Collection
Description
First published in 1970, nine years after Ernest Hemingway's death, Islands in the Stream is the story of an artist and adventurer -- a man much like Hemingway himself. Rich with the uncanny sense of life and action characteristic of his writing -- from his earliest stories (In Our Time) to his last novella (The Old Man and the Sea) -- this compelling novel contains both the warmth of recollection that inspired A Moveable Feast and a rare glimpse of Hemingway's rich and relaxed sense of humor, which enlivens scene after scene. Beginning in the 1930s, Islands in the Stream follows the fortunes of Thomas Hudson from his experiences as a painter on the Gulf Stream island of Bimini, where his loneliness is broken by the vacation visit of his three young sons, to his antisubmarine activities off the coast of Cuba during World War II. The greater part of the story takes place in a Havana bar, where a wildly diverse cast of characters -- including an aging prostitute who stands out as one of Hemingway's most vivid creations -- engages in incomparably rich dialogue. A brilliant portrait of the inner life of a complex and endlessly intriguing man, Islands in the Stream is Hemingway at his mature best.… (more)
Media reviews
". . . a complete, well-rounded novel, a contender with his very best. It has his characteristic blend of strong-running narrative and reflective mememto mori and it is 100-proof Old Ernest, most of it."
Coast FM and Fine Arts
This book does not make it. I wanted this book to make it. I have been pulling for Hemingway to hit one out of the lot for a long time now. I wanted another novel like The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, or To Have and Have Not... So here, in Islands in the Stream, is his last at bat. From
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beyond the grave. What a chance for drama! But Mr. Hemingway took a called third strike, lying down...
All in all, Hemingway knows his men and his war and his food and his drinks and the wind and the sea and the birds, and how to boat, and he knows his crabs and his wild boars and his dogs and his insects, and he knows his death is coming. He’s weak on his women but most of us are, and his conversations aren’t quite real; they are Hemingway conversations, but once you realize this you can accept them. And there’s free knowledge in the book on all sorts of little things besides making good drinks. Although I don’t care too much for his peanut butter with raw onion sandwiches... No, the book doesn’t make it. Few do. I’d say buy it just to know which way things went. They went that way. And he’s gone now. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member k8_not_kate
This book was strange in that I very much liked it but apparently for no good reason. Hemingway doesn't seem to make any big point with Islands in the Stream, although certainly this is excusable since it was published after the author's death and was never properly edited by him. The novel is
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enjoyable solely on the merit of Hemingway's moving characters, namely the protagonist, fictional American painter Thomas Hudson. Parts of the story drag while some moments are overly-macho (yes, even for Hemingway), but more often then not the writing is very good. I would recommend this book to anyone, but I would suggest reading A Farewell to Arms or For Whom the Bell Tolls first; this shouldn't be your first taste of Hemingway. Show Less
LibraryThing member jpsnow
This is the most honest book I've ever read. It's based on his own experiences as a fisherman, sub hunter, and artist. But he seems to put a lot of his private melancholy into this one, more than his other works. I give it a five, though I think it was longer than needed. I suspect he would have
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edited it down even more than his heirs did. I also appreciate the rare book that can combine nature, romance, and adventure with equal depth in the same story. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ron18
I've long been a fan of Old Man and the Sea - it was my all time favorite beach read a while back. So, when I learned that these stories constituted the foundation and origin of that story, I was eager to read it on vacation this year. Our vacation was interrupted, and reading wasn't an option, so
Islands in the Stream are three connected stories published together posthumously by Hemingway's wife and publisher. They had editing duties - giving 400 or so pages the ax - but informed sources say they were well acquainted with EH's editorial preferences, and they added nothing to the text.
The protagonist is a wealthy painter with a history of being an international celebrity who hobnobs with the greatest minds and creators of his time... this isn't a relatable circumstance, but probably what readers wanted most with their escapism reading. The wealth and privilege aren't very becoming when it comes to how his life of leisure, stable of servants, and variety of luxury living situations are concerned. This isn't to say he lives a life free of pain. Pain is something he has no shortage of, and as the story progresses - it becomes nearly all he has.
It was endearing and fascinating to read how "the other half" lives, and how that life relates to (and is in contrast with) my own experience. Especially when we have art in common. Thomas Hudson prides himself on a strong work ethic - probably to not lose his male audience who already has to swallow the story of a man who lives in luxury doing as he wishes, with occasional visits from (virtually abandoned) children and starlet ex-wives. Very little of his character's mindset is relatable to an artist. Rather - TH sounds a lot more like a writer posing as an artist (several factors make Stephen King's Duma Key look to be influenced by IitS).
