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itsthunderkid's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bucket's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this group of stories. Many (maybe all?) feature misfit men who like to write. Some of them are young, awkward and coming of age. Others are old, pretty successful, but still quite different from the people around them and struggling with that difference. Each of them seems like a shade of Mann himself - perhaps rolling them all together gives a bit of biographical insight.
The main novella (Death in Venice) was the most intriguing. Gustav meets a new muse who inspires him to write again, and then we watch him deteriorate as his passion becomes obsession. I also really enjoyed Tonio Kroger, and Mario and the Magician.
A Man and his Dog dragged on (and on), and The Blood of the Walsungs disturbed and fascinated me in equal measure.
The main novella (Death in Venice) was the most intriguing. Gustav meets a new muse who inspires him to write again, and then we watch him deteriorate as his passion becomes obsession. I also really enjoyed Tonio Kroger, and Mario and the Magician.
A Man and his Dog dragged on (and on), and The Blood of the Walsungs disturbed and fascinated me in equal measure.
garbo2garbo's review against another edition
4.0
Ahhh short stories.. novellas.. not my favourite type of read - I hate the emotional cut-off between each story! However, this was a book that I've had on my shelf for many years now and have kept meaning to read. I bought the book because I wanted to read Death In Venice - probably Mann's most famous novella. However, since this edition had the other novellas included I also read those. Below are my thoughts on each story..
Little Herr Friedman - A story of deformity, love, and suicide. Some parts are inferred rather than explicitly told, but still enjoyable.
The Joker - a story about wanting to live free from the constraints of society - to shun societal companionship - and yet realize that it denies you love and contentment.
The Road to the Churchyard - the shortest story in this collection, and yet still rather poignant. It is about a man who has lost his wife and 3 children - one was born dead, one died of illness, and the other malnutrition. Subsequently, he drinks. On his way to the Churchyard, he becomes angered with a boy who is riding his bicycle on the wrong part of the road. He becomes angered, and chases the boy down.
The boy gets away, and a crowd gathers around the man as he rages once more, and then collapses, seemingly dying. I think it's not insignificant that the boy on the bike was called Life. The man chases after Life, and yet life runs away from him. Very simple symbolism, yet very effective.
Gladius Dei - a short story about a cloaked man called Jerome who becomes enraged about a lustful painting of the Madonna on display in a popular art shop in the heart of Munich. A devout religious man, he confronts the shop owner with religious zeal, and demands the picture be burned, as it is a sinful, lustful painting in the cult of beauty. He gets thrown out, and sees before him all the sinful works of art that belong in the cult of beauty, and a righteous sword of God hanging above him in the sky. He shouts, "The sword of God over the Earth, swiftly and speedily."
Tristan - Progressing though the book, it is clear that Mann's style is advancing. I enjoyed this tale of patients in a sanatorium, and their friendship that hints at romantic intrigue, and certainly jealousy from Herr Spinell. Fundamental to this story is that Spinell only wishes to see the beauty in everything, to the point that in his written confrontation to Herr Kloterjahn he invents a beauty vision of Gabrielle
Tonio Kroger - one of the longer stories, it conveys, yet again the feelings of an outsider, literary genius, and stuck between the two cultures of his parents. Tonio is forever the outside - the richest kid in class, no social qualities, unconventional looking, always in a one-sided love, troubled by matters that appear largely due to his intellectual capabilities and over-thinking, outsider at the holiday ball.. forever ignored and feeling like he doesn't fit in. An extension of the author's own internal struggles?
Death In Venice - yet again centered around an intellectual, and famous writer, who is stuck in this ugly routine and order, and so decides to holiday in Venice. One thing I noticed was that everything was ugly and vulgar in this story, apart from Tadzio - a Greek-like image of beauty, of poise and upper class behaviour, of youth and innocence. Aschenbach has an awful journey to Venice (the weather, the criminal gondolier), he is described as being old with a leather face, the heat is disagreeable to him and makes him ill, the sickness of cholera spreading (with the details of the symptoms expressed for effect).. so much vulgarity, and yet he becomes entranced with Tadzio, who shines bright against the vulgarity and infatuates Aschenbach. Aschenbach holds the boy on another level - he is god-like and nothing he does is unfavourable. It comes to the point where Aschenbach stalks the child and feels he should die if he fails to see him - in fact he stays on in Venice despite knowing of the sickness because he cannot bare to part with the child, and in so suffers illness, and as Tadzio and his family leave, Aschenbach dies from sickness.. but also seemingly from the inability to part with the child he has become so entranced by.
