Welcome to Litsy!

Hotchner‘s memoir of his friendship with Papa for the last 13 years of Hemingway‘s life leading up to his suicide. A great account and look into one of the most controversial, mysterious, and prolific writers of the twentieth century.

Number 162 on my #MountTBRchallenge. I enjoyed this memoir immensely. It gave Hemingway more of a human face.

Well my book ban lasted 5 seconds.

#bookmail
#bookhaul

I thought this quote from Papa Hemingway (he wrote a forward to this biography) epitomized #adventure. No matter what you think of his writing, Hemingway was an #adventurer. #quotsynov17

A.E. Hotchner was a good friend of Hemingway from 1948 until Hemingway's sad decline and death in 1961. An interesting account focused on their friendship, conversations, and occasional reminiscing by Hemingway. I got the feeling Hemingway had mellowed in his later years but at the same time increasingly suffered from mental and health issues. #LitsyAtoZ

Younger son thought I knew there was a 2.5 hour delay of school today, but alas, I did not. More reading time for me! I just learned the reason why Papa Hemingway had a beard in his later years: his painful skin condition made it difficult for him to shave. He also felt overwhelmed by his fame, the constant visitors and ringing of his phone distracted him from his writing. (Back cover of Papa Hemingway).

The days before computerized special effects. And Spencer Tracy does seem a bit too polished for the role ? (pic from internet; see the watermark "Getty images").

When I asked you guys whether I should read this bio or one of two Hemingway books, the result was basically a three-way tie 😊. It's a rainy day and I'm in the mood for this. It'll be my H for #LitsyAtoZ.

Help me decide which one I should read for Letter H of my #LitsyAtoZ (author track and yes I'm still doing it in ABC order). Should it be Hemingway's account of a trip to Africa with his wife? A novel set in Italy, inspired by a stay there? Or a memoir by Hotchner of his friendship with Hemingway? Thanks! (See below for other tags 👇)