First of all, the author isn’t the main character. However she portrays the story, you can tell that the woman living the stories is so different from the author, who’s trying hard to understand her after extensive research. The storyteller isn’t as strong or powerful as she would like to convey to her readers about Martha Gellhorn, the leading lady of this book, Love and Ruin A Novel.

I had never read a book by Paula McLain before, and I didn’t do much research before reading. I happened upon this book during a period of a chaotic love affair. I must say, the combination of “Love” and “Ruin” impressed me. I read the book in Chinese, but the translation sounds silly. If anyone is curious, the translated title is “I can’t possibly just look up to you“.

I understand the struggle to link this book to Ernest Hemingway in every possible version, perhaps even beyond our world. I appreciate how a famous personality can make or break a book like this. I didn’t judge, but the story focuses too much on the relationship, and Hemingway’s powerful presence dims Martha’s strength. I didn’t know anything about Hemingway’s third wife before reading this book. The only thing I agreed with from the book is that she was a gorgeous woman. I particularly enjoyed the part where they first met in a bar; I can relate to falling in love at first sight.

As Martha’s story progresses, I don’t see her as a powerful and independent woman. I believe her experiences are genuine and worth praising, but the book doesn’t capture it well. To me, she seems to live under her husband’s shadow, and she doesn’t break away from that perception in this book. I was confused because I thought the writer was the woman living through these experiences. However, by the middle of the book, I realized it couldn’t be. If she were, she would tell us a better story about herself, not a twisted struggle to find herself in someone else’s narrative. I was relieved when I found out that Martha was not the writer. I’m not a fan of Martha, but I believe she’s stronger and more unique than the book suggests.

I didn’t enjoy the book much, even though the story is enticing. As for Hemingway, the famous author has his issues to address, but great writers are different from ordinary people. Since everyone reads his books, I guess that’s a mission accomplished. His love affairs and drinking problem could be an interesting story to share and joke about. But that’s it, no more judgement.

Somewhere far away, a woman lived her life through war, facing all ups and downs. In the end, she moved on quietly. That’s the strength and power of an independent woman.

What kind of woman do you aspire to be? Women and men share this earth, and it’s pointless to fight for independence when human nature craves love. We can’t love our enemy if we consider men as the opposing force. My idea is to live your life as a woman without overthinking the men vs. women dynamic. Each day brings a unique story, and every gender has its own highlights and drawbacks.

What are your thoughts on this review? Have you ever read ‘Love and Ruin,’ or are you contemplating reading it? I invite you to share your reading experiences with me. This is Falls: Dive into Books, where words flow and journeys begin.