…it's probably because someone made you read something of his other than *this* first. Read In Our Time and you'll understand how his writing works: think of a writer with a heart and voice battered by a truly horrific war.

Yes. I generally do not enjoy Hemingway, but this is a great read. The interface between the war stories (told in italics) juxtaposed between the "straight" stories, told in normal font, is truly jarring. This collection of short stories, tempered by a mind constantly boggled by, and tethered to, WW1, is a great feat of literary virtuosity not commonly attributed to Hemingway. It makes sense if the stories are read as a whole, not separately. As complex, and perhaps Pomo, as Calvino, if read with an open mind. If you only read one book by Ernest, let it be this!