When I first decided to pit these next two against each other, I thought I had the world series on my hands. But on second thought, I personally wouldn't have a difficult time deciding between these two. Maybe it's not such a challenge afterall. I used to get the two authors confused (it didn't help that one wrote East of Eden while the other wrote The Garden of Eden). Then I started reading...
Remember, vote simply by adding your comment below, base it on whatever merit you choose (including sex appeal if you want!), voting does not end until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. (Jan 15, 2008), and please spread the word!
Who's better?
34 comments:
No contest. For all the bad you can say about him - the misogyny, the obsession with machismo - Hem could write like almost no other. As much as I love Steinbeck's storytelling, Hem could outwrite him in his sleep.
His sentences pack a wallop and he cuts to the chase like no other.
Besides, when I made my pilgrimage to his house in Havana, I found he had bookshelves in every room. . . including the bathroom. How can you argue with that?
Now, if you put Hem up against Morley Callaghan, we may have a problem. Morley did outbox him once back in 1920's Paris. F. Scott Fitzgerald was the ref.
Based on sheer enjoyment of the works of each, I'm voting for Steinbeck. His books are more memorable to me and I more easily relate to them.
Blech, Hemingway. No, no, no.
My vote's for Steinbeck.
Steinbeck. No question. Hemingway was way too macho for me.
I'll vote for Steinbeck even though, I'm sorry people, it's a travesty that he beat Dickens.
Steinbeck. I should have come and voted last week for Dickens.
Amy
Tough, tough call. Hemingway.
Steinbeck
Again, no contest. Steinbeck.
Er...Hemingway...no, yes, yes my vote is for Hemingway.
I've never given a Steinbeck novel less than a 5/5 rating (so far!). Guess you know than who gets my vote - Steinbeck all the way.
I can't decide! Oh bother...how long do I have, mister? I shall have to sleep over this one. (Maybe I should pick Steinbeck to punish Hemingway for that abominable "memoir" he wrote, or whatever
Yuck, Hemingway.
I vote for Steinbeck.
It's Steinbeck all the way for me. Hemingway has never been a favorite.
I want to vote, but how do you choose between the two most boring writers in American history?
I know, I know! You vote for a write in candidate!
I vote for Jane Austen.
(But if you happen to need a tie-breaker this week, I suppose I would have to choose Steinbeck because of that blasted, sad, yet poignant work, Of Mice and Men.)
Nicole: I'm not sure if throwing in Britain's most boring author would help.
Oh snap! No, I d'int!
Imani: Take all the time you want as long it's before next Tuesday at midnight...
I agree with Nicole this week - boring! I can't vote for either one, ick.
Hemingway. Steinbeck's preachy plots bug more than Hemingway's machismo.
I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the concept that Jane Austen is somehow more exciting than Steinbeck or Hemingway.
I guess Austen always seemed a little frivolous to me. Even when I went back and tried to reread her - I really wanted to understand what all the fuss was about - it just did not get better.
Now this is a match-up I'm excited about! I really like Hemingway, and was almost swayed when Remi mentioned the bookshelves in the bathroom in Havana, but my heart is with Juanito. So put me down for Steinbeck.
This is no contest at all. I've read a lot of both authors.
Steinbeck surpasses Hemingway by far. Steibeck put his heart and soul into his writing! He was a far better writer, IMO!
steinbeck. easily. more meat, less filling.
Hemingway. Period.
As much as I loved East of Eden, I love Hemingway more. Even though it's a short story, I think about A Clean Well Lighted Place much more than I think about anything Steinbeck's ever written.
I vote for Hemingway.
I'm gonna have to stick with Steinbeck.
I'm with Nicole and Melanie: abstain
I want to vote for Steinbeck so strenuously that I almost feel like making a bunch of fake blogs just to come here and cast extra votes!
Ugh....Hemingway is so boring!! Steinbeck it is!!
Man. I guess...I guess...it's...
argh...
Hemingway?
*sob*
Voting is now closed.
Hemingway has the upper hand here. When considering his mastery of not only the art of novel writing, but also the short story, he has epitomized the American writer, as well as the entire history of prose to date.
Steinbeck's "East of Eden" is underrated in my opinion- a superior novel to Grapes of Wrath. It exemplifies the evidence that Mr. Steinbeck deserves undoubtedly to be compared to Hemingway, but not that he is a better writer overall.
Also, to the person who voted Jane Austen: there's no way of beating around the bush; you are an idiot.
Both have a unique perception of the world. Hemingway characters react differently than Steinbecks. Hemingway characters seem self absorbed and have OCD. They seem lost and miserable. Steinbeck has an optimistic view with characters acting out of selflessness. I'm captivated by Steinbeck and grow tiresome with Hemingway. It is a good question to ask people to showcase their perspective. I stay away from Hemmingwayers. Too much drama and addiction. They'll take you down with them.
The Nick Adams stories are as close as Hemingway gets to Steinbeck. For a style comparison; Steinbeck's Flight with Hemingway's Two Hearted River. I reread Steinbeck but not Hemingway.
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