The sections were of distinctly different tones and flavors. The protagonist at times only feels like the same character because he shares the same name, and sparse sentences of reference to an earlier phase of life. He certainly strives to erase his pain by both ignoring it, and drinking his brain into a state malleable enough to forget. The sources of his pain are felt and empathized with by this reader, at least, so that tenuous connection still holds.
It isn't 100% clear how Old Man and the Sea originated with this period of working - but if it was intended as follow-up to a struggle in the first act (Bimini), the result will always be a different staging when reading OMatS, and a powerful one.
Hemingway is forever analyzed for his portrayal of gendered issues - and those looking closely tend to give him more slack as the years go by. I don't personally get the sexist claims and demonized perspective others paint him with - I see genuine reflection, given honestly, by someone who loves women - but is not himself a woman or a man who would make an effort to put himself in a woman's shoes, not being one. There may be an empathy gap there - but his empathy gap is broad and showing at all times for other men, of other race, proclivity, social and financial means. He's true to himself (whatever we think of that self), and he proudly broadcasts that women are frequently at the center of all his happiest memories, relationships, and enriching life moments.
A man feeling a need to erase painful loses is at the heart of the stories. So much so, that a couple of those critical and pointed loses are never again referred to after book one. The absence hurt me. The lost lives were more pronounced for it. By not dealing with some things, he made those things much, much bigger - but the notion that a man must cry, but that seeing that crying is a chief disgust, has shackled him to a damaged and hobbled existence with dwindling meaning. And we (I) never stop relating and connecting with that life. At times uncomfortable, to say the least, I never stopped liking the story and wanting more of it.
The book reads like an album assembled by the family, and remaining band members, after the death of a band's lead vocalist. I can't see it as complete or as a pure product of its creator - however hard I try. That is what keeps it from achieving a 5th star, for me. But it is his work, and what's there of it is absolutely worth the time to share with him.
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I'm just now finishing it - far from the shore.Islands in the Stream are three connected stories published together posthumously by Hemingway's wife and publisher. They had editing duties - giving 400 or so pages the ax - but informed sources say they were well acquainted with EH's editorial preferences, and they added nothing to the text.
The protagonist is a wealthy painter with a history of being an international celebrity who hobnobs with the greatest minds and creators of his time... this isn't a relatable circumstance, but probably what readers wanted most with their escapism reading. The wealth and privilege aren't very becoming when it comes to how his life of leisure, stable of servants, and variety of luxury living situations are concerned. This isn't to say he lives a life free of pain. Pain is something he has no shortage of, and as the story progresses - it becomes nearly all he has.
It was endearing and fascinating to read how "the other half" lives, and how that life relates to (and is in contrast with) my own experience. Especially when we have art in common. Thomas Hudson prides himself on a strong work ethic - probably to not lose his male audience who already has to swallow the story of a man who lives in luxury doing as he wishes, with occasional visits from (virtually abandoned) children and starlet ex-wives. Very little of his character's mindset is relatable to an artist. Rather - TH sounds a lot more like a writer posing as an artist (several factors make Stephen King's Duma Key look to be influenced by IitS).
The sections were of distinctly different tones and flavors. The protagonist at times only feels like the same character because he shares the same name, and sparse sentences of reference to an earlier phase of life. He certainly strives to erase his pain by both ignoring it, and drinking his brain into a state malleable enough to forget. The sources of his pain are felt and empathized with by this reader, at least, so that tenuous connection still holds.
It isn't 100% clear how Old Man and the Sea originated with this period of working - but if it was intended as follow-up to a struggle in the first act (Bimini), the result will always be a different staging when reading OMatS, and a powerful one.
Hemingway is forever analyzed for his portrayal of gendered issues - and those looking closely tend to give him more slack as the years go by. I don't personally get the sexist claims and demonized perspective others paint him with - I see genuine reflection, given honestly, by someone who loves women - but is not himself a woman or a man who would make an effort to put himself in a woman's shoes, not being one. There may be an empathy gap there - but his empathy gap is broad and showing at all times for other men, of other race, proclivity, social and financial means. He's true to himself (whatever we think of that self), and he proudly broadcasts that women are frequently at the center of all his happiest memories, relationships, and enriching life moments.
