About to read first Hemingway book, help me choose?

Question

I bought 4. I would like to read the most tragic one. have:
1. Farewell to arms
2. The Nick Adams stories
3.The Suna also rises
4. I slands in the streams

Answer 1

The most tragic one, huh? Well, I'd say it would be "The Old Man and the Sea", but you didn't buy that one.
So, I'd go with "The Sun Also Rises."

"Oh, Jake,” Brett said, “we could have had such a damned good time together.”
Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me.
“Yes,” I said. “Isn’t it pretty to think so?”"

Oh, "A Farewell to Arms" is "tragic" enough, but it's also not (in my opinion) one of Hemingway's best efforts. It's far too melodramatic ( as is "For Whom the Bell Tolls", though it IS considerably better than
that one.)

Hemingway wanted so badly to be a "heavyweight" writer, to write the BIG books. But the irony is he's ever so much better in his shorter works.

As for the other two, the Nick Adams stories are darn good - but they don't give you Hemingway at the height of his powers.
And "Islands in the Stream" was cobbled together posthumously and, while it's a lot better than "A Moveable Feast", it's still rough around the edges.

Answer 2

Farewell to Arms is probably the most tragic, but I would start with The Nick Adams stories! They are fantastic! However if you wanted to start even simpler, I would suggest Hills Like White Elephants - a great short story. Or The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Those would get your mind thinking in Hemingway's style of writing. Pax- C

Answer 3

I agree with Persephone that you should start with the story The Snows of Kilimanjaro.
From the novels, I have two favorites. The Sun Also Rises and For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Then, his memoirs of Paris, A Movable Feast
and his memoirs of Spain, Dangerous Summer.

I have read many of his books. He's one of the finest writers of the 20th century.

If you like movies, there were several made from his novels and stories.

Answer 4

Farewell to arms. It shows a little bit of artificially rethoric drama but it is quite good.