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Up In Michigan
Jim Gilmore, a blacksmith, comes to Hortons Bay and buys the blacksmith shop. Liz Coates, who has a crush on Jim, is a young woman who works as a waitress for the Smiths. Jim, D. J. Smith, and Charley Wyman go on a deer-hunting trip. When the hunters return, they have a few drinks to celebrate their kill. After supper and a few more drinks, Jim goes into the kitchen and fondles Liz, and says, "Come on for a walk." They go to the end of the dock where Jim's hands explore Liz's body. She is frightened and begs him to stop. He forces himself upon her and passes out on top of her. She gets out from under him and tries to awaken him, but covers him with her coat.
5 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 17, 2014
About the author
Ernest Hemingway
2,147 books33.4k followersErnest Miller Hemingway was an American novelist, short-story writer and journalist. Best known for an economical, understated style that significantly influenced later 20th-century writers, he is often romanticized for his adventurous lifestyle, and outspoken and blunt public image. Most of Hemingway's works were published between the mid-1920s and mid-1950s, including seven novels, six short-story collections and two non-fiction works. His writings have become classics of American literature; he was awarded the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature, while three of his novels, four short-story collections and three nonfiction works were published posthumously.
Hemingway was raised in Oak Park, Illinois. After high school, he spent six months as a cub reporter for The Kansas City Star before enlisting in the Red Cross. He served as an ambulance driver on the Italian Front in World War I and was seriously wounded in 1918. His wartime experiences formed the basis for his 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms. He married Hadley Richardson in 1921, the first of four wives. They moved to Paris where he worked as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star and fell under the influence of the modernist writers and artists of the 1920s' "Lost Generation" expatriate community. His debut novel The Sun Also Rises was published in 1926.
He divorced Richardson in 1927 and married Pauline Pfeiffer. They divorced after he returned from the Spanish Civil War, where he had worked as a journalist and which formed the basis for his 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Martha Gellhorn became his third wife in 1940. He and Gellhorn separated after he met Mary Welsh Hemingway in London during World War II. Hemingway was present with Allied troops as a journalist at the Normandy landings and the liberation of Paris. He maintained permanent residences in Key West, Florida, in the 1930s and in Cuba in the 1940s and 1950s. On a 1954 trip to Africa, he was seriously injured in two plane accidents on successive days, leaving him in pain and ill health for much of the rest of his life. In 1959, he bought a house in Ketchum, Idaho, where, on July 2, 1961 (a couple weeks before his 62nd birthday), he killed himself using one of his shotguns.
Hemingway was raised in Oak Park, Illinois. After high school, he spent six months as a cub reporter for The Kansas City Star before enlisting in the Red Cross. He served as an ambulance driver on the Italian Front in World War I and was seriously wounded in 1918. His wartime experiences formed the basis for his 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms. He married Hadley Richardson in 1921, the first of four wives. They moved to Paris where he worked as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star and fell under the influence of the modernist writers and artists of the 1920s' "Lost Generation" expatriate community. His debut novel The Sun Also Rises was published in 1926.
He divorced Richardson in 1927 and married Pauline Pfeiffer. They divorced after he returned from the Spanish Civil War, where he had worked as a journalist and which formed the basis for his 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. Martha Gellhorn became his third wife in 1940. He and Gellhorn separated after he met Mary Welsh Hemingway in London during World War II. Hemingway was present with Allied troops as a journalist at the Normandy landings and the liberation of Paris. He maintained permanent residences in Key West, Florida, in the 1930s and in Cuba in the 1940s and 1950s. On a 1954 trip to Africa, he was seriously injured in two plane accidents on successive days, leaving him in pain and ill health for much of the rest of his life. In 1959, he bought a house in Ketchum, Idaho, where, on July 2, 1961 (a couple weeks before his 62nd birthday), he killed himself using one of his shotguns.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 16, 2026
La historia sucede en un pequeño pueblo de Michigan entre un hombre, Jim, el herrero del pueblo, y una mujer, Liz, que trabaja para la familia con la que Jim come habitualmente. Sabemos de la época en la que suceden los hechos por la cita que se hace a James G. Blaine, expresidente de la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos entre 1863 y 1876. Los papeles del hombre y la mujer son los tradicionales, la mujer al cuidado del hombre, y el hombre… bueno, el hombre haciendo lo que le da la gana. Liz está enamorada secretamente de Jim que apenas le hace caso… hasta que se lo hace.
