Reviews

Демиан by Герман Гессe

debonairsaltydog's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

hazure_cyan's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

bettiiinaaaaaa's review against another edition

2.0

Ein Klassiker, der sprachlich modern geblieben ist. Wer "Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray" mochte, wird dieses Buch vielleicht auch lieb gewinnen. 

Die Geschichte dreht sich um das Leben des Emil Sinclair und seine Begegnung mit Max Demian. In Teilen wird das Buch sehr religiös und philosophisch, war mir von der Handlung auch an vielen Stellen zu dünn. Auch die Charaktere waren mir (bis auf den Protagonisten) zu flach. Wer auf eine spannende Erzählung hofft, ist hier vielleicht falsch, der große Knall bleibt aus. 

Pluspunkte für Szenen, die man durchaus in einer queeren Lesart deuten kann. 

joyxia's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

theuncultured's review against another edition

3.0

I'm not very fond of coming-to-age stories (an exception would be Salinger), and having just finished Orwell's essay on his days in prep school (which bored the wits out of me), I wasn't excited when I was looking for something to read and the only book I had in my possession was Demian. However, once I read the first 3 pages I was filled to the brim with consciousness, and hated myself a little to have judged the book too soon. I should know by now not to have any doubts about Hesse again. This book is about Emil Sinclair, a boy who finds himself unraveling conventional thought from his head and digging deep into his interior reality for something that is much more natural to him than what he has been taught. The story is dramatically inclined to psychology, extremely philosophical, dreamily poetic, and will completely leave you with a silky feeling in your throat.

dajanplackovic's review against another edition

1.0

While the narrative seems promising at certain early points, it soon devolves into the standard Hesse mish-mash of barely meaningful philosophy, confusing oedipal fantasies disguised as deep thoughts about the self and the like, the ending being particularly disappointing. Despite this, it's not too bad.

miinaa_tabti95's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

eternalspring's review against another edition

4.0

woah. what was that last chapter.

4.5 stars but lets see how i feel about that rating after i read a few chapters again... i still cannot believe it took me so long to read this book, especially since i had it sitting on my shelf for 5 years.

amiboughter's review against another edition

4.0

“At this point a sharp realization burned within me: each man has his “function” but none which he can choose himself, define, or perform as he pleases. It was wrong to desire new gods, completely wrong to want to provide the world with something. An enlightened man had but one duty—to seek the way to himself, to reach inner certainty, to grope his way forward, no matter where it led.”

na0mi8's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75