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100reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I need to reread.
italo_carlvino's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lananhngvu's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book 5 years ago. The question remains: what is the whole point of this two-part novel? I need a reread and a closer study of Mann and his theme on life and death.
4 stars just because the book had a way of keeping me reading. Maybe it's because I love Mann and the German lit without reason.
4 stars just because the book had a way of keeping me reading. Maybe it's because I love Mann and the German lit without reason.
cindyjac's review against another edition
2.0
This book, qualifying for the 2017 Reading Challenge category of a book that's been mentioned in another book, was like finishing a marathon. And I don't mean that in a positive context. The language is beautiful, the characters are complex, but the story....700 pages of life in a sanatorium viewed through the eyes of young Hans Castorp with his "wet spot" that keeps him there for 7 years.
andrea12's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sadonohue's review against another edition
5.0
I was torn on how to rate this novel. It took me almost a year to finish in fits and starts as it is not only extremely long but also extremely dense. It drags on at times and elements of it were difficult to parse as an American with a limited background in German history and culture. In fact, I would have understood very little of it if I had not happened to recently read a book on German history.
That all being said, it is an amazing novel. The scope is grand but Mann manages to hit his points beautifully. I have a feeling this will be a novel I think about for a long time as my own life experiences add new insights and interpretations to the work. I am already looking forward to a reread in the future.
It is definitely not something I would recommend to everyone but I think if you are up for the challenge it is very worth it.
That all being said, it is an amazing novel. The scope is grand but Mann manages to hit his points beautifully. I have a feeling this will be a novel I think about for a long time as my own life experiences add new insights and interpretations to the work. I am already looking forward to a reread in the future.
It is definitely not something I would recommend to everyone but I think if you are up for the challenge it is very worth it.
afvick's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of genuinely brilliant moments but by about the seventh 20-page philosophical debate I got a little burned out