Un relato muy breve y eficaz, del primer libro que publicó el autor, y sorprendente dada la fama de “macho misógino” que siempre ha tenido Hemingway (la novelista irlandesa Edna O’Brien dijo acerca del relato: “Pediría a sus detractores, mujeres u hombres, que leyeran ese relato. ¿Podrían decir entonces que se trata de un escritor que no entiende las emociones de las mujeres y que odia a las mujeres? No podrían. Nadie podría”).
De «Antología del cuento norteamericano» seleccionada por Richard Ford
December 15, 2015
Not Sexist
This story is about an older guy who mistreats and takes a young gal for granted. The guy is a pig and that is Hemingway's point just like it is in his similar and equally brutal "Hills Like White Elephants". Some reviewers mistake this description of sexist behavior as approval of sexist behavior. It is quite the opposite. Hemingway exposes callous exploitation for what it is--in this case a jerk grabbing sex off a naive girl he doesn't care about.
Hemingway is often accused of misogyny, but I have come to think he has gotten a bad rap. Stories like this leave a bad taste in one's mouth. Why? Because they demonstrate and in their own subtle way condemn casual cruelty.
This story is about an older guy who mistreats and takes a young gal for granted. The guy is a pig and that is Hemingway's point just like it is in his similar and equally brutal "Hills Like White Elephants". Some reviewers mistake this description of sexist behavior as approval of sexist behavior. It is quite the opposite. Hemingway exposes callous exploitation for what it is--in this case a jerk grabbing sex off a naive girl he doesn't care about.
Hemingway is often accused of misogyny, but I have come to think he has gotten a bad rap. Stories like this leave a bad taste in one's mouth. Why? Because they demonstrate and in their own subtle way condemn casual cruelty.
Read
January 12, 2026Here is Hemingway at his best: showing the male animal at his worst. (Richard Yates mentioned Up In Michigan in his short story titled Builders. It's unclear if Yates idealized Hemingway, despised him, or merely envied him. However, I suspect it was the latter. Personally, my feelings about Hemingway lie somewhere in the middle.)
October 28, 2024
Sobering sad short story starts off with the promise of a pleasant small town romance between Liz and Jim.
Liz works at Smith’s hostelry where Jim, the newly arrived blacksmith, down from Canada, takes his meals. Liz likes Jim a lot and cannot stop thinking about him. For Jim’s part: ‘He liked her face because it was so jolly, but he never thought about her.’ (p1).
After a hunting trip with other men, Jim drinks a lot of whisky, spies Liz waiting, and ends up forcing himself upon her without her consent.
Harrowing.
One of three stories and ten poems by Hemingway published privately in Paris in 1923 and later included in other volumes
Liz works at Smith’s hostelry where Jim, the newly arrived blacksmith, down from Canada, takes his meals. Liz likes Jim a lot and cannot stop thinking about him. For Jim’s part: ‘He liked her face because it was so jolly, but he never thought about her.’ (p1).
After a hunting trip with other men, Jim drinks a lot of whisky, spies Liz waiting, and ends up forcing himself upon her without her consent.
Harrowing.
One of three stories and ten poems by Hemingway published privately in Paris in 1923 and later included in other volumes
November 25, 2025
"I was writing about up in Michigan and since it was a wild, cold blowing day it was that sort of day in the story."
Ernest Hemingway, Up In Michigan
Haunting. I’m still thinking about it, even though I finished reading it a couple of hours ago.
This is one of Hemingway’s short stories. I had never heard of it before, and found it purely by chance.
As I’ve written in other reviews, I seem to be more of a fan of Hemingway short stories than his novels. I’ve read a lot of them by now, and most of them are quite good. I think only one or two, have a rated less than three.
As dozens of other reviewers have said, this is about a young, very innocent girl, whose falls for a much older guy, and gets much more than she bargained for. And yes, as others have said, it is a story about rape, and so it could be triggering.
The story starts out sweetly innocently, just like her crush on the elusive Jim. I honestly had no idea where this one was going.
It was a short and brutal, read, and had a stark realism to it. The only reason I didn’t give it a four is because, and I’ve noticed this before with Hemingway, his short stories are so good, but they end way to abruptly, and in this case, I really would’ve liked a little more meat to the story, and to get to know the protagonist a bit more.
