To Have and Have Not

What a miserable book! Harry Morgan is an almost thoroughly despicable character in a pointless book full of sad, pathetic and incomplete plots. I think I can see where Hemingway was trying to stretch as an author, the multiple perspectives he writes from here is a different approach for him (one that doesn't succeed too well), for example. But I thought this failed utterly.

Towards the end of the book, there's a few pages where Hemingway gives us snapshots of various characters aboard different boats in the marina – all of whom we only see here in a few paragraphs – I thought this was effective, light years beyond the rest of the novel. It felt quite out of place, a diamond in the rough. (which may suggest it wasn't as good as I thought, it just seemed so much better – I don't think that's the case, but it's possible)

Oh, this also featured possibly the least erotic sex scene I've read this side of Tom Wolfe (actually, may be worse than Wolfe). Nothing to make hay about there, just thought I'd note it as it really bugged me.

This book will land with some, and miss with others. The plot doesn't really go anywhere, it's more just a brief insight into Harry Morgan's rough life. In my opinion, the absence of meaningful plot tragically but beautifully reflects the world's indifference to the events that take place in the book. Everything is so graphic and tragic yet painted in such an insignificant light, and that's what made this book stick with me personally. Again, not gonna be for everyone, but I found it a worthwhile read.