I recently, re-read this book. My first reading was in high school. I've been hooked on Hemmingway ever since because his easy writing style draws in the reader so effortlessly.
"The Old Man and the Sea" is a small book, only 127 pages, with no chapters. It's more like an extra-long short story than a novel. The old man is a Cuban fisherman named Santiago. He has befriended a young boy who used to fish with him until his latest dry streak. Santiago hasn't caught a fish in 84 days. (His previous record was 85 days without catching a fish.) The young boy's father has forbidden him to continue fishing with Santiago, instructing him instead to work with one of the more prosperous fishermen in the village because the family needs the money.
On his 85th day, Santiago heads out to sea in his fishing boat, confident that this is the day his streak of bad luck will be broken. Sure enough, the old man catches a large fish, a marlin. But the marlin does not give up easily, but puts up a fight that lasts for days, and pulls the old man far enough out to sea that he loses sight of land. He's not only fighting the marlin, he's got to fight off the sharks and his own physical fatigue.
Santiago's story is not just about his struggles with the marlin, the sharks, and fatigue, but his own personal, internal struggles as well. It's as much a test of wills as it is a test of strength - the marlin's strength and his own personal strength.
If you're looking for a good summer read, this is a good book to include on your vacation reading list. If you’ve never read Hemmingway, this is a good book to start with. And if you've read Hemmingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" before, I recommend your revisit this little gem. It's worth the read.
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