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lennartsch's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
3.5
skylar2's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
I gave up after about 100 pages, when it was clear that the author was more interested in word quantity than any kind of plot. The words he did produce were pleasing to read but ended up saying nothing. Maybe that's the allegory Mann was trying to deliver? I don't plan to finish to find out.
rachel_the_managing_editor's review against another edition
3.0
Glad I finished it, but would I recommend it? Not really. Those windbags Settembrini and Naphta got way too much space on the page.
nahliaxo's review against another edition
Słuchałam audiobooka, ale myślę że powinnam do tego wrócić i po prostu przeczytać, może w przerwie świątecznej
george_r's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
m_delaney's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookishwendy's review against another edition
3.0
In the Magic Mountain time slows to a crawl, holds one hostage, and eventually inflicts on one a form of Stockholm Syndrome. I'm describing the effects on me as a reader of the book, not the characters themselves, though perhaps the same could be said of them.
Not to sugarcoat matters, this was a long, slow crawl of a book that required lots of self-discipline on my part to finish it within a month. I can't call it a novel because there is a setting (a sanitarium in the Swiss alps), and some characters (Hans Castorp et. al.), but in place of a plot we get some lovely meditative writing, some jewels of description and insight into human nature. The X-ray scene! The first half of the Snow chapter! The seance! But this all comes alongside a pervasive "Groundhog-Day" feeling of dull repetitiveness and long-winded, dated discussions of stale political philosophies (can anyone actually follow these things?). I especially dreaded the chapters where Sembrettini, Naphta, and Peeperkorn showed up.
So why am I not grumpy with this book? I am. But there's that Stockholm Syndrome. After nearly a month of habitually picking up this book first thing in the morning over a cup of green tea and trudging through 5% (about 35 pages) each day, I came to find it a soothing morning meditation. For the rest of the day I would feel accomplished, sort of like an bonus to the runners-high that carries me through my day after a quick 3 miles around the block. By the second half, I finally (FINALLY) even found myself emotionally responding to some of the more tragic moments. Surprising things--plot things--actually happen in the final chapters, and the ending provided a much-needed kick in the gut.
If only it had been tighter. And shorter. I could have liked this for more than as a meditation manual and cure for insomnia. I'm glad I read Magic Mountain, but it requires an immense amount of patience to tackle and I wouldn't recommended it to the average reader who is not border-line OCD about reading door-stop classics.
Not to sugarcoat matters, this was a long, slow crawl of a book that required lots of self-discipline on my part to finish it within a month. I can't call it a novel because there is a setting (a sanitarium in the Swiss alps), and some characters (Hans Castorp et. al.), but in place of a plot we get some lovely meditative writing, some jewels of description and insight into human nature. The X-ray scene! The first half of the Snow chapter! The seance! But this all comes alongside a pervasive "Groundhog-Day" feeling of dull repetitiveness and long-winded, dated discussions of stale political philosophies (can anyone actually follow these things?). I especially dreaded the chapters where Sembrettini, Naphta, and Peeperkorn showed up.
So why am I not grumpy with this book? I am. But there's that Stockholm Syndrome. After nearly a month of habitually picking up this book first thing in the morning over a cup of green tea and trudging through 5% (about 35 pages) each day, I came to find it a soothing morning meditation. For the rest of the day I would feel accomplished, sort of like an bonus to the runners-high that carries me through my day after a quick 3 miles around the block. By the second half, I finally (FINALLY) even found myself emotionally responding to some of the more tragic moments. Surprising things--plot things--actually happen in the final chapters, and the ending provided a much-needed kick in the gut.
If only it had been tighter. And shorter. I could have liked this for more than as a meditation manual and cure for insomnia. I'm glad I read Magic Mountain, but it requires an immense amount of patience to tackle and I wouldn't recommended it to the average reader who is not border-line OCD about reading door-stop classics.
jarichan's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5