You know, I thought that the beginning of this book was bland, boring, totally and completely purposeless and the thought that Ernest Hemingway—one of the greatest writers ever by reputation—had decided to sit down one day and write something this inane was baffling.

Then came the actual struggle, Santiago's determination to go on because that is what he wants, and then I felt moved, touched: this was good—no, it's actually quite brilliant. It's a short meditative study about the struggles we face in life and . . . well, I couldn't have asked for anything more.