The Old Man and the Sea

I don't have much to say about this book except the following:

1. No it's not my favorite book. Yes, there are far better books out there. It's still a pretty good one, though.
2. I like it not because of the plot, prose, or theme but because it makes me feel something. You want the old man to succeed so badly, and you completely share in the transition from hopefulness, to euphoria, to dread, to despair, to helplessness and guilt, to acceptance, to peace. The simplicity of the story allows the emotions to take center stage.
3. Point me to another book in which the protagonists sets out to accomplish something, works harder than almost humanly possible, fails due to an unavoidable set of circumstances, and subsequently goes to sleep with a peaceful smile. Acceptance of failure in literature is almost always coupled with an intense psychological struggle, which in all honesty is fine. I just appreciate this ending's original take.
4.  The motifs just speak to me. Earthiness, peace, simplicity, acceptance, oneness with and knowledge of nature, the 'simple folk', calm reflection on life, the perspective of the old and wise - again, they elicit an emotional response.
5. Frankly, the ending itself does it. It's just fantastic. The old man is not defeated, because there is nothing to defeat in him - there is nothing but quiet purity and peace inside. It's so rare to see a character who is so peaceful without a tinge of apathy. And the final visual - lions playing on the beach - is fantastic.
6. It's not boring, guys. It's just slow-paced.