rather than nothing, so that there is someone or something upon which to blame a tragedy. I also liked the sense of hopelessness that is portrayed in this. Not that hopelessness should be a feeling that should be preferred, but it is a feeling that sometimes be hard to portray in a book. I believe that Hemingway does an excellent job describing it, especially with his usage of the weather to add to the overall despair of the work. PL: 3100

I like the way the religious (or non religious) thoughts and struggles of Frederic are portrayed. In my opinion, it shows that although he is a non-believer, he still turns to someone or something for hope. It is interesting because he is supposed to believe in nothing, yet when tragedy strikes, he wants to believe in something to make everything better. It makes one question, is the only reason why people believe in something is for comfort? Is it better to have something to believe in rather than nothing, so that there is someone or something upon which to blame a tragedy. I also liked the sense of hopelessness that is portrayed in this. Not that hopelessness should be a feeling that should be preferred, but it is a feeling that sometimes be hard to portray in a book. I believe that Hemingway does an excellent job describing it, especially with his usage of the weather to add to the overall despair of the work.

]]> Comment on The Sun Never Rises by AJGerhardt http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-19 AJGerhardt Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:27:43 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-19 PL 3100: AJG - War, in its very nature, is dark and depressing. There are very little positive spins one can put upon death. The rain is a perfect description during the depressive parts of the novel. “I’ve examined every part of this flower, and I cannot locate its beauty.” I really enjoy this quote, because it makes sense in a lot of ways. I also agree with Peter in that many times with art the parts do not add up to the whole. I believe that this was an insightful essay into the work of Hemmingway! PL 3100: AJG - War, in its very nature, is dark and depressing. There are very little positive spins one can put upon death. The rain is a perfect description during the depressive parts of the novel. “I’ve examined every part of this flower, and I cannot locate its beauty.” I really enjoy this quote, because it makes sense in a lot of ways. I also agree with Peter in that many times with art the parts do not add up to the whole. I believe that this was an insightful essay into the work of Hemmingway!

]]> Comment on The Sun Never Rises by MKMiddleton http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-18 MKMiddleton Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:08:20 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-18 PL 3100: MKM - I agree with the vivid descriptions of this novel. This story is about a love story mixed in with the sad story of the war. It seems to have ups and downs, mixed with the general gloom of the war. Rain seems to set the mood of the stories most depressing and sad parts. PL 3100: MKM - I agree with the vivid descriptions of this novel. This story is about a love story mixed in with the sad story of the war. It seems to have ups and downs, mixed with the general gloom of the war. Rain seems to set the mood of the stories most depressing and sad parts.

]]> Comment on The Sun Never Rises by J. Anson http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-17 J. Anson Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:29:01 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-17 This reader has caught the dark and depressing essence of this novel and has done a remarkable job describing it . This reader has caught the dark and depressing essence of this novel and has done a remarkable job describing it .

]]> Comment on The Sun Never Rises by Ronald L. Chaney http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-16 Ronald L. Chaney Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:13:17 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-16 Your comment about letting art be is most appropriate. It is to be experienced and not dissected to the point that you lose what it is trying to say or convey to you, the individual. One thing for sure, is that people can experience the same artistic beauty, yet come away with a completely different experience or interpretation of what they experienced. Your comment about letting art be is most appropriate. It is to be experienced and not dissected to the point that you lose what it is trying to say or convey to you, the individual. One thing for sure, is that people can experience the same artistic beauty, yet come away with a completely different experience or interpretation of what they experienced.

]]> Comment on The Sun Never Rises by Peter http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-15 Peter Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:10:39 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/15/the-sun-never-rises/#comment-15 Why do we feel the need to break every piece of art down to the smallest little piece? The opening really sums it up with "I've examined every part of this flower, and I cannot locate its beauty." In art, the sum of the parts doesn’t equal the whole. The "parts" (the rain or the love story back dropped in a cruel war) may have no value or meaning on their own, but when weaved together they take on a different life. This is true for any artist, whether they’re a writer or a painter. Would the awe of the Sistine Chapel be as strong if the painting was done on 3’ canvas? Don’t be the scientist who destroys the book by ripping each page out of the book one by one. Enjoy the intrinsic beauty of the whole work. Why do we feel the need to break every piece of art down to the smallest little piece? The opening really sums it up with “I’ve examined every part of this flower, and I cannot locate its beauty.”

In art, the sum of the parts doesn’t equal the whole. The “parts” (the rain or the love story back dropped in a cruel war) may have no value or meaning on their own, but when weaved together they take on a different life. This is true for any artist, whether they’re a writer or a painter. Would the awe of the Sistine Chapel be as strong if the painting was done on 3’ canvas?

Don’t be the scientist who destroys the book by ripping each page out of the book one by one. Enjoy the intrinsic beauty of the whole work.

]]> Comment on Big crowd for Big Read by ethical theory person JTATE http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/30/big-crowd-for-big-read/#comment-14 ethical theory person JTATE Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:56:07 +0000 http://bigreadblog.com/2007/10/30/big-crowd-for-big-read/#comment-14 Couldn't put it down!!! Great read! Couldn’t put it down!!! Great read!

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