A man feeling a need to erase painful loses is at the heart of the stories. So much so, that a couple of those critical and pointed loses are never again referred to after book one. The absence hurt me. The lost lives were more pronounced for it. By not dealing with some things, he made those things much, much bigger - but the notion that a man must cry, but that seeing that crying is a chief disgust, has shackled him to a damaged and hobbled existence with dwindling meaning. And we (I) never stop relating and connecting with that life. At times uncomfortable, to say the least, I never stopped liking the story and wanting more of it.
The book reads like an album assembled by the family, and remaining band members, after the death of a band's lead vocalist. I can't see it as complete or as a pure product of its creator - however hard I try. That is what keeps it from achieving a 5th star, for me. But it is his work, and what's there of it is absolutely worth the time to share with him.
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LibraryThing member JBreedlove
A posthumously pulished novel about a civilian's adventures hunting German submarines in the Caribbean during WWII.
LibraryThing member AliceAnna
Excellent wonderful heartbreaking story. I'd forgotten what a wonderful writer EH could be. The cover of the paperback I have is ridiculous, making it look as those this book is a maudlin love story. That's why I only recently got around to reading it. It is a love story though ... a father in love
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with his children, a man in love with his cat, a friend in love with his friends and only lastly, almost an afterthought, a man in love with the mother of his son. The long intricate description of the fight to land a big one, as a metaphor for his son becoming a man was simply brilliant. The description of his love affair with his cats was heart wrenching. This book was published posthumously and I'm very glad that it was made available. It was truly wonderful. Show Less
LibraryThing member arias
I've been reading this book and it gets better as I go along. I love the opening and how Hemingway establishes such a strong sense of place and quickly anchors the reader into this touching story.
Except for a fight, the story moves at a relatively slow pace, which is characteristic of Hemingway and
I'll most likely keep this rating or even bump it up a star after I finish it, but so far I'm enjoying it.
I think as time goes by, Hemingway becomes more popular because of the era the stories were written. If you like WWII, Spanish Civil War stories, adventurous family tales throughout the world, Hemingway is a good pick.
Except for a fight, the story moves at a relatively slow pace, which is characteristic of Hemingway and
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you get the feeling you're watching one of those movies from the 50's.I'll most likely keep this rating or even bump it up a star after I finish it, but so far I'm enjoying it.
I think as time goes by, Hemingway becomes more popular because of the era the stories were written. If you like WWII, Spanish Civil War stories, adventurous family tales throughout the world, Hemingway is a good pick.
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LibraryThing member starbox
A powerful read,, 17 January 2016
This review is from: Islands in the Stream (Paperback)
This work, like most of Hemingway's work, is extremely 'blokey' in style and subject matter. Fishing, fighting, drinking and war form the backdrop. And yet despite the fact that these are emphatically 'not my
This is the story of Tom Hudson, a painter on the Bahaman island of Bimini in the 30s. Twice divorced, he looks forward to the visit of his three sons...
In the second part, it's a few years later, WWII is here, and we meet Tom on shore leave in Cuba .
And in the third section, Tom is leading a crew as they try to flush out a German boat in the mangrove swamps of the keys...
I knew this was a strong book when a certain something happens and you hadn't seen it coming and feel like you've been punched in the stomach. There's a lot of dialogue, through which you feel you're getting to know the characters. Also moments of real humour, which again bring the people more vvidly to life.
Re-read the first part when you know how the story pans out: it tears you apart.
This review is from: Islands in the Stream (Paperback)
This work, like most of Hemingway's work, is extremely 'blokey' in style and subject matter. Fishing, fighting, drinking and war form the backdrop. And yet despite the fact that these are emphatically 'not my
Show More
thing' I kept on reading. And although I somewhat lost the drift of the finer points of manoeuvres in the German occupied Cuban keys, (and did find my attention slightly wandering, if I'm honest), I have to give it a *4.This is the story of Tom Hudson, a painter on the Bahaman island of Bimini in the 30s. Twice divorced, he looks forward to the visit of his three sons...
In the second part, it's a few years later, WWII is here, and we meet Tom on shore leave in Cuba .
And in the third section, Tom is leading a crew as they try to flush out a German boat in the mangrove swamps of the keys...
I knew this was a strong book when a certain something happens and you hadn't seen it coming and feel like you've been punched in the stomach. There's a lot of dialogue, through which you feel you're getting to know the characters. Also moments of real humour, which again bring the people more vvidly to life.
