A review by lunajarvis_
The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.0
I am really divided on this book, it has been a long undertaking and I’ve been reading it on and off for months really. The beginning filled me with such an ambition and lust for knowledge and the world, to learn like Knecht, to express the Castalian Spirit through all my actions.
And then it ended so poorly, I am more confused than anything. It was so unsatisfactory I would so much rather an open ended finish than whatever naff ending Hesse employed. To be honest I was so disappointed by the end I skipped all the poems and posthumous writings tacked on the end of this book.
In general I love the fake biography style, although admittedly not consistent throughout the book - Hesse gets carried away in a very narrative style in sections which I do enjoy but seems weird when it comes back to the biographers meta-comments. It is definitely dense and i’m some places boring, but the spirit of much of the book is unrivalled to me.
And then it ended so poorly, I am more confused than anything. It was so unsatisfactory I would so much rather an open ended finish than whatever naff ending Hesse employed. To be honest I was so disappointed by the end I skipped all the poems and posthumous writings tacked on the end of this book.
In general I love the fake biography style, although admittedly not consistent throughout the book - Hesse gets carried away in a very narrative style in sections which I do enjoy but seems weird when it comes back to the biographers meta-comments. It is definitely dense and i’m some places boring, but the spirit of much of the book is unrivalled to me.