I'm glad that I chose to read all of this collection because it certainly shows Mann's growth as a writer, but also chronicles how he revisits concepts and improves on them each time, or approaches the subject in an entirely different way. Nearly all stories included an intellectual, often a writer, and his struggles with the feeling of being an outsider, and yet each story was fresh and new and took on a different approach - many times showing the growth in Mann's maturity as a person and a writer.
The introduction is well worth a read, though I would recommend reading it after you have read the novellas. It gives a great background to Germany and the literary scene at the time of these novellas, as well as Mann's life and how this influenced his work, particularly referencing his inspiration from Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Wagner, and his interest in nihilism and naturalism. I will say, however, that if you haven't read Buddenbrooks then elements are revealed in the introduction which may spoil it for you..
I would definitely recommend this! Very interesting and thought-provoking. I found the Germanic literary style difficult at times - the vocabulary! Amazing! But, nevertheless, this was brilliant,and it is understandable that Mann's literary talents were recognized with a Nobel Prize.
I will definitely be picking up another Thomas Mann book in the future..
Little Herr Friedman - A story of deformity, love, and suicide. Some parts are inferred rather than explicitly told, but still enjoyable.
The Joker - a story about wanting to live free from the constraints of society - to shun societal companionship - and yet realize that it denies you love and contentment.
The Road to the Churchyard - the shortest story in this collection, and yet still rather poignant. It is about a man who has lost his wife and 3 children - one was born dead, one died of illness, and the other malnutrition. Subsequently, he drinks. On his way to the Churchyard, he becomes angered with a boy who is riding his bicycle on the wrong part of the road. He becomes angered, and chases the boy down.
The boy gets away, and a crowd gathers around the man as he rages once more, and then collapses, seemingly dying. I think it's not insignificant that the boy on the bike was called Life. The man chases after Life, and yet life runs away from him. Very simple symbolism, yet very effective.
Gladius Dei - a short story about a cloaked man called Jerome who becomes enraged about a lustful painting of the Madonna on display in a popular art shop in the heart of Munich. A devout religious man, he confronts the shop owner with religious zeal, and demands the picture be burned, as it is a sinful, lustful painting in the cult of beauty. He gets thrown out, and sees before him all the sinful works of art that belong in the cult of beauty, and a righteous sword of God hanging above him in the sky. He shouts, "The sword of God over the Earth, swiftly and speedily."
Tristan - Progressing though the book, it is clear that Mann's style is advancing. I enjoyed this tale of patients in a sanatorium, and their friendship that hints at romantic intrigue, and certainly jealousy from Herr Spinell. Fundamental to this story is that Spinell only wishes to see the beauty in everything, to the point that in his written confrontation to Herr Kloterjahn he invents a beauty vision of Gabrielle
Tonio Kroger - one of the longer stories, it conveys, yet again the feelings of an outsider, literary genius, and stuck between the two cultures of his parents. Tonio is forever the outside - the richest kid in class, no social qualities, unconventional looking, always in a one-sided love, troubled by matters that appear largely due to his intellectual capabilities and over-thinking, outsider at the holiday ball.. forever ignored and feeling like he doesn't fit in. An extension of the author's own internal struggles?
Death In Venice - yet again centered around an intellectual, and famous writer, who is stuck in this ugly routine and order, and so decides to holiday in Venice. One thing I noticed was that everything was ugly and vulgar in this story, apart from Tadzio - a Greek-like image of beauty, of poise and upper class behaviour, of youth and innocence. Aschenbach has an awful journey to Venice (the weather, the criminal gondolier), he is described as being old with a leather face, the heat is disagreeable to him and makes him ill, the sickness of cholera spreading (with the details of the symptoms expressed for effect).. so much vulgarity, and yet he becomes entranced with Tadzio, who shines bright against the vulgarity and infatuates Aschenbach. Aschenbach holds the boy on another level - he is god-like and nothing he does is unfavourable. It comes to the point where Aschenbach stalks the child and feels he should die if he fails to see him - in fact he stays on in Venice despite knowing of the sickness because he cannot bare to part with the child, and in so suffers illness, and as Tadzio and his family leave, Aschenbach dies from sickness.. but also seemingly from the inability to part with the child he has become so entranced by.
