tom_f's review against another edition
2.0
Strong as a portent of the origins of totalitarianism, strong also in its specific observations of the fluctuations between doubt and certainty that are the result of Törless’ constant overthinking, weak as an attempt at disguising an amateur psychological thesis as a novel. The confusions advance in muddy tracts of prose that ruminate too long on abstract mental states. I feel like one of the teachers at the end.
antoniosantos's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars.
It's a good book, but tense and cruel at times, it basically deals with perversion, psychological/physical torture and severe bullying. it is very reflective, and makes crucial points to understand totalitarian and cruel systems through and a perspective of teenagers inside a boarding school.
It's a book from 1906 that brings up timeless themes, which is why it seems up-to-date.
It's a good book, but tense and cruel at times, it basically deals with perversion, psychological/physical torture and severe bullying. it is very reflective, and makes crucial points to understand totalitarian and cruel systems through and a perspective of teenagers inside a boarding school.
It's a book from 1906 that brings up timeless themes, which is why it seems up-to-date.
saenggangaji's review against another edition
5.0
my poor, poor basini and my unhappy, little torless.
anyway, as stupid as it sounds, the first chapter or two i related to torless quite a bit. but then he became sick and i no longer felt said connection. get better little boy ! don't be so deranged !
anyway, as stupid as it sounds, the first chapter or two i related to torless quite a bit. but then he became sick and i no longer felt said connection. get better little boy ! don't be so deranged !
polyglot_booklover's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tindows's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
_dunno_'s review against another edition
1.0
Such a generous subject but such a boring book. And now, as some1 around here said, I can reply to: "Have you read Musil's famous ?" with: "No, but I read his very first book. Have you?" :D
I'm almost sure I would have enjoyed it better if it had been written in the 1st person (I even liked Zeno more while reading Torless). The poetic (sometimes pathetic) language lost me. And all those philosophical perorations! Coming of age was never duller! I choose [b:The catcher in the rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165517671s/5107.jpg|3036731] and [b:The adventures of Huckleberry Finn|629740|Huckleberry Finn (Illus. Classics) (Illustrated Classics)|Mark Twain|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176488294s/629740.jpg|1835605] without even blinking. And as for adolescence cruelty & adventure, try [b:Lords of the flies|7624|Lord of the Flies|William Golding|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165637417s/7624.jpg|2766512].
Now let's get down to some serious reading.
I'm almost sure I would have enjoyed it better if it had been written in the 1st person (I even liked Zeno more while reading Torless). The poetic (sometimes pathetic) language lost me. And all those philosophical perorations! Coming of age was never duller! I choose [b:The catcher in the rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165517671s/5107.jpg|3036731] and [b:The adventures of Huckleberry Finn|629740|Huckleberry Finn (Illus. Classics) (Illustrated Classics)|Mark Twain|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176488294s/629740.jpg|1835605] without even blinking. And as for adolescence cruelty & adventure, try [b:Lords of the flies|7624|Lord of the Flies|William Golding|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165637417s/7624.jpg|2766512].
Now let's get down to some serious reading.
trouvaille21's review against another edition
2.0
i was tempted to give it one star but i still didn't dislike it as much as The Book Thief soooooo i'll be generous and give it 2