To Have and Have Not

We just saw the movie and recently visited Key West where we toured Hemingway's home. "To Have and Have Not" was discussed during the tour so we thought we would reread (hear) a book we read in high school. Great listen -- colorful characters and a visit to history we have long forgotten. A little uncomfortable at the beginning with descriptions of African-Americans and terms we do not hear today.
Recommend this highly.

To Have and Have Not is a difficult book to love, despite this well-handled reading of the text. The story is bleak, violent and pessimistic in tone, set as it is during the Great Depression, and leaves little room for hope to redeem its bleakness. The novel also jumps between points of views and characters instead of sticking with one narrator or protagonist. This creates a novel with less unity, though Hemingway's intent seems to be to give readers a look at both the wealthy and the poor and the troubles endured by both. However, this omniscient point of view is less popular with modern readers and many will interpret these passages as digressions. Hemingway himself is said to have regarded it as his least successful novel. Still, it is an eye-opening look into a now half-forgotten era.

Yes

I was moved when Hemingway had multiple people, that were unrelated to the main characters in the story, expose their nightly bedtime thoughts, worries, and general perceptions. It's good to be pulled up from a story you are so embedded in and reminded that life is going on around your primary characters.

Will Patton does an excellent job with accents and inflections in just the right places. Hemingway's sentences can get pretty long and descriptive, but Patton never misses a beat.

When Harry Morgan is trying his hardest to get his last, dying words out. And when he finally does, the crew around him thinks it jibberish, but you as the reader, with an inside view, know the truth.

Will Patton did such an amazing job! He had the characters perfectly!

Of course Hemingways style. He wrote so descriptively. You feel as if you are there!

He was able to give each character a distinct personality.

Yes!

A must listen!!!!

Enjoyed this very much...easy to listen and follow. Wonderfully read and awesome story line by fabulous writer.

No doubt Ernest Hemingway looked at life in a clear plain way. This story gets you inside the heads of many characters. Not really going anywhere, in no particular order, is the beauty of it. Simplicity and clarity of voice is the trademark, and what makes this another great listen from the man himself.

Yes. An incredible statment on the human condition.

The death of Captin Morgan. The way his wife was given no time to morn. She simply moved on and started up with a new plan for her and the kids.