Reviews

Demian: Die Geschichte von Emil Sinclairs Jugend by Hermann Hesse

chou520's review against another edition

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5.0

this was definitely, and oddly enough, a love story, in the most untraditional sense. herman hesse seems to suggest that every object of our longing, whether it be an image, a person, or an idea, is simply a manifestation of innermost ourselves.

4.5 stars <3 undoubtedly beautiful.

‘The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world.’

‘Every man is more than just himself; he also represents the unique, the very special and always significant and remarkable point at which the world's phenomena intersect, only once in this way, and never again. That is why every man's story is important, eternal, sacred; that is why every man, as long as he lives and fulfills the will of nature, is wondrous, and worthy of consideration.’

and my personal favorite:

“Perhaps you’ll need me again sometime, against Kromer or something. If you call me then I won’t come crudely, on horseback or by train. You’ll have to listen within yourself, then you will notice that I am within you.” ..

kdonegan's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

lara_reading's review against another edition

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5.0

De verdad creo que este libro ha sido la sorpresa del año.
Me hice con él porque como buena fan de BTS este libro es obligatorio para entender las teorías del grupo y mirad, si os digo la verdad no tenía muchas esperanzas en que me fuera a gustar, pero sí estaba entusiasmada por leerlo y menos mal que lo he hecho porque se va directo a la lista de mis libros favoritos.

"Demian" nos cuenta la historia de Emil Sinclair, un niño que defiende estar en el lado bueno del mundo junto a su familia y amigos. Poco a poco se empieza a ver influenciado por el resto del mundo y un día decide mentir para que los chicos de su clase lo vean como un igual. En ese momento es cuando empieza el bullying y conoce a otro chico: Demian, que será el guía de Emil desde su infancia hasta la edad adulta. Este le enseñará más allá del lado bueno del mundo puesto que también existe la oscuridad, el mal.
"Demian" nos presenta la historia de un chico que se debate entre el bien y el mal a pesar de que puede existir un punto intermedio.

Como ya he dicho antes, no pensaba que me fuera a gustar tanto y, definitivamente, me ha cerrado la boca puesto que, a pesar de ser un libro corto, tiene mucho contenido e información increíble que te hace reflexionar. Puede que me hayan faltado mil cosas por entender, pero me ha hecho pensar demasiado sobre ciertas cosas y, WOW, jamás he estado tan atenta a un libro y taan enganchada.
La narración me parece simplemente exquisita y Hesse hace un gran trabajo en la parte descriptiva tanto del ambiente que rodea al protagonista como del pensamiento de este. Simplemente, hace que te lo imagines tal cual es narrado, todo con un tono muy oscuro y melancólico.

En cuanto a los personajes tengo que decir que Emil me resulta un personaje curioso ya que no para de darle vueltas a todo lo que le sucede y, aunque a veces me cansaba el estar en su cabeza, creo que es un buen reflejo de lo que es ser una persona porque es un personaje con sus luces y sus sombras (más sombras) y que no es perfecto.
Luego tenemos a Demian (mi faavorito). Es un personaje que me ha hecho estar más enganchada al libro porque en cada aparición me cautivaba. Como he dicho, es el guía de Emil y es el personaje más misterioso y oscuro que he leído nunca. NO TENGO PALABRAS PARA DECIR LO MUCHO QUE ME GUSTA, PERDÓN. Solo me sale decir que me he enamorado jaajaj.

Mi conclusión es que es un clásico que no mucha gente conoce (un poco raro) y que merece mucho la pena leer. Puedo entender que a algunas personas les haya parecido un libro un poco tedioso por tanta descripción, pero realmente creo que es maravilloso leer cada palabra que escribe Hesse y que, simplemente por ese tremendo final lo recomiendo un montón.
Si me preguntáis durante estos meses por instagram algún libro para recomendar, uno de ellos será "Demian" porque lo leí el mes pasado y aún no me lo he conseguido sacar de la cabeza.

Por último, quiero dar las gracias a BTS por esta recomendación y por haber creado el videoclip de "Blood, sweat & tears" basándose en este libro porque les salió INCREÍBLE.

minqlina's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful informative mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

connorlangham's review against another edition

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5.0

Like Max Demian, the works of Hesse always come exactly when they are wanted and needed the most.

cjf's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.0

ketterd4mn's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another one who picked this up because of BTS (although, it’s been on my list since Blood, Sweat and Tears released… oops).

I won’t lie, I fell asleep and had a fat nap whilst listening to this. Missed like half the book because it was on 2x speed - but the bits I was actively listening to when I was awake? Pretty darn good. I really liked the flow and way of writing. I don’t know why, but I thought it was going to be much more sophisticated than it was hence why I chose to listen to it rather than actually read it. But I’d like to read it and actually take it all in properly! So that’s for next time. 

It also took me an embarrassingly long time to realise that the book is called Demian and not Demain.

h_rhiannona's review against another edition

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5.0

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect when I picked this book up. I had originally received it as a gift after it was quoted in a BTS music video. After that, it took me almost 4 more years to take it off my shelf. However, after reading it, I can say that it became one of my favorite books and made my mind explode in the best way.

Initially, I found Sinclair dramatic and didn't understand why he was so concerned with his worldview. Why was he struggling? The more I read however made me relate to him in a way I didn't expect. I started to feel like I too was a bird trying to fight my way out of the egg and into the world. I came to understand that my view of the world was a lot like the characters that were described as "marked". I have never ended a book feeling like I was searching for something or having as many questions as I now have.

If you have the chance you should read this. Sit with it and it might just change your worldview.

malte_rnative's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

habs nicht 100% gecheckt tbh