Review- The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Goodreads Summary:

Set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Havana, Hemingway's magnificent fable is the story of an old man, a young boy and a giant fish. In a perfectly crafted story, which won for Hemingway the Nobel Prize for Literature, is a unique and timeless vision of the beauty and grief of man's challenge to the elements in which he lives.

REVIEW:

Ernest Hemingway is such a famous name in English literature and that in itself was enough for me to decide to read at least one of the author's works. I am glad to be taking my goal to read some literary classics seriously. When I picked The Old Man and the Sea to introduce myself to Hemingway, I was ready for a deep, thought-provoking and philosophical read that would make me contemplate because that is what literature does. I wouldn't say that the book didn't induce any of it at all, I would just say that it wasn't up to a very great extent. 

I read the 2013 revised edition of The Old Man and the Sea and for an author whose works have been so highly appreciated and who has been an inspiration for plenty of writers, I wasn't impressed at all with the writing. It was very simple and easy to understand. It's not like I'm not okay with that. Simplicity in writing actually makes a book easy to read. However- and this might have just been an edition or reprint mistake- there were too many editorial errors and typos which frustrated me to no end.

The Old Man and the Sea can be interpreted in various ways. For me, it was a story about the struggle for life and it was about hope. Santiago, the old fisherman, is well aware of his poor state after not having caught a single fish for a very long time, and at the same time, he knows that he has to go out there to earn his daily bread. He sleeps on a pillow made up of his trousers and a stack of newspapers. When the young boy, Manolin, offers him food and drinks, it looks like Santiago feels ashamed to accept it and he makes up stuff about how he has food stored. However well Santiago tries to hide his weakness, it's right out there for the reader to see. 

The end of the book is where it gets a little philosophical as Santiago manages to catch the biggest fish in the sea which is destroyed by a shark that ultimately makes Santiago hate the damn shark. The feelings and thoughts that Santiago develops towards this fish of his portray his character and the soft comparison between the two tells a lot. Santiago has a battle with himself as he finds himself talking loudly when alone at sea and that shows how lonely a man he is which makes his work, his life. That's all he does and he proves himself by going from being a fisherman who couldn't catch a single fish for eighty four days to someone who succeeds at what he knows so well. 

Ideally, I would have liked to think more before writing my review and I will think over the book, but at the same time, I don't really want to think about it because it could get very, very profound. The ending was unclear and I have a theory about it but it might actually complicate matters more for me. The Old Man and the Sea wasn't as epic as I expected it to be and there were many points in it that put me off. I would have really liked the book had I read it when I was younger (like most people have) but I wouldn't have got it back then. It's not like I've got it now, but I could at least perceive it in a few ways. 

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Review- The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Goodreads Summary:

Charlie is a freshman. And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it. 

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix-tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. 

But Charlie can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

REVIEW:

I am not going to say that The Perks Of Being A Wallflower left me speechless because it didn't. If anything, the book has only made me think, think and think some more.

I wasn't even aware of the book until I read that Emma Watson will be starring in a new movie, the on-screen rendition of Stephen Chbosky's The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. As insane as it may sound, anything I do is partially, if not entirely, decided by  Harry Potter. So just for Emma Watson, I decided I should read The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. And thank you so much, Emma, for simply being in the movie and for making me read this marvelous and absolutely priceless piece of literature.

I cannot even begin to describe how much I loved the book. And Charlie. Oh, dear God! The lovely, precious and truly special Charlie! I could connect with Charlie on such a personal level that I feel elated and blessed to have come across him. I seriously wish Charlie were real. 

Charlie was genuine. He was pure, innocent, sensitive, emotional, and just lovely. It was like I was right there, with Charlie, as Charlie, around Charlie, near Charlie, or whichever makes sense. 

On his journey, Charlie encounters friends who let him in and accept him for who he is. Sam and Patrick were simply superb. I loved them both. They were loving, kind, friendly and absolutely adorable. 
Sam was unique and mad in her own way. She made Charlie look at things with a new and clean perspective. She added a spark to the story. 
Patrick, on the other hand was so much of fun to have around. His life was a slight drama but his hilarious sense of humour brought freshness into the lives of others. 

Charlie's family was great too. I loved his warm and kind parents and his nutty and totally nice siblings. 

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is all about high school, drugs, parties, fitting in, being accepted, finding your place and most importantly it is about finding yourself. Finding yourself in a chaotic, emotional and utterly different world. It is a mature read because drugs, alcohol and homosexuality, although not the major focus, have a lot of prominence in the story.

Stephen Chbosky has done a stunning job. Although an old publication, the book is fresh, clean, delicate, light hearted, tender, tragic and truly hypnotic. It really is. You have to believe me.

I am in complete awe and I feel so delighted to have stumbled upon the world of Charlie, Sam and Patrick.

You know you've read a great book when you know it's going to stay with you for long. Long seems so short in this context. And The Perks Of Being A Wallflower wasn't just a great book, it was a supremely lovely and adorable book.
I'll just end by saying that The Perks Of Being A Wallflower was a special read and will remain so always. 

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