I guess this is the inherent problem in short stories, themselves, but I have to say this was this was probably the most brutal of any story I’ve read by him. I’m not a natural Hemingway fan. I’ve tried to be, but I’m not one of those people who just gushes over everything he wrote. I do that more with Edgar Allan Poe, and John Steinbeck.
But Hemingway really captured being inside the young girls, mind, the infatuation, and then the brutal realization. Of course I would recommend it, but I would say brace yourself and make sure you’re in a decent mood when you read it.
Ernest Hemingway, Up In Michigan
Haunting. I’m still thinking about it, even though I finished reading it a couple of hours ago.
This is one of Hemingway’s short stories. I had never heard of it before, and found it purely by chance.
As I’ve written in other reviews, I seem to be more of a fan of Hemingway short stories than his novels. I’ve read a lot of them by now, and most of them are quite good. I think only one or two, have a rated less than three.
As dozens of other reviewers have said, this is about a young, very innocent girl, whose falls for a much older guy, and gets much more than she bargained for. And yes, as others have said, it is a story about rape, and so it could be triggering.
The story starts out sweetly innocently, just like her crush on the elusive Jim. I honestly had no idea where this one was going.
It was a short and brutal, read, and had a stark realism to it. The only reason I didn’t give it a four is because, and I’ve noticed this before with Hemingway, his short stories are so good, but they end way to abruptly, and in this case, I really would’ve liked a little more meat to the story, and to get to know the protagonist a bit more.
I guess this is the inherent problem in short stories, themselves, but I have to say this was this was probably the most brutal of any story I’ve read by him. I’m not a natural Hemingway fan. I’ve tried to be, but I’m not one of those people who just gushes over everything he wrote. I do that more with Edgar Allan Poe, and John Steinbeck.
But Hemingway really captured being inside the young girls, mind, the infatuation, and then the brutal realization. Of course I would recommend it, but I would say brace yourself and make sure you’re in a decent mood when you read it.
May 5, 2020
Trigger warning: this story depicts rape, but not in an overly graphic or lengthy manner
This is only my 2nd Hemingway short story, so I can't compare this to his other works, but it's definitely a story that doesn't pull any punches. It's a quick and brutal commentary highlighting the age-old conundrum of a woman being both a victim and a willing participant in a sexual encounter.
I didn't think much of the story at first and then I started reading reviews, reflecting, and saw how it really taps into modern society and gender relations. Didn't expect this kind of commentary from Hemingway for some reason; guess I don't know Hemingway and now I'll have to acquaint myself.
I do want to state: this story is about rape, regardless of the woman's flailing desires. The moment Liz says "Don't" or "You musn't, Jim" and he counters with "I got to. I'm going to. You know we got to," she becomes a victim. I don't see how or when it becomes a love story, not even when she lovingly tends to him at the end of the story.
We know from the start how conflicted she feels in her desire for him; her confusion is clear, and also let's be honest: in 1923, women weren't allowed to feel the way our main character feels. Women have always been victim to the double standard of desirous natures. For many (I daresay, most) women of this time, acknowledging one's sexual desire was tantamount to lunacy.
Of additional concern for today's reader in our modern rape culture: Liz is sober, Jim is drunk, and that seems to add a new consideration to how things might have played out had both been intoxicated. Would she be as innocent if she'd been drinking with the guys? Good questions to consider, thanks to Hemingway (mind blown).
The emotional twist in the story for me was when Liz tenderly kisses Jim on the mouth and covers him with her coat, as if he didn't just drunkenly violate her. The last few lines certainly leave you thinking hard about her true intentions and desires toward Jim.
The writing is sparse, quite choppy, but apparently very appropriate for the pace of the story. The only reason I don't rate higher is because the story ended so abruptly, I turned the page and thought "Now what?" I need to know more, but I'm sure that was the point, to leave the reader hanging emotionally, as in "How am I supposed to feel about what just happened? Oh, the author isn't going to tell me how to feel? O-K."
Wow, Hemingway...I revised my initial thoughts and raised my rating by a whole star. Good on you.
