Episode notes
EP - 31 "Book Club 02" [The Old Man And The Sea By: Ernest Hemingway]
We’re back with the second chapter of our Slanted Attic Book Club Series, and this time we’re casting our nets deep into Ernest Hemingway’s legendary novella, The Old Man and the Sea. Host Tyler is joined by Graham, Coleman, Luis, and Hunter for a wide-ranging, reflective, and occasionally hilarious roundtable on one of the most quietly powerful stories ever written.
Meet the Panel:
Graham – A Tobacco Road native and lifelong Duke fan, Graham sharpened his sports edge at Virginia Tech and now splits his weekends between Hokie football and Premier League mornings with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Hunter – A VT grad who’s bounced from North Carolina hemp fields to Colorado cannabis farms, Hunter is back in Richmond, focusing on his golf game and locking down his spot as the most unpredictable guest in podcasting.
Coleman – Raised in Richmond, Coleman finds peace in the outdoors and live music, especially jam bands like Phish and Billy Strings. A loyal Hokie and long-suffering Blackhawks fan, he brings both insight and soul to every conversation.
Luis – Born in Mexico, raised in California, and educated at VT, Luis is a true renaissance man. He’s always building, always learning whether it’s in LA’s creative scene or on a mountain weekend escape.
In This Episode:
We open with a full recap of Santiago’s journey the old fisherman who refuses to quit. Then, the conversation flows into the deeper waters of Hemingway’s themes: perseverance, aging, pride, isolation, and how we define meaning in our personal battles.
We talk about how the simplicity of the story carries such weight and how it leaves so much open for interpretation. Was Santiago’s journey a victory or a quiet loss? Does the sea represent freedom or punishment? And how does the marlin mirror our own quests for purpose?
The group also compares The Old Man and the Sea to other works with similar tones from survival stories to meditative fiction and we share the takeaways that stuck with us most. Hunter talks connection to nature, Graham dives into symbolism, Luis explores philosophical undercurrents, and Coleman, of course, throws in a fishing story.
We round things out with overall thoughts and our final ratings:
- Coleman: 8.75/10
- Graham: 8.3/10
- Hunter: 9.1/10
- Luis: 9/10
- Tyler: 9.2/10
This episode is all about reflection on literature, on life, and on what it means to go out into deep water with nothing but hope, skill, and determination.
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