Sadly, this is the last week I'll spend reading "A Moveable Feast". I have thoroughly enjoyed every chapter and the elegance of Hemingway's writing style. Over the last three chapters Hemingway closes out his early years in Paris.

In "Hawks Do Not Share" and "A Matter of Measurements", Hemingway continues on the chapter of "Scott Fitzgerald". Scott is a truly loyal friend and Hemingway has grown to be very fond of him. In the first part of this continuation, Hemingway expresses his concern about the relationship between Scott and his wife, Zelda. Zelda is very jealous of Scott and his desire and passion with writing. Instead of spending his time working, she would rather him spend time with her drinking. It is later exposed that Zelda has mental problems. Hemingway's dedication to his friend is heartwarming, and it is sweet to see his concern for his friend.

In the latter chapter, Scott and Ernest have an intimate conversation about Scott's "size". In the last part of Scott and Zelda's relationship, Zelda told him that he could never pleasure a woman properly. This, of course, troubles Scott and he seeks reassurance in his friend. However, they both determine that he is normal and they finish speaking on the subject.

In the last chapter of the book, "There Is Never Any End to Paris", Ernest closes his personal memoir. It is a story that recounts first love, love that is lost, and that richness does not entail happiness. Although they were poor, Hemingway and Hadley had a fulfilled relationship while it lasted, and it was a great time to be in Paris. Looking back on this now, Hemingway can see that although that chapter in his life has closed, he can never forget his first love and the experiences he had in Paris.

"We ate well and cheaply and drank well and cheaply and slept well and warm together and loved each other."

In Hemingway's personal memoir, "A Moveable Feast", he recounts the various remarkable people that he encounters. In this week's reading, Hemingway tells of his first meeting with Scott Fitzgerald. Hemingway states that "a very strange thing happened" while at the Dingo Bar.

Fitzgerald begins a "speech" praising and complimenting Hemingway's work. However, this flooding wave of approval discomforts Hemingway so he tries to only focus on the appearance of his new acquaintance. Hemingway describes Fitzgerald as a man who looked like a boy, and a mouth that "on a girl, would have been the mouth of a beauty".

After his speech, Fitzgerald's consumption of alcohol begins to take the better of him. He soon badgers Hemingway with extremely personal questions, like his sex life, and then that is when the strange thing happened. Fitzgerald's face began to draw, and his skin became tight. Hemingway had never seen a drink take a man this way and was very frightened by it. However, he gets Scott home and a few days later they meet up again, with Scott having no recollection of the latter incident.

After becoming better acquainted, the pair decides to go on a trip together to the Lyon. On the morning of the trip, Scott did not show up, as promised, so Hemingway, filled with anger, took the train without him. The next day Scott shows up at the hotel, explaining that there was a mix-up. After a day exploring the city, the two got into a heated argument about the newest raging disease, pneumonia. Later on that night F. Scott Fitzgerald insisted that Ernest Hemingway take his temperature. Hemingway assured him that his temperature was fine to the touch.

When they finally returned to Paris, Fitzgerald gave Hemingway the manuscript of his new book, "The Great Gatsby", which Hemingway loved. Hemingway knew that no matter how badly Scott behaved, although his actions were that of a crazy person, that he must always try and be a good friend.
 

As with all the chapters in "A Moveable Feast", this weeks readings were about relationships and all the effects and lessons that they taught Hemingway. The next three chapters, I believe, had to do with death: naturally and spiritually.

"The Man Who Was Marked for Death" discussed Ernest Hemingway's new relationship with a poet, Ernest Walsh. Hemingway describes him as being "marked for death". Although he never fully explains what he means by this statement, it is inferred that Walsh is not a upright man and that he is dying slowly of disease. I think that Hemingway saw Walsh as a conman. Even years after Walsh's death Hemingway discussed with another writer, Joyce, about how Walsh had promised them both, and possibly many others, the same prestigious award.

In "Evan Shipman at the Lilas", Hemingway meets with his friend and fellow writer, Evan Shipman, at a restaurant, the Lilas. They discuss the change in management and how it was going to affect their dear friends, Andre and Jean, who were bartenders there. The new owners were changing the menu and controlling the workers appearances. Forcing them to die spiritually, because they are having to change the essence of who they are.

In the chapter "An Agent of Evil", Hemingway recounts a time where he delivers a jar of opium to a dying writer, Dunning. However, when he gave it to him, Dunning began throwing things at him and yelling obscenities. Although I cannot explain his reaction to this, I believe that Dunning might have thought that Hemingway was working with the police, or something, therefore making him an "agent of evil".