This is only my 2nd Hemingway short story, so I can't compare this to his other works, but it's definitely a story that doesn't pull any punches. It's a quick and brutal commentary highlighting the age-old conundrum of a woman being both a victim and a willing participant in a sexual encounter.
I didn't think much of the story at first and then I started reading reviews, reflecting, and saw how it really taps into modern society and gender relations. Didn't expect this kind of commentary from Hemingway for some reason; guess I don't know Hemingway and now I'll have to acquaint myself.
I do want to state: this story is about rape, regardless of the woman's flailing desires. The moment Liz says "Don't" or "You musn't, Jim" and he counters with "I got to. I'm going to. You know we got to," she becomes a victim. I don't see how or when it becomes a love story, not even when she lovingly tends to him at the end of the story.
We know from the start how conflicted she feels in her desire for him; her confusion is clear, and also let's be honest: in 1923, women weren't allowed to feel the way our main character feels. Women have always been victim to the double standard of desirous natures. For many (I daresay, most) women of this time, acknowledging one's sexual desire was tantamount to lunacy.
Of additional concern for today's reader in our modern rape culture: Liz is sober, Jim is drunk, and that seems to add a new consideration to how things might have played out had both been intoxicated. Would she be as innocent if she'd been drinking with the guys? Good questions to consider, thanks to Hemingway (mind blown).
The emotional twist in the story for me was when Liz tenderly kisses Jim on the mouth and covers him with her coat, as if he didn't just drunkenly violate her. The last few lines certainly leave you thinking hard about her true intentions and desires toward Jim.
The writing is sparse, quite choppy, but apparently very appropriate for the pace of the story. The only reason I don't rate higher is because the story ended so abruptly, I turned the page and thought "Now what?" I need to know more, but I'm sure that was the point, to leave the reader hanging emotionally, as in "How am I supposed to feel about what just happened? Oh, the author isn't going to tell me how to feel? O-K."
Wow, Hemingway...I revised my initial thoughts and raised my rating by a whole star. Good on you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2019
As my professor at university said "it's a story about a woman, Liz, being raped by a 'man', Jim". Nothing good about it, except for Hemingway's writing.
April 19, 2015
The story came out choppy, with short sentences. The majority of it explained in summary, and Hemingway uses the passive voice often, sometimes three times in a single sentence. These are rules I'm learning not to break.
But this is Hemingway. I still loved the story. It was pleasurable and entertaining. Hemingway tells a story but the reader has to look between the lines to get it. I like that about his short stories.
But this is Hemingway. I still loved the story. It was pleasurable and entertaining. Hemingway tells a story but the reader has to look between the lines to get it. I like that about his short stories.
November 8, 2020
I'm going to break my review down into two parts as part of this story could be upsetting to someone reading this review.
I didn't enjoy Hemigway's style of writing when I first started reading this short story; it wasn't the Hemingway I know. However, upon reading further I realised that this was a stylistic choice used to reflect Liz and how she thinks. Liz is a small town girl who becomes infatuated with the new man from Canada in town, Jim Gilmore. Liz begins to explore her own sexuality and feelings for Jim in this story, although for most of the story they are unrequited.
Trigger Warning - Discussion of Rape
I didn't enjoy Hemigway's style of writing when I first started reading this short story; it wasn't the Hemingway I know. However, upon reading further I realised that this was a stylistic choice used to reflect Liz and how she thinks. Liz is a small town girl who becomes infatuated with the new man from Canada in town, Jim Gilmore. Liz begins to explore her own sexuality and feelings for Jim in this story, although for most of the story they are unrequited.
Trigger Warning - Discussion of Rape
There was a mist coming up from the bay. She was cold and miserable and everything felt gone.
April 8, 2020
A short story written in 1921 by Hemingway involving a romantic encounter between Liz Coates and Jim Gilmore the town blacksmith. The romantic encounter becomes a sexual encounter as Hemingway's words describes Jim forcing himself on Liz in great detail without her consent. Quite a story for the 1920's. Very descriptive story it was hard for me to believe it was coming from Hemingway. I will give him the benefit of the doubt that Hemingway is writing this to condemn men who act in this matter. Seen in the contemporary era one is left with distaste for the tension between sexual desire and consent. Whatever his reason for writing this tale put your thinking cap on it quite a story.