I'm glad that I chose to read all of this collection because it certainly shows Mann's growth as a writer, but also chronicles how he revisits concepts and improves on them each time, or approaches the subject in an entirely different way. Nearly all stories included an intellectual, often a writer, and his struggles with the feeling of being an outsider, and yet each story was fresh and new and took on a different approach - many times showing the growth in Mann's maturity as a person and a writer.
The introduction is well worth a read, though I would recommend reading it after you have read the novellas. It gives a great background to Germany and the literary scene at the time of these novellas, as well as Mann's life and how this influenced his work, particularly referencing his inspiration from Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Wagner, and his interest in nihilism and naturalism. I will say, however, that if you haven't read Buddenbrooks then elements are revealed in the introduction which may spoil it for you..
I would definitely recommend this! Very interesting and thought-provoking. I found the Germanic literary style difficult at times - the vocabulary! Amazing! But, nevertheless, this was brilliant,and it is understandable that Mann's literary talents were recognized with a Nobel Prize.
I will definitely be picking up another Thomas Mann book in the future..
skypager21's review against another edition
3.0
These stories were written in the early 1900s. Thomas Mann is most noted for his novels, Magic Mountain and Buddenbrooks. Sometimes with a novelist his short stories are like chapters from his longer novels. My favorite story, Tristan (as in Tristan and Isolde) took place in a sanitarium, as in Magic Mountain. Some of the stories seemed a little inward looking and excessively autobiographical. The highlight or the most well known story is Death in Venice, about a successful middle aged author who goes to Venice on vacation. The eerie and paranoid mood is a plus but the strange part is when he falls in love with a 15 year old boy. Different times I suppose.
crocokat's review against another edition
5.0
i loved the short story for the descriptions of Venice.
anesh's review against another edition
3.0
Though I found Mann's style to be a bit boring, I did find comfort in the similarities between his characters and my own ego. The motif of the outsider, the person who cannot fit in society's predetermined roles and must struggle to come to the facts that he will forever be on the outskirts, observing society rather than taking part in it, is one I am quite familiar with.
But while I still keep optimism in the ideas I form for stories I will never write, Mann's work overwhelmed me with sadness. I found this tone to be accentuated more in the way the stories trailed off without a finality, as if to suggest that this struggle he's been carrying within him for so much time will never let him go, that he had long lost hope to ever find peace of heart. T
How would I have loved to find out how the young Tadzio would react when his elder admirer finally approached him. But it was not written in the stars for the two to be acquainted and I suppose it was a parallel of sorts of the times that Mann lived in, when one was bound to keep their inner turmoils inside and though two kindred souls might recognize each other by their gaze, their association would be improbable.
But while I still keep optimism in the ideas I form for stories I will never write, Mann's work overwhelmed me with sadness. I found this tone to be accentuated more in the way the stories trailed off without a finality, as if to suggest that this struggle he's been carrying within him for so much time will never let him go, that he had long lost hope to ever find peace of heart. T
How would I have loved to find out how the young Tadzio would react when his elder admirer finally approached him. But it was not written in the stars for the two to be acquainted and I suppose it was a parallel of sorts of the times that Mann lived in, when one was bound to keep their inner turmoils inside and though two kindred souls might recognize each other by their gaze, their association would be improbable.
apolasky's review against another edition
3.0
This is a nice collection with several interesting recurring themes and literary resources throughout the stories. One of the main themes in Mann's work is that art corrupts the self and poses a threat against morality.
Personally, I enjoyed much more the stories told in first person because I found them much more fluid and their characters more relatable.
The resource I enjoyed the most was the use of characters in Wagner's work and from greek mythology as reference or inspiration. E.g.: Reason (Apollonius) vs passion (Dionysius).
If you are looking for a source of quotes that act as food for thought, this work by Thomas Mann is a great place to start.
If you are interested in descriptions of each story, keep scrolling down.
Death in Venice (3,5 stars)
This story focuses on the artist and the nature of art, mind vs heart and repressed passion that, in turn, evolves into obsession.
Here, Mann also criticizes modern life and bourgeoisie.
It is an interesting take on platonic love and its consequences but, unfortunately, it was considerably repetitive and lacking of character development.
