avie_j's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Injury/injury detail
jojung_15's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
EN: How I missed the clarity and depth of Hermann Hesse! I was hoping for a revival of my experience with "Steppenwolf" – and I can say my wish was fulfilled. Now comes one more book I'll always recommend.
"Demian" (1919) is the coming-of-age story of Emil Sinclair – a middle class schoolboy who (un)consciously sets himself on a journey of self-discovery and individuation. In his struggles to make meaning and take position in a pre-I World War arena, someone offers company and guidance – the enigmatic Max Demian. What follows is a simple, but rich exposition of thoughts, situations and challenges that was very hard for me not to be affected by – intelectually and emotionally.
I'd stop at a lot of paragraphs to process the 1001 reflections they inspired. The book is filled with imaginative, but comprehensible explorations of concepts Hesse borrowed from psychoanalyst Carl Jung – to my delight. I have nothing to criticise – to me, this is flawless piece of art, to which I hope to return soon.
— Jo. 🐞🍀
–#–#–#–
PT: Quantas saudades já tinha da clareza e profundidade de Hermann Hesse! Esperava um retorno à minha experiência com "O Lobo das Estepes" – e posso dizer que a leitura satisfez os meus desejos. Cá vem mais uma das minhas recomendações eternas.
"Demian" (1919) é a história da juventude de Emil Sinclair – um estudante de classe média que (in)conscientemente se presta a uma jornada de autodescoberta e individuação. Nos seus esforços para atribuir sentido e assumir uma posição numa arena pré-I Guerra Mundial, alguém oferece-lhe companhia e orientação – o enigmático Max Demian. Segue-se uma exposição simples, mas rica de pensamentos, situações e desafios pela qual foi muito difícil não ser afectada – intelectual e emocionalmente.
Parei em vários parágrafos para processar as 1001 reflexões que inspiravam. O livro está repleto de explorações imaginativas, mas compreensíveis, de conceitos que Hesse apreendeu do psicanalista Carl Jung – para meu deleite. Não tenho nada a criticar – o livro é, para mim, uma obra de arte impecável, à qual espero voltar em breve.
— Jo. 🐞🍀
"Demian" (1919) is the coming-of-age story of Emil Sinclair – a middle class schoolboy who (un)consciously sets himself on a journey of self-discovery and individuation. In his struggles to make meaning and take position in a pre-I World War arena, someone offers company and guidance – the enigmatic Max Demian. What follows is a simple, but rich exposition of thoughts, situations and challenges that was very hard for me not to be affected by – intelectually and emotionally.
I'd stop at a lot of paragraphs to process the 1001 reflections they inspired. The book is filled with imaginative, but comprehensible explorations of concepts Hesse borrowed from psychoanalyst Carl Jung – to my delight. I have nothing to criticise – to me, this is flawless piece of art, to which I hope to return soon.
— Jo. 🐞🍀
–#–#–#–
PT: Quantas saudades já tinha da clareza e profundidade de Hermann Hesse! Esperava um retorno à minha experiência com "O Lobo das Estepes" – e posso dizer que a leitura satisfez os meus desejos. Cá vem mais uma das minhas recomendações eternas.
"Demian" (1919) é a história da juventude de Emil Sinclair – um estudante de classe média que (in)conscientemente se presta a uma jornada de autodescoberta e individuação. Nos seus esforços para atribuir sentido e assumir uma posição numa arena pré-I Guerra Mundial, alguém oferece-lhe companhia e orientação – o enigmático Max Demian. Segue-se uma exposição simples, mas rica de pensamentos, situações e desafios pela qual foi muito difícil não ser afectada – intelectual e emocionalmente.
Parei em vários parágrafos para processar as 1001 reflexões que inspiravam. O livro está repleto de explorações imaginativas, mas compreensíveis, de conceitos que Hesse apreendeu do psicanalista Carl Jung – para meu deleite. Não tenho nada a criticar – o livro é, para mim, uma obra de arte impecável, à qual espero voltar em breve.
— Jo. 🐞🍀
natxoney's review against another edition
4.0
3.75/5 “I realize today that nothing in the world is more distasteful to a man than to take the path that leads to himself.”
vishnu_balamurugan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ottiedot's review against another edition
4.0
First book of the year!