October 22, 2015
Dramatic portrayal of how innocent we all are, especially concerning the frustrating emotion of love. It shows how different men and women think and ultimately act based upon how we think. This short six page story basically displays the entirety of life's good and bad; summarized through the hopes of love.
February 20, 2020
The short, choppy sentences quicken the pace and provide a lot of momentum, but toward what? It's just a quick little story of a drunk guy raping a girl and falling asleep. No consequence. Not even her hatred. She kisses him on the mouth and covers him with her coat as he sleeps after the act.
January 23, 2015
Stunning portrayal of the brutality of life in 6 pages. Just wow.
March 7, 2019
A short story by Ernest Hemingway about a girl who thinks she knows what she wants, but when that man takes advantage of her just because she likes him, things aren't as she expected or wanted.
January 8, 2023
This story ended up being difficult to read, did not enjoy it ultimately.
September 12, 2018
براي اولين بار همينگوي منو تحت تاثير قرار داد...،
December 23, 2019
I was promised I would be taken somewhere but I have a hard time comprehending where was I supposed to be taken.
April 12, 2021
Very short story. Not much to it but some lovely word pictures.
October 23, 2025
currently reading a collection of short stories by hemingway. i loved all i’ve read so far (no surprises) but this one shocked me. it’s a harrowing story about Liz being raped by Jim. it’s also one of the greatest things ive ever read.
it’s beautiful, Liz is beautiful. it’s 5 pages long, you should read it
it’s beautiful, Liz is beautiful. it’s 5 pages long, you should read it
January 3, 2024
What’s with this 5th grade level storytelling?
August 12, 2025
2.5
Obligada a leerlo por la facu, voluntariamente odio a Jim
Obligada a leerlo por la facu, voluntariamente odio a Jim
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2022
Jeg tror jeg aldri har lest en så forståelsesfull historie om overgrep og fra kvinnens perspektiv! Hele miksen hun følte av å ville det og ikke ville det, at faktisk hun hadde brukt hele tiden før det på å crushe på han være tiltrukket av han mens han ikke var interessert før han hadde drukket litt mye en kveld. Og bare det at hun kysset ham på kinnet etterpå før hun gråt. Fy søren Hemingway, I’m In awe!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2021
I think, it is very rare to find someone who can differentiate between love and lust. And it pains me how much Liz likes (?) Jim , and so even without her consent, he goes and touch her, she still care for him ever so much.
An effort to read between the lines are much needed, for Hemingway's are a very deep man. But this story is heartbreaking in its own short way.
An effort to read between the lines are much needed, for Hemingway's are a very deep man. But this story is heartbreaking in its own short way.
Read
January 5, 2021I loved the main character. Liz was hard and memorable. And I realized I read this story once as a child--rape scene totally going over my head, I guess?--and loved Liz then, too. So that should say something.
June 7, 2016
This is not a story about rape, but I can see how many people could take it that way.
The word I would use for this is "unsettling," but there is a harsh cord of humanity in this.
The word I would use for this is "unsettling," but there is a harsh cord of humanity in this.
August 18, 2016
Simple plot. Desire and deception, love it.
February 24, 2022
"Up in Michigan" is a sad story of a young girl and finding her idealized thoughts taken down in an instant. Hemingway shows us the brutality of a drunk man to a young girl. This was disturbing for me because of the slightly written sexual aspect, I am not into her about sex details in books, I read books that it happens but being a witness is somewhere I didn't want to go, that is why I steer away from modern novels, but this was Hemingway and I was already reading, though his writing is probably virginal compared what they publish today. I indeed saw his point, that is why this is hard to forget.
"Liz Coates worked for Smith’s. Mrs. Smith, who was a very large clean woman, said Liz Coates was the neatest girl she’d ever seen. Liz had good legs and always wore clean gingham aprons and Jim noticed that her hair was always neat behind. He liked her face because it was so jolly but he never thought about her."
