Islands in the Stream

This work is really three books in one, dealing with different phases in the main proponents life. Hemingway takes us effortlessly into this world where manliness is the most important characteristic of any of the participants. The writing is outstanding. There are passages which appear to deal with elements of Hemingways own life. I constantly felt that every word that was needed had been used but that not one of them was spare. Every Hemingway title that I listen to leaves me more in awe of the man's abilities and this is one of the strongest so far. If you have any regard for the english language at any level you owe it to yourself to listen to this.

The narration is excellent. Clear, crisp with enough characterisation to aid with discriminating the parts without veering into caricature.

I went in thing the book would be good but it was great, especially the second half. I thought the chase was excellently written and as a WWII buff very believable. I felt like I was in the book. Don't miss it.

I read this because, one, I love Hemingway and, two, I was very interested in reading what the Bahamas and Cuba was like in his day. But here's the deal: this book is not good. And I'm not being rude, Hemingway wrote hundreds of short stories that were never published and nobody can be great all the time. Here's what happened: The work was written originally as a short story trilogy, however, the third part was published on its own as "The Old Man of the Sea" - which is outstanding. After Hemingway's death, his wife and editor found another unpublished short story known as "The Chase" and decided it would be a great replacement third chapter to the trilogy since it involved the same character involved in the first two. That became "Islands in the Stream" - three short stories about the same guy in different stages of life. It's a good idea, except for the fact that the stories are not very good on their own.

Bruce Greenwood's reading of this classic Hemingway novel is incredible. I have been listening audio-books for nearly twenty years and this is the best audio presentation I've ever heard. Greenwood's acting talent definitely pays off.

As for the book, its Hemingway, of course its good. I highly recommend listening to this one.

In some places the story was a little distorted, broken, and slightly obscure, but all and all this is an absolutely endearing listening experience. I say absolutely endearing because no matter where you pick up in the story you can feel the tradgedy and loving intoxication of Hemmingway's writing. You can imagine yourself in the Bahama's during the depresion or in Cuba during WW2. No other author can quite give the expericence that any Hemmingway book delivers so ominously, and all of this despite the discontinuity. I would recommend this to anyone, but if you even remotely like Ernest Hemmingway then check this one out.

I first tried to read this book in high school and couldn't get through it. Now, in my mid-thirties, Hemingway's pace seems right.
It is a very strong story - and as a parent, it is not always an easy ride.
Highly recommended.

I am so amazed how Bruce Greenwood could change his characterizations and accents for each of the so many characters and so seamlessly. I agree with one reader that I have never heard a narrator do such a wonderful reading! The performance is the best part of this book.

The book is good, but quite sad. I liked the first parts best, but found the WWII section rather drawn out. Overall, if you like Hemmingway, you will like this.

Everything!

I think I first read this story 45 years ago. I loved it then and listening to it now was like listening to an old friend tell the story again. It was as good now as it was when I was in high school. The narrated was excellent!

I love Hemingway in print but maybe just too slow and boring for me in audio... My patience probably gives out quicker when I'm listening at the gym and want a little more pep to keep me going. It was a pretty good story and classic wonderful Hem writing style, and the narration was good too, but some of the parts were hard for me to follow. Especially when some of the main characters died (no spoiler), the details given were so vague and the aftermath felt rushed, I got lost. Again, maybe in print I would have caught it better. By the end of the first half I couldn't believe there was still another half left, and I gave up.

After listening to the first story in this 2 part book, I was ready to delete it. The second story was classic Hemingway. Great action, great story - An artist hunting down a german sub crew in the carribean. I am going to listen to it again. I never did that before.