Tonio Kröger (3 stars)
A main point in this work is the separation of the artistic world and everyday life, and the struggles of an artist trapped between both. This is related to his indecision and confusion in his love life.
The ending seemed unfinished and it didn't give closure to the story.
Mario and the magician (2 stars)
This one was simply boring. I struggled the most to finish it.
It portrays Italian fascism: controlling people's wills and freedom.
Criticism of artists.
Disorder and early sorrow (2,5 stars)
Loss of respect for the older members of a family.
Criticism of artists and disapproval within some levels of society.
A man and his dog (4,5 stars)
I loved the affectionate and heartfelt description of the dog. I found it interesting for the dog to be ´special´, and not just another pure breed specimen.
I think that it was unnecessary to dedicate a full and lengthy section to the description of the river zone.
On the other hand, the parts where he focused on describing the dog and its relationship with the family were far more enjoyable. Mann wrote a marvellous characterization of a dog, particularly its personality and conduct. I couldn't help to think of my own dogs while reading certain passages. It has now become one of my favorite stories about the relationship of man and his 'best friend'. It is, by far, my favorite of the 8 stories within the collection.
The blood of the Walsungs (2,5 stars)
Aestheticism, social status and superiority of classes.
Fiction turning into reality -within the story; 'art imitates art'.
Tristan (3,5 stars)
Escaping from reality through art, by modifying the facts that contain flaws the main character can't accept or cope with because it isn't up to his expectations.
It deals with suffering as an inner process that shapes our lives. Mann provides a brilliant portrayal of an artist suffering from his own self torturing.
Being inspired in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde, it serves as a literary portrayal of 'Life imitating art'.
Felix Krull (4 stars)
This work reflects the artistry in being a scammer. It is the perfect comedic depiction of the term 'con artist.'
Personally, I enjoyed much more the stories told in first person because I found them much more fluid and their characters more relatable.
The resource I enjoyed the most was the use of characters in Wagner's work and from greek mythology as reference or inspiration. E.g.: Reason (Apollonius) vs passion (Dionysius).
If you are looking for a source of quotes that act as food for thought, this work by Thomas Mann is a great place to start.
If you are interested in descriptions of each story, keep scrolling down.
Death in Venice (3,5 stars)
This story focuses on the artist and the nature of art, mind vs heart and repressed passion that, in turn, evolves into obsession.
Here, Mann also criticizes modern life and bourgeoisie.
It is an interesting take on platonic love and its consequences but, unfortunately, it was considerably repetitive and lacking of character development.
Tonio Kröger (3 stars)
A main point in this work is the separation of the artistic world and everyday life, and the struggles of an artist trapped between both. This is related to his indecision and confusion in his love life.
The ending seemed unfinished and it didn't give closure to the story.
Mario and the magician (2 stars)
This one was simply boring. I struggled the most to finish it.
It portrays Italian fascism: controlling people's wills and freedom.
Criticism of artists.
Disorder and early sorrow (2,5 stars)
Loss of respect for the older members of a family.
Criticism of artists and disapproval within some levels of society.
A man and his dog (4,5 stars)
I loved the affectionate and heartfelt description of the dog. I found it interesting for the dog to be ´special´, and not just another pure breed specimen.
I think that it was unnecessary to dedicate a full and lengthy section to the description of the river zone.
On the other hand, the parts where he focused on describing the dog and its relationship with the family were far more enjoyable. Mann wrote a marvellous characterization of a dog, particularly its personality and conduct. I couldn't help to think of my own dogs while reading certain passages. It has now become one of my favorite stories about the relationship of man and his 'best friend'. It is, by far, my favorite of the 8 stories within the collection.
The blood of the Walsungs (2,5 stars)
Aestheticism, social status and superiority of classes.
Fiction turning into reality -within the story; 'art imitates art'.
Tristan (3,5 stars)
Escaping from reality through art, by modifying the facts that contain flaws the main character can't accept or cope with because it isn't up to his expectations.
It deals with suffering as an inner process that shapes our lives. Mann provides a brilliant portrayal of an artist suffering from his own self torturing.
Being inspired in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde, it serves as a literary portrayal of 'Life imitating art'.
Felix Krull (4 stars)
This work reflects the artistry in being a scammer. It is the perfect comedic depiction of the term 'con artist.'
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