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert ❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
This story is disturbing yet I know that Liz's ideas of romance and love have changed after her idol, Jim rapes her. His age is uncertain as is hers, except she is young. She dreams of him noticing her and she gives him a special treat she baked for him for his hunting trip, though we have no idea what that is. Jim rarely thinks of her except she has a nice face and is jolly. She thinks of him far better than he actually is. He comes back and is extremely drunk, while Liz staying up later to see him before dreaming of him, starts to fondle her which excites her, she goes with him not thinking that he is going to rape her and with a careless, drunken, caring only for sex and not her gratification. She tells him they shouldn't and it hurts but he tells her they must. She leaves him for right after he is in a drunken sleep. Crying, she goes home with all her ideas of romance crushed. What I want to know what happens in the morning? Does she still like him or hate him? Will she continue to think of him though not in the same way but still want him to love her? Does he even remember? When he sees her coat on him will that bring it back? Will he hate himself for what he did? Will he decide that he must repair and marry her? Will he just ignore her or will he use her as he did and not care for any kind of relationship with her? That is what I wonder about.
"Liz liked Jim very much. She liked it the way he walked over from the shop and often went to the kitchen door to watch for him to start down the road. She liked it about his mustache. She liked it about how white his teeth were when he smiled. She liked it very much that he didn’t look like a blacksmith. She liked it how much D. J. Smith and Mrs. Smith liked Jim."
"All the time now Liz was thinking about Jim Gilmore. He didn’t seem to notice her much."
"All the time Jim was gone on the deer hunting trip Liz thought about him. It was awful while he was gone. She couldn’t sleep well from thinking about him but she discovered it was fun to think about him too. If she let herself go it was better. The night before they were to come back she didn’t sleep at all, that is she didn’t think she slept because it was all mixed up in a dream about not sleeping and really not sleeping. When she saw the wagon coming down the road she felt weak and sick sort of inside. She couldn’t wait till she saw Jim and it seemed as though everything would be all right when he came. The wagon stopped outside under the big elm and Mrs. Smith and
Liz went out. All the men had beards and there were three deer in the back of the wagon, their thin legs sticking stiff over the edge of the wagon box. Mrs. Smith kissed D. J. and he hugged her. Jim said “Hello, Liz,” and grinned. Liz hadn’t known just what would happen when Jim got back but she was sure it would be something. Nothing had happened. The men were just home, that was all. Jim pulled the burlap sacks off the deer and Liz looked at them. One was a big buck. It was stiff and hard to lift out of the wagon."
"It was a good dinner. The men ate seriously. After supper they went into the front room again and Liz cleaned off with Mrs. Smith. Then Mrs. Smith went upstairs and pretty soon Smith came out and went upstairs too. Jim and Charley were still in the front room. Liz was sitting in the kitchen next to the stove pretending to read a book and thinking about Jim. She didn’t want to go to bed yet because she knew Jim would be coming out and she wanted to see him as he went out so she could take the way he looked up to bed with her."
"Liz leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He was still asleep. She lifted his head a little and shook it. He rolled his head over and swallowed. Liz started to cry. She walked over to the edge of the dock and looked down to the water. There was a mist coming up from the bay. She was cold and miserable and everything felt gone. She walked back to where Jim was lying and shook him once more to make sure. She was crying. “Jim,” she said, “Jim. Please, Jim.”
"Liz Coates worked for Smith’s. Mrs. Smith, who was a very large clean woman, said Liz Coates was the neatest girl she’d ever seen. Liz had good legs and always wore clean gingham aprons and Jim noticed that her hair was always neat behind. He liked her face because it was so jolly but he never thought about her."
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert ❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
This story is disturbing yet I know that Liz's ideas of romance and love have changed after her idol, Jim rapes her. His age is uncertain as is hers, except she is young. She dreams of him noticing her and she gives him a special treat she baked for him for his hunting trip, though we have no idea what that is. Jim rarely thinks of her except she has a nice face and is jolly. She thinks of him far better than he actually is. He comes back and is extremely drunk, while Liz staying up later to see him before dreaming of him, starts to fondle her which excites her, she goes with him not thinking that he is going to rape her and with a careless, drunken, caring only for sex and not her gratification. She tells him they shouldn't and it hurts but he tells her they must. She leaves him for right after he is in a drunken sleep. Crying, she goes home with all her ideas of romance crushed. What I want to know what happens in the morning? Does she still like him or hate him? Will she continue to think of him though not in the same way but still want him to love her? Does he even remember? When he sees her coat on him will that bring it back? Will he hate himself for what he did? Will he decide that he must repair and marry her? Will he just ignore her or will he use her as he did and not care for any kind of relationship with her? That is what I wonder about.
