Scan barcode
anabey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
david_rhee's review against another edition
3.0
Thomas Mann uses the Faustian legend in a novel which parallels the life of fictitious composer Adrian Leverkuhn and the fall of fascist Germany. My weak historical knowledge of the times in question (I'm more at home in Hellenic and Roman histories) disqualified me as one who is insightful enough to appreciate the scope of what Mann is attempting. It sure felt grand though and the tragic fall at the novel's conclusion carries significant impact. Although I speak as a reader who got lost often while reading this work, one can certainly sense the ambition behind it. Mann spoke with composers and researched the work of past musical figures in order to write competently in musical terms. One can only imagine what Mann is feeling as a German in America writing this work and watching the events of WWII unfold overseas.
llochner's review against another edition
2.0
Had to put this down for good at 140ish pages.
Just too dense for me. I had particular reservations about putting this one down, because I do think I was intriguied at where the story was going, how Adrian and Germany at the time and its various characters were being constructed, all very beautifully...but it all just took so tediously long to play out, with such frustrating and mundane (for myself, at least) digressions that I just couldn't wait this one out patiently.
I wanted to want to read this, but just found myself dreading trying to get through it every day. Caught myself skimming often, although whenever going back realized it would have been to my benefit not to suffer pointlessly through some of these passages. The digressions on music theory or airy theological musings and such were more than just mere digressions, they took up entire chapters by themselves. And while I understand they do serve a purpose in building very meticulously a sort of a portrait of Adrian and of Germany at the time, I just couldn’t bear through these digressions and appreciate whatever value they were intended to contribute. This is very dense reading and the pages move quite slowly.
This book from my understanding will reward those who give it patience. I may pick it back up someday later in life, but for now, I just don’t think it’s worth my time to feel like im pulling teeth. I may enjoy it by its end but that seemed a very long way off and don’t know that it’s worth the tedium to get there.
Just too dense for me. I had particular reservations about putting this one down, because I do think I was intriguied at where the story was going, how Adrian and Germany at the time and its various characters were being constructed, all very beautifully...but it all just took so tediously long to play out, with such frustrating and mundane (for myself, at least) digressions that I just couldn't wait this one out patiently.
I wanted to want to read this, but just found myself dreading trying to get through it every day. Caught myself skimming often, although whenever going back realized it would have been to my benefit not to suffer pointlessly through some of these passages. The digressions on music theory or airy theological musings and such were more than just mere digressions, they took up entire chapters by themselves. And while I understand they do serve a purpose in building very meticulously a sort of a portrait of Adrian and of Germany at the time, I just couldn’t bear through these digressions and appreciate whatever value they were intended to contribute. This is very dense reading and the pages move quite slowly.
This book from my understanding will reward those who give it patience. I may pick it back up someday later in life, but for now, I just don’t think it’s worth my time to feel like im pulling teeth. I may enjoy it by its end but that seemed a very long way off and don’t know that it’s worth the tedium to get there.
jonathanlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
This one hurts to rate, as after having read The Magic Mountain, which was one of the most transcendental reads I ever had, and Buddenbrooks, which was great, I could not make it through Doctor Faustus. 330 pages in and I threw in the towel. For me it was a complete slog. It's frustrating because even after this, if someone tells me this book is a masterpiece, I might even accept it. The book failed for me possibly because of the translation - it was the Lowe Porter translation which I've heard retains the literal meaning more than John Woods one, who opts to preserve the style and flow. The book may also not have worked because of the deep delve into music composition which did not interest me. Lastly, and this is a running belief I've had with other authors, is that every great writer becomes disconnected from their audience in late age. He published Doctor Faustus at 72 years old. Oh, and also Mann relying on the assistance of composer Theodor Adorno to help write the music bits could have hurt the book.
orrantw's review against another edition
4.0
I actually read this book in German, but Goodreads doesn't let me put the German version in? Alright.
The book was incredibly long, and I had to read it for a seminar where we also read a lot of secondary literature. It was interesting seeing how so many people have read the book in a lot of different ways, which lead to lots of class arguments on the importance of the author vs. the narrator. It was worth reading, and I think I will end up reading another novel by Thomas Mann to see what I think without the help of the class.
The book was incredibly long, and I had to read it for a seminar where we also read a lot of secondary literature. It was interesting seeing how so many people have read the book in a lot of different ways, which lead to lots of class arguments on the importance of the author vs. the narrator. It was worth reading, and I think I will end up reading another novel by Thomas Mann to see what I think without the help of the class.
lungteeth's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty heavy-going - I did find myself skim-reading a lot of this - what with all the music theory etc. One can't read big chunks of this at once. It wasn't a bad book, though.
eligbamberger's review against another edition
There's nothing I can say that will do my experience with this book justice except to say that it was one of, if not the, most moving and staggering works of art I have ever come across. This book is better than stars.
byssheplease_'s review against another edition
5.0
It was an excruciating read but the conclusion was well worth the pain.
Ps. It feels pretentious to rate a book I did not fully understand with 5 stars but here you go.
Ps. It feels pretentious to rate a book I did not fully understand with 5 stars but here you go.
retroarmadillo's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
gothicgunslinger's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written, but so so so so so dense. It took a lot out of me to finish this.