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jj2020's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual content
katewhite77's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is Quite Unlike Anything I Have Read Before
It's the story of Siddatha and his journey towards enlightenment whilst as a vehicle to share with the reader something of the Buddhist philosophy and invites us to reasess our own life.
I certainly came away with a renewed perspective on humankind's relationship with the natural world and our place within it. I am also going to try and meditate to centre myself more easily.
I don't think I would have attempted a text this were it were it not for Audrey's beautiful multimedia guide to add extra context and explain things along the way. I was also reading with a small group again so we could bounce ideas off each other and makes the text less intimidating and more enjoyable.
It's the story of Siddatha and his journey towards enlightenment whilst as a vehicle to share with the reader something of the Buddhist philosophy and invites us to reasess our own life.
I certainly came away with a renewed perspective on humankind's relationship with the natural world and our place within it. I am also going to try and meditate to centre myself more easily.
I don't think I would have attempted a text this were it were it not for Audrey's beautiful multimedia guide to add extra context and explain things along the way. I was also reading with a small group again so we could bounce ideas off each other and makes the text less intimidating and more enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
teeclecticreads's review
challenging
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I did a listen-a-thon to this on the Audrey app it was the perfect way to set the tone for my September. Siddhartha is a deeply introspective novel about the search for enlightenment and inner peace.
I love that there was the inclusion of a period where Siddhartha loses his way on his spiritual journey and gets involved in the world of capitalism, materialism and lust. It just reminded me that he was just as human with human desires as the rest of us, but he also eventually found his way.
Then the latter half I think was the most profound section of the novel. Him meeting the ferryman and gaining such great lessons about life and dealing with change. This is a book I’d recommend to everyone to read.
I love that there was the inclusion of a period where Siddhartha loses his way on his spiritual journey and gets involved in the world of capitalism, materialism and lust. It just reminded me that he was just as human with human desires as the rest of us, but he also eventually found his way.
Then the latter half I think was the most profound section of the novel. Him meeting the ferryman and gaining such great lessons about life and dealing with change. This is a book I’d recommend to everyone to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
lukel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Death of parent
poirot's review against another edition
inspiring
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Classism and Misogyny
Minor: Grief
solarorange's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
cptnstphy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
Siddhartha came at an important time of growth in my life, and I wish to own it now to re-read it annually as I navigate building my Self and spiritual awareness and beliefs. The most positive lasting effect this book had on me is that I now pause to meditate and/or listen to any river I encounter to hear its teachings (or to hear more clearly the inner workings of my mind).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
maess's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Death of parent
maricasement's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
3.5
First Read (2011): 4 stars
Re-read (2021): 3.5 stars
This book is about Hesse taking you on a journey to what he envisions of enlightenment*. It is a book made of cycles and of learning and relearning what the world is all about. In it, we follow Siddhartha on his own journey, and through it Hesse tries to help us holistically understand how the world is made up of cycles and how it is a big interconnected whole.
This is an interesting and reflective book. You become frustrated by Siddhartha (I call him Sidd) and the people around him, you follow his thoughts and learn from them too. Ten years ago, when I first read it, I felt so light when I finished it, like I belonged to the whole world and it belonged to me. I felt calm and accepting of everything going on around me.
Now, my view of the world has changed and the world itself has. I am much more worried about how to change our world for the better, to not accept the devastating effects we all have on the climate. A part of accepting our unity with the world and its cycles is grounded on the idea that these cycles will never end or truly change, but if we keep doing what we've always done and just let our planet get worse, these cycles will not survive its devastation.
Hesse's view of enlightenment* is beautiful and I do think that it is important to reflect upon many things that he does in this book. But I feel that his view also encourages complacency, and that is not something we can afford right now.
*I am aware that Hesse knew a lot about Hinduism and Buddhism and that this book is based on the religions' beliefs. I don't think he reached enlightenment himself, though, and I have no idea how faithful he is to what is taught by those who have reached it. Even if he is close to actual Buddhist teachings, I would rather not assume that his view of enlightenment and ones path to it are anything but that - his view. He does try to show in the book that people's ways of expressing what enlightenment is are different, so I don't think he'd mind me saying that what he writes is merely how he sees it, and not a universal truth. Please do correct me if I'm wrong.
Re-read (2021): 3.5 stars
This book is about Hesse taking you on a journey to what he envisions of enlightenment*. It is a book made of cycles and of learning and relearning what the world is all about. In it, we follow Siddhartha on his own journey, and through it Hesse tries to help us holistically understand how the world is made up of cycles and how it is a big interconnected whole.
This is an interesting and reflective book. You become frustrated by Siddhartha (I call him Sidd) and the people around him, you follow his thoughts and learn from them too. Ten years ago, when I first read it, I felt so light when I finished it, like I belonged to the whole world and it belonged to me. I felt calm and accepting of everything going on around me.
Now, my view of the world has changed and the world itself has. I am much more worried about how to change our world for the better, to not accept the devastating effects we all have on the climate. A part of accepting our unity with the world and its cycles is grounded on the idea that these cycles will never end or truly change, but if we keep doing what we've always done and just let our planet get worse, these cycles will not survive its devastation.
Hesse's view of enlightenment* is beautiful and I do think that it is important to reflect upon many things that he does in this book. But I feel that his view also encourages complacency, and that is not something we can afford right now.
*I am aware that Hesse knew a lot about Hinduism and Buddhism and that this book is based on the religions' beliefs. I don't think he reached enlightenment himself, though, and I have no idea how faithful he is to what is taught by those who have reached it. Even if he is close to actual Buddhist teachings, I would rather not assume that his view of enlightenment and ones path to it are anything but that - his view. He does try to show in the book that people's ways of expressing what enlightenment is are different, so I don't think he'd mind me saying that what he writes is merely how he sees it, and not a universal truth. Please do correct me if I'm wrong.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
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