"Liz liked Jim very much. She liked it the way he walked over from the shop and often went to the kitchen door to watch for him to start down the road. She liked it about his mustache. She liked it about how white his teeth were when he smiled. She liked it very much that he didn’t look like a blacksmith. She liked it how much D. J. Smith and Mrs. Smith liked Jim."
"All the time now Liz was thinking about Jim Gilmore. He didn’t seem to notice her much."
"All the time Jim was gone on the deer hunting trip Liz thought about him. It was awful while he was gone. She couldn’t sleep well from thinking about him but she discovered it was fun to think about him too. If she let herself go it was better. The night before they were to come back she didn’t sleep at all, that is she didn’t think she slept because it was all mixed up in a dream about not sleeping and really not sleeping. When she saw the wagon coming down the road she felt weak and sick sort of inside. She couldn’t wait till she saw Jim and it seemed as though everything would be all right when he came. The wagon stopped outside under the big elm and Mrs. Smith and
Liz went out. All the men had beards and there were three deer in the back of the wagon, their thin legs sticking stiff over the edge of the wagon box. Mrs. Smith kissed D. J. and he hugged her. Jim said “Hello, Liz,” and grinned. Liz hadn’t known just what would happen when Jim got back but she was sure it would be something. Nothing had happened. The men were just home, that was all. Jim pulled the burlap sacks off the deer and Liz looked at them. One was a big buck. It was stiff and hard to lift out of the wagon."
"It was a good dinner. The men ate seriously. After supper they went into the front room again and Liz cleaned off with Mrs. Smith. Then Mrs. Smith went upstairs and pretty soon Smith came out and went upstairs too. Jim and Charley were still in the front room. Liz was sitting in the kitchen next to the stove pretending to read a book and thinking about Jim. She didn’t want to go to bed yet because she knew Jim would be coming out and she wanted to see him as he went out so she could take the way he looked up to bed with her."
"Liz leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He was still asleep. She lifted his head a little and shook it. He rolled his head over and swallowed. Liz started to cry. She walked over to the edge of the dock and looked down to the water. There was a mist coming up from the bay. She was cold and miserable and everything felt gone. She walked back to where Jim was lying and shook him once more to make sure. She was crying. “Jim,” she said, “Jim. Please, Jim.”
February 8, 2020
The short story "Up in Michigan" by Ernest Hemingway is a kind of love story. "Kind of" because the writer along with the romantic plot describes a realistic, physical part of love.
The story is about simple people who live in a small village somewhere in Michigan.
The feeling of sympathy toward the main character, a young woman who is in love with the blacksmith who came to the village, and the actions of her desired man can arise a controversial attitude of readers.
Making our own opinion about the story is a good reason to read it...
This is the link to the text of the story:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_Vh6...
The story is about simple people who live in a small village somewhere in Michigan.
The feeling of sympathy toward the main character, a young woman who is in love with the blacksmith who came to the village, and the actions of her desired man can arise a controversial attitude of readers.
Making our own opinion about the story is a good reason to read it...
This is the link to the text of the story:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_Vh6...
January 16, 2024
TW TW TW TW SEXUAL ASSAULT TW TW TW TW
This was a very sweet story up until the obvious shift point where Jim coerces Liz into sexual activities. I first read it and I was like “damn that was brutal and such a stupid ending” but now I’m realizing that the whole point was Jim taking advantage of people. He stays with the Smith’s, fine, then takes advantage of Liz’s naïveté and adoration for him and only wants self sexual gratification. So gross, so sad, but unfortunately very common even 100 years later. Good work, Ernest!
This was a very sweet story up until the obvious shift point where Jim coerces Liz into sexual activities. I first read it and I was like “damn that was brutal and such a stupid ending” but now I’m realizing that the whole point was Jim taking advantage of people. He stays with the Smith’s, fine, then takes advantage of Liz’s naïveté and adoration for him and only wants self sexual gratification. So gross, so sad, but unfortunately very common even 100 years later. Good work, Ernest!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2026
TW for this short story and review of mine. I read this because of the title, and was disappointed the second he started touching her inappropriately. Why did he write this? I wish I understood why others think this is a good short story? Edit: After reading a review that said they were struck by how the girl kissed him on the cheek and draped a coat over him after he did such a horrible thing- I can see that there's a lot of depth I’m probably not clocking- like maybe this is commentary on how bad it was for women back then or something deeper idk
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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