Re-read the first part when you know how the story pans out: it tears you apart.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Alphawoman
I think I read this novel when I was much younger. Probably in the '70's. Reading it now, 40 years later it takes on many visceral textures that a 20 year old just cannot feel. But in my 60's I feel I understand mr. Hemingway a little bit better and the enormous sadness he carried within him.
A slow
Absolutely beautiful in a manly man way.
A slow
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read. The story line demanded to be laid aside and allowed to seep into you.Absolutely beautiful in a manly man way.
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LibraryThing member DanielSTJ
This is one of the last Hemingway books that I haven't read. Overall, it's a very interesting portrait of Thomas Hudson-- a painter, and the various locations that he travels to. A bunch of the book is set with his three children while another part of it goes to a bar in Havana. Finally, there are
Nonetheless, I felt that the prose faltered at many parts and that the story wandered and meandered through much of its duration. I did not feel that this was true Hemingway, rather than being a manuscript that was not realized in its full potential before Hemingway's death and was, likewise, published.
2 stars.
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the exploits that he takes hunting U-boats in WW2 (an experience tightened up by Hemingway's own experiences doing the same.) It is an intimate self-portrait of Hudson that is highly revealing and stark with Hemingway's own experience.Nonetheless, I felt that the prose faltered at many parts and that the story wandered and meandered through much of its duration. I did not feel that this was true Hemingway, rather than being a manuscript that was not realized in its full potential before Hemingway's death and was, likewise, published.
2 stars.
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LibraryThing member ChristopherSwann
The first section of this book should stand alone--the rest is all right, but it's more like a version of "I wonder what happened to this character AFTER the book was finished?" As in, "what did Nick Carraway do AFTER he went back home to the Midwest?" But it's worth it solely for the first (and, I
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believe, the longest) section--three-and-a-half stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member mmodine
I’ve long been a fan of Hemingway. I even got to visit the house on Key West last summer. Yet I found this to be a meandering mess. True enough, this was posthumously published, but I suspect there was a reason why Papa never got around to finishing this before he died. It reminded me of Harper
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Lee, and the relationship of Go Set a Watchman to To Kill a Mockingbird. Disappointing. Show Less
LibraryThing member zmagic69
I am convinced if you want to turn kids off from reading make them read most any of “the classics”
These books are for the most part are not something kids can relate to in the 21st century.
If you really want to discourage reading give them a book by Ernest Hemingway.
I hated his writing, in high
Yes I know this book was released after he killed himself. It doesn’t matter. It has all of the pain of any Hemingway book.
Hemingway’s writing is great when it is describing scenery or situations. Where it is painfully awful is dialogue between characters.
Conversation usually involves one or more characters well on their way to being drunk. And like a drunk in a bar nothing they have to say is worth listening to.
In this book most of the section labeled Cuba is nearly unreadable.
Also women are always portrayed as emotional train wrecks. That is the case in this book as well.
In the section called Bimini the dialogue involving the main character Thomas Hudson and his children is so awful, no children speak like this.
The ultimate problem with Hemingway books is that the main character in every one of them is actually Ernest Hemingway himself. Then Hemingway writes the character as a combination of how Hemingway wants to believe he would speak, act,and behave, and the way he actually does.
No more Hemingway for me.
These books are for the most part are not something kids can relate to in the 21st century.
If you really want to discourage reading give them a book by Ernest Hemingway.
I hated his writing, in high
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school, college, and now in my 50’s.Yes I know this book was released after he killed himself. It doesn’t matter. It has all of the pain of any Hemingway book.
Hemingway’s writing is great when it is describing scenery or situations. Where it is painfully awful is dialogue between characters.
Conversation usually involves one or more characters well on their way to being drunk. And like a drunk in a bar nothing they have to say is worth listening to.
In this book most of the section labeled Cuba is nearly unreadable.
Also women are always portrayed as emotional train wrecks. That is the case in this book as well.
In the section called Bimini the dialogue involving the main character Thomas Hudson and his children is so awful, no children speak like this.
The ultimate problem with Hemingway books is that the main character in every one of them is actually Ernest Hemingway himself. Then Hemingway writes the character as a combination of how Hemingway wants to believe he would speak, act,and behave, and the way he actually does.
No more Hemingway for me.
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Subjects
Genres
Publication
CHARLES SCRIBNER (1970), 466 pages
Original publication date
1970
Pages
466
ISBN
0600771407 / 9780600771401
Similar in this library
Language
Original language
English