Love and Ruin
Ratings3
Average rating2.5
15
Ratings3
Average rating2.5
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A powerful novel of the stormy marriage between Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn, a fiercely independent woman who became one of the greatest war correspondents of the twentieth century—from the author of The Paris Wife and the new novel When the Stars Go Dark, available now! “Romance, infidelity, war—Paula McLain’s powerhouse novel has it all.”—Glamour NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • New York Public Library • Bloomberg • Real Simple In 1937, twenty-eight-year-old Martha Gellhorn travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in the devastating conflict. It’s her chance to prove herself a worthy journalist in a field dominated by men. There she also finds herself unexpectedly—and unwillingly—falling in love with Ernest Hemingway, a man on his way to becoming a legend. On the eve of World War II, and set against the turbulent backdrops of Madrid and Cuba, Martha and Ernest’s relationship and careers ignite. But when Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, For Whom the Bell Tolls, they are no longer equals, and Martha must forge a path as her own woman and writer. Heralded by Ann Patchett as “the new star of historical fiction,” Paula McLain brings Gellhorn’s story richly to life and captures her as a heroine for the ages: a woman who will risk absolutely everything to find her own voice.
Reviews with the most likes.
Felt a little icky to read. The writing/prose was good thats why I gave it 2 stars but reading about what came off as an abusive relationship just was not enjoyable.
The military history part was also interesting but the “love” story really didn't feel romantic AT ALL.
It is so satisfying when a lending library find is enjoyable! If you are like me, this novel will make you fall head over heels in love with Martha Gellhorn, both the historical figure and this fictionalized version of her, her terrible taste in men and all, briefly contemplate if you also love Ernest Hemingway at his very most charming, and then decide that he just really, really needed to sober up and go to therapy (no, that is not anachronistic, I'm confident he was only several degrees of separation from some great psychoanalysts). McLain's writing especially sings when she works to capture both the atrocities and the “new normal” of the war zones Gellhorn traveled to for her reporting - there was much in here, especially about pre-WWII Spain, that made me think of and feel pangs for Ukrainians right now. I think there were times that she was a bit too heavy-handed with Gellhorn's internal monologue about Hemingway (OF COURSE most other writers would have feelings about being married to the author of “For Whom the Bell Tolls” when it came out, and I wish there had been a bit more nuance in her struggle that I suspect existed in real life), but overall, McLain's achievement here is to introduce me to a remarkable person and journalist (She was one of the only journalists who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day! And here is her searing account of the trial of Adolf Eichmann, which I suspect is unfortunately perennially relevant to humanity) that I don't think I otherwise would have gotten around to googling.
I'm not familiar with the real life individuals of this story but I appreciate the author calling this a fictional story, level-setting how I interpret the characters' thoughts and feelings.
Very nice character building, the story moves along nicely, and there's a nice level of romance.
