Mesmerizing Inner Look at Hemingway's First Marriage
Before Earnest Hemingway was ERNEST HEMINGWAY -- one of the most revered, studies, analyzed and parodied authors of American literature -- he was a young man with a burning talent, staking his claim to a bright future. And part of this future included Hadley Richardson, his first wife, a woman who was his equal in many ways -- a risk-taker, adventurer, copious drinker. Paula McLain sympathetically captures her voice in this highly addictive, page-turning debut. She pushes deep in to the lives of her characters while remaining true to the facts. I found this to be a fascinating book, which has compelled me to re-read Hemingway's Moveable Feast (which also examines those years). Recommended highly for any Hemingway fan or anyone who is seeking an in-depth look at a complicated marriage in the 1920s.
Rated of 5
by Mary S. (Pinson, AL)
The Paris Wife
I loved reading this novel about the courtship and marriage of Hemmingway to his first wife, Hadley, as told through Hadley’s eyes. Paris in the twenties was an exciting time and Ernest and Hadley’s literary friendships with Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald make this a very interesting story. My only knowledge of Hemmingway until now has been required reading; For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Sun Also Rises, and A Farewell to Arms, but after Paula McLain’s novel I want to read A Moveable Feast, Hemmingway's memoirs of this time.
Rated of 5
by Marion T. (Palatine, IL)
The Paris Wife
I really enjoyed reading this book. Paris in the 20's with all the noteworthy friends of Hadley & Earnest came to life. A different time and different life. This book reminded me of "Loving Frank" in the way it told the story of the first wives of important people of the time. I will recommend this for my book clubs.
Rated of 5
by Mary S. (Hilton Head Island, SC)
Compelling and Engrossing
The author has managed to portray the tortured and complex life of the young Hemingway in a very believable way, Hadley Richardson comes to life as a woman who struggles in an era where the role of women is changing and uncertain. Perhaps the author's greatest strength is that her writing style is much like Hemingway's -- crisp, clear, and concise. A must read for all Hemingway fans and a great introduction for those who are not acquainted with his tragic story.
Rated of 5
by Debra C. (Vienna, Georgia)
Ooh La La - A Paris Wife!
What a kismet - a chance to review a novel about one of my favorite authors! Having read nearly every available Hemingway biography, I found I absolutely could not put down The Paris Wife. McLain's approach - written from Hadley's point of view - was unique and only enhanced my interest as I read. Other reviewers may disagree with me, but I genuinely feel that if you are a fan of Hemingway's work and find yourself yearning to know more about his life, The Paris Wife will be more than a satisfactory read!
Rated of 5
by Sharon S. (Stanley, N.C.)
"The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain
Author Paula McLain has written a substantial novel about Hemingway's early years and his first wife Hadley Richardson. After the pair wed in the early 1920's they set sail for Paris where the bohemian lifestyle is conducive to Hemingway's writing. As a great fan of Hemingway's, I had not delved into his early life or his many wives history. I could not put this book down, in fact I was sitting in cafes in Paris with Hemingway and the likes of Gertrude Stein,Ezra Pound, and the famous couple F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald! My book clubs can't wait for the release of this novel on March 8, 2011!
Rated of 5
by Rosemary T. (San Antonio, TX)
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
I highly recommend reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain for anyone who has ever read any of Ernest Hemingway's work. It is an absorbing and compelling novel describing the early years of Hemingway's life as a struggling writer written through the voice of his first wife Hadley. The reader is also introduced to the circle of Hemingway friends, many becoming well-known names in today's literary world also. Upon completing the novel, I found myself wondering if Hemingway would have persevered during his early years to become the writer we know today if he hadn't been married to Hadley during this period. I found the book fascinating and now feel compelled to read A Movable Feast.
Stranger than fiction, blending tragedy and farce, How to Create the Perfect Wife is an engrossing tale of the radicalism, and deep contradictions, at the heart of the Enlightenment.
Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
read more
Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
read more
Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
read more
U.S. ebook sales up in 2012, but rate of growth is slowing(May 16 2013) In 2012, trade book sales (i.e. non academic book sales) rose 6.9%, to $15.049 billion, and e-book sales continued to grow, although the rate of growth...
Full Story
of 5
by Jill S. (Chicago, IL)