I feel ashamed that I haven't read it earlier as a bangtan fan haha but here I am now.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was short but heavily allegorical in an accessible way. However by the end the spirituality and philosophy got away from me a little and abstracted.
I'm always a sucker for metaphors for metamorphosis, adolescence, temptation, sin etc. and biblical motifs in my fiction. The homoerotic undertones here also make a lot of sense when I look back at the Wings short films lol.
My favourite quote is probably-
"The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born must destroy a world."
I feel ashamed that I haven't read it earlier as a bangtan fan haha but here I am now.
I enjoyed it quite a bit. It was short but heavily allegorical in an accessible way. However by the end the spirituality and philosophy got away from me a little and abstracted.
I'm always a sucker for metaphors for metamorphosis, adolescence, temptation, sin etc. and biblical motifs in my fiction. The homoerotic undertones here also make a lot of sense when I look back at the Wings short films lol.
My favourite quote is probably-
"The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born must destroy a world."
juliette_b's review against another edition
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
summerkidsread's review against another edition
3.0
Tergerak membaca buku ini karena BTS dengan segala teorinya dalam membuat video musik. It was great tho to be known the book, thanks to Namjoon!
I read it when I was in the first grade of senior high school. I think my opinion about the book at that time comparing to present time will be different. I would love to read it again in 2022.
At that time, I was entertained with the plot. The novel exposed how contrast between "good" and "bad" through Emil Sinclair and Franz Kromer. It told about Sinclair's youth journey which full of obstacles, rages, tears, pleasant, and fears. How Sinclair then finally met Demian; a person who taught him improving his self-acceptance.
I think it would be great to re-read, so I could understand better about the contents and back to here to write review.
I read it when I was in the first grade of senior high school. I think my opinion about the book at that time comparing to present time will be different. I would love to read it again in 2022.
At that time, I was entertained with the plot. The novel exposed how contrast between "good" and "bad" through Emil Sinclair and Franz Kromer. It told about Sinclair's youth journey which full of obstacles, rages, tears, pleasant, and fears. How Sinclair then finally met Demian; a person who taught him improving his self-acceptance.
I think it would be great to re-read, so I could understand better about the contents and back to here to write review.
ilarkive's review against another edition
4.0
Demian, o - come mi piace definirlo - Il Manifesto della filosofia nietzschiana è sostanzialmente un piccolo ma ricco saggio nella forma di romanzo; questo perché, a ben vedere, nell'opera non è tanto centrale il protagonista e le sue vicissitudini quanto il viaggio archetipico, universale, specifico (nel senso che è una costante della specie) verso la maturità. Viaggio che passa attraverso il collidere dell'apollineo (tutto ciò che è "chiaro", armonico e, nella storia, socialmente accettato) e del dionisiaco (ovvero ciò che è "oscuro" e quindi proibito, come la sessualità), attraverso la scoperta di quest'ultimo in tutto il suo fascino prorompente e corrosivo ma allo stesso tempo formativo, attraverso il nichilismo e la volontà di potenza, fino ad arrivare all'orizzonte ultimo, un "nuovo mondo" in cui il superomismo si affermi sulle morali stantie e sulle tradizioni paralizzanti. Herman Hesse fa propria la filosofia di Nietzsche, celebrandola apertamente in più punti ma somministrandole quel carattere aristocratico ed estetico tanto caro, ad esempio, al nostro connazionale d'Annunzio.
Si tratta indubbiamente di una lettura interessante e di una prosa sublime e di qualità, ma è un'opera rispetto la quale è necessario tenersi a debita distanza critica per non eccedere in quelle pretese vitalistiche ed elitarie che, quando si parla di Nietzsche, sono sempre dietro l'angolo.
Si tratta indubbiamente di una lettura interessante e di una prosa sublime e di qualità, ma è un'opera rispetto la quale è necessario tenersi a debita distanza critica per non eccedere in quelle pretese vitalistiche ed elitarie che, quando si parla di Nietzsche, sono sempre dietro l'angolo.