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kal9000's review
5.0
Little weird with all the stories about falling in love with children but he's a great writer
klagge's review
4.0
[Note that I only read "Death in Venice" out of a different collection of short literature, not any of the other stories in this particular volume. But this was the translation I read.:]
I had been feeling for quite a while that I would like to read something by Thomas Mann, but for some reason never got around to it until now. The urge inexplicably became irresistible this weekend, so although I'd like to read "The Magic Mountain" or "Buddenbrooks", I read "Death in Venice" because Elise had it in a collection of short fiction.
I'm so glad that I did get around to reading him, and have a feeling this will just be the start of an ongoing relationship with his work. Although I don't want to draw too sharp of a connection, there were many aspects of this novella that put me in mind of my current favorite author, Haruki Murakami. They share the intense focus on the solitary mind, and the distorting (for better or worse) effects of solitude on one's perception of the outward world. There is even a bit of Murakami-esque mysteriousness with the strange pilgrim near the beginning. I once heard Murakami speak, and one thing he mentioned was that most of his protagonists (whose broad biographies often closely resemble his own) are not meant to represent himself, but rather are meant to represent people who he could have become, but didn't. I think this perspective seemed very apt for my interpretation of Mann's main character Aschenbach. Mann in fact did fall for a young boy at a seaside resort once, and though he didn't quite respond in the same extreme fashion that A. does, I think he felt those same urges and channeled them into this character.
I loved Mann's extensive use of references to classical mythology and philosophy in this story. I often think of Murakami as a writer of fairy-tales, and these references to archetypal stories help me see Mann in that category as well, to some extent. I thought his depiction of the Apollonian and Dionysian modes of human experience was so rich, particularly the way that one may lead directly to the other. Very excited to read some more of his work.
I had been feeling for quite a while that I would like to read something by Thomas Mann, but for some reason never got around to it until now. The urge inexplicably became irresistible this weekend, so although I'd like to read "The Magic Mountain" or "Buddenbrooks", I read "Death in Venice" because Elise had it in a collection of short fiction.
I'm so glad that I did get around to reading him, and have a feeling this will just be the start of an ongoing relationship with his work. Although I don't want to draw too sharp of a connection, there were many aspects of this novella that put me in mind of my current favorite author, Haruki Murakami. They share the intense focus on the solitary mind, and the distorting (for better or worse) effects of solitude on one's perception of the outward world. There is even a bit of Murakami-esque mysteriousness with the strange pilgrim near the beginning. I once heard Murakami speak, and one thing he mentioned was that most of his protagonists (whose broad biographies often closely resemble his own) are not meant to represent himself, but rather are meant to represent people who he could have become, but didn't. I think this perspective seemed very apt for my interpretation of Mann's main character Aschenbach. Mann in fact did fall for a young boy at a seaside resort once, and though he didn't quite respond in the same extreme fashion that A. does, I think he felt those same urges and channeled them into this character.
I loved Mann's extensive use of references to classical mythology and philosophy in this story. I often think of Murakami as a writer of fairy-tales, and these references to archetypal stories help me see Mann in that category as well, to some extent. I thought his depiction of the Apollonian and Dionysian modes of human experience was so rich, particularly the way that one may lead directly to the other. Very excited to read some more of his work.
louiequartorze67's review
4.0
I was told to read Death in Venice by a friend stating... you will really enjoy it. Then my husband saw the book and said.... you do know what it's about, don't you? I said, No have no idea but it was recommended and I am looking forward to it. My husband said ... Well "get ready for a ride".
Well, okay a creepy and stalker-ish middle-aged man (some reviewers stated 'Old'-which I take umbrage with being middle-aged). But I digress, the story was beautifully written . I kept having these conflicting feeling throughout reading it. Which I didn't mind nor did it detract from my views of it.
Well, okay a creepy and stalker-ish middle-aged man (some reviewers stated 'Old'-which I take umbrage with being middle-aged). But I digress, the story was beautifully written . I kept having these conflicting feeling throughout reading it. Which I didn't mind nor did it detract from my views of it.
mstabinski's review
3.0
Very dense and hard to get through. Each story takes on a different tone and writing style. Full of symbolism, taboo topics that push the boundaries of what is acceptable to write about, and plot twists that Thomas Mann is so well known for. I enjoyed most of these stories, and thought about what they meant for days after reading. Only 2 of them were boring to me, but those were super hard to get through. The stories I did enjoy were some of the best I have ever read in short fiction.
its_archival's review
4.0
I was recommended this book on the basis that I would like the main character. Which I did, as I have a horrible weakness for old stoic men. Death in Venice was fascinating, and I highly recommend it as Modernist (or Post, I don't remember) reading.
tavallinen_lukija's review against another edition
4.0
Kuolema Venetsiassa -novellikokoelman kantavina teemoina tuntuivat olevan toisaalta kielletty tai saavuttamaton rakkaus, toisaalta ruumiinvamman aiheuttamat rajoitukset. Kirja ei ollut nopealukuinen: aika moni novelleista oli tyypillistä, deskriptiivistä Mannia, eivätkö varsinkaan kirjan alkupään novellit oikein lähteneet lentoon: pikemminkin olivat aika puuduttavaa luettavaa. Esimerkiksi Tristanissa oli samankaltaisuutta Taikavuoreen, joka minulle oli monelta osin lukukokemuksena enemmän tai vähemmän pakkopullaa. Sen sijaan kokoelman niminovelli Kuolema Venetsiassa sekä muut loppupuolen kertomukset Hämmennystä ja varhaista tuskaa, Mario ja taikuri sekä etenkin Petetty miellyttivät minua suuresti ja olisivat ehdottomasti ansainneet viisi tähteä. Mario ja taikuri oli suorastaan lähellä psykologista trilleriä, ja Petetty yllätti ikääntyvän naisen elämän kuvauksellaan.
Kokonaisuutena pidin.
Kokonaisuutena pidin.
wpboger's review
4.0
Three remarkable stories -- "Death In Venice," "Mario and the Magician," and "Felix Krull" -- interspersed among four other, much lesser, works. Each of those three has a novel's depth, warrants careful, repeated reading, and clearly influenced a broad range of 20th Century authors. The others are a tedious chore, though, and require a deeper understanding of German culture than I possess.
m4rtt4's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Boring, rambling, unnecessarily long and detailed, the sentences are a kilometre long each yet they don't take you anywhere. Except maybe to return this book back to the library. Would never recommend this to anyone, unless they liked dusty musty crusty rich old white men.
caienjunedarling's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
It's a book about a pedophile who goes on a trip and stalks a young boy around Venice while doing an unbearably lengthy amount of introspection of his own life. Thankfully he never interacts that much with the boy, but it's just not a fun or great story to read at all. Not even sure what the point of it was to be honest, because there is not much plot either aside from what I've just mentioned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, and Pandemic/Epidemic