5/5 - In "The Old Man and the Sea," Hemingway brings a tall tale to life with the story of an old fisherman, Santiago, who has been down on his luck. One day Santiago takes his skiff far out to sea and hooks a massive marlin, the biggest he's ever seen, and they engage in what will end in life or death for one or both of them. Who knew fishing could be so intense? The old man's determination to finish his task is genuinely admirable. He respects the fish and knows this catch could turn his life around, but at the same time it's not easy for him to mentally commit to killing the marlin because it's such a worthy adversary. Hemingway's writing kept me rooting for the old man even though the book didn't end quite the way I wanted it to. 
 This novel is very short so there's really not much else to say except it's charming in its own way. My rating is 5/5, it's a classic and a quick read that's worth the time, if only to help you gain an understanding of why Hemingway's storytelling style is so appealing.