Seriously. I just finished reading A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. It’s Hemingway’s account of being young and poor and writing in various Paris cafes (FYI, there are no current openings for this. I already checked monster.com, so don’t bother looking).
I began reading this book after seeing a review of A Paris Wife by Paula McLain, a fictionalized account of the same period, based on Hemingway’s book. I thought that I should read the original non-fiction version before attacking the fan fiction though, so I picked up a copy of A Moveable Feast at the library even though I had previously not read much any Hemingway.
Nothing against Hemingway, but I thought he was for boys. Bullfighting, fishing, hunting. Sounds like the adult version of Boy’s Life Magazine. I did like his style in the non-fiction book though, so I am going to pick up some of his fiction. I may start with The Snows of Kilimanjaro because I like both snow and mountains, so it’s probably a fun read.
Anywho…Hemingway’s adventures in Paris included meeting all kinds of interesting people like Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound and of course, F Scott Fitzgerald who was there with Zelda and Scotty. Hemingway devotes an entire chapter to Fitzgerald, including a bumbling roadtrip that reads like an Abbott and Costello sketch. If Ben Affleck and Matt Damon hadn’t broken up they could probably stretch it out to a movie.
One day after a drink or two, Fitzgerald reveals (foreshadowing right there) to Hemingway that his wife had told him that because of the way he was “built” he could “never make any woman happy.” Since Zelda was Scott’s first, and at that time only woman, he had no reason to doubt her word, but it nagged at him. So Scott asked Ernest over cherry tarts and wine if he would mind having a little look-see.
Hemingway’s reluctant examination determined Scott to be “perfectly fine” and he told him the problem was, “You look at yourself from above and you look foreshortened.” Hemingway then took him for a little stroll to the Louvre (MY preferred method of settling arguments) so that Scott could see the (ahem) statutory evidence for himself.
Scott was somewhat reassured, but baffled as to why his wife would make such a damaging false claim. Hemingway’s answer:
“To put you out of business. That’s the oldest way in the book of putting people out of business.” So in other words, Scott was lucky that Zelda tolerated him in the sack, so he’d best not bother looking elsewhere.
So, my review: A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway is a good book to read if you are interested in Hemingway, Paris, writing or F Scott Fitzgerald’s penis.
Ooh Something Shiny! 
Interesting. I read a lot of Hemingway – especially in college – but never got to Movable Feast. I’ll have to pick it up. And I found that his books had lots to interest women – you might want to try “A Farewell To Arms” – which is very romantic….except at the end when the main character seems almost relieved that his sweetheart has died.
Hmmm. I always assumed that one was about an amputee.
Spoiler Alert! JEesus.
You can’t really spoil non fiction, can you?
If you’re looking to read some more Hemingway, might I suggest Islands in the Stream? It’s my favorite.
Thanks! Will do.
Did you see Midnight in Paris? Fun movie about that time period, although there is no mention of Fitzgerald’s penis.
No, but I love Woody Allen:)
Best book review ever!
Thank you Kanye! You’re NOT a gay fish!
I am reading “A Moveable Feast” right now and happen to be on the chapter about F. Scott Fitzgerald! I didn’t get as far as what you’ve written about though but even the beginning of the chapter where he is describing Fitzgerald and a conversation they have in a cafe, is funny. My reason for reading this book (I too never read Hemingway before for the very reasons you’ve mentioned) is because my son recommended it before I see Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris”. He said I will get more from the movie because it is based on this book.
Ooops! I guess I should have put spoiler alert. I spoiled the “reveal.” I’ll have to see that movie, I love Woody Allen. You should read The Paris Wife as well.
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Good take. Movable Feast is captivating – you are in that moment in time and place. The Paris Wife, Z and Midnight in Paris suggest I’m not the only one fascinated by that moment. Zelda’s perspective (in Z) is well done.
[…] him that the size of his penis could never make any women happy). An account from Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, the only book about Paris in my opinion, that you’ll ever need to […]
[…] him that the size of his penis could never make any women happy). An account from Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, the only book about Paris in my opinion, that you’ll ever need to […]