Meredith
I had to read this story in the seventh grade and absolutely hated it -- a whole book about some old guy going fishing? Now, as an adult, I must say I appreciated it quite a bit more! As simple as the story seems, it's full of vivid detail and really very suspenseful. Hemingway's writing is beautiful here as well. His trademark tight style really suits the story; he seems to choose each word carefully and perfectly. I listened to the unabridged version narrated by Donald Sutherland, who has a lovely deep voice and read this story very nicely. If, like me, you had to suffer through classic literature at too young an age, here is one excellent opportunity to revisit it.