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rachbreads's review against another edition
2.0
I have no right to call myself one who knows. I was one who seeks, and I still am, but I no longer seek in the stars or in books; I’m beginning to hear the teachings of my blood pulsing within me.
This book was....very German. So in truth I really disliked it while reading and immediately after reading it. After talking it over with my husband, it seems like Hesse really did capture a somewhat universal experience of adolescent men. I found the protagonist insufferable and impossible to relate to, but that would make sense because he was a teenage boy...I think coming-of-age novels of young men are really not my genre at all. HOWEVER, I read this because of BTS, because one of their albums is based around the storyline and concept of this book. Once I did some more in-depth reading (shout out to fans who do PhD level analysis of pop albums) about how they drew from this book to make the album, I didn't necessarily like the book any more than I previously had but I did understand how it could really have meant a lot to young men trying to grow up in a tough world. So, all things considered, I guess I'm glad I read it, but I think I'll lay off the early 20th-century German classics for a while...
starry_n8ght's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
“The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born must destroy a world. The bird flies to god. The god is called Abraxas.”
uma grande apreciação pelo meu eu do 8.º ano que andava a acompanhar os BTS e uma storyline com bases tão interessantes
“The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born must destroy a world. The bird flies to god. The god is called Abraxas.”
uma grande apreciação pelo meu eu do 8.º ano que andava a acompanhar os BTS e uma storyline com bases tão interessantes
jasmineandsweetbriar's review
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
isthisalice's review against another edition
4.0
Very striking descriptions of Max Demian. I loved all the biblical, literary and gnostic references (esp Demian’s interpretation of the mark of Cain and Abraxas). The overall atmosphere of the book is mysterious and almost cultish. It kinda got chaotic towards the end, but the ending makes up for it. They’re gay as shit btw
lilou0922's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
corpsepose's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
emmy_js's review against another edition
5.0
To say that i enjoyed this book would be an understatement, I simply devoured it and its one that will stay with me for a while. Hesse has novelised the journey for self, truth and desire; following a young sinclair as he grows up, challenging what he thinks is known and embarking to find the truth himself. On many different levels Hesse has captured the experience of growing up and the daunting loneliness that comes with it.
Anyone who grew up within a religious context can attest to the difficulty of trying to find the essence of your religion yourself, detangling what is taught, what you believe and how that fits with your place in the world. More so, growing up queer. Intentional or not but Hesse has explored exactly that. We follow sinclair as he grapples with the growing difference of his 'perfect' inner world and how his growing life experience challenges the expectations and perceptions his family and himself expect. These growing pains only worsen when he becomes entangled with the character Demian. Demian is mysterious, beautiful and frightening. He challenges everything Sinclair thinks he knows and although great pains are taken to ignore his growing feelings. When demian disappears from his life sinclair is devastated.
The relationship between Demian and Sinclair and eventually Sinclair and Pistorius are remnisct of one grappling with homosexuality within the midsts of a religion damning such feelings. The relationship between sinclair and both of these characters are tender, deep and intangible. They transcend what is expected between male friendships. These characters challenge sinclairs perceptions of religion, morality and desire.
Ultimately, Demian is a novel of self-exploration.
Anyone who grew up within a religious context can attest to the difficulty of trying to find the essence of your religion yourself, detangling what is taught, what you believe and how that fits with your place in the world. More so, growing up queer. Intentional or not but Hesse has explored exactly that. We follow sinclair as he grapples with the growing difference of his 'perfect' inner world and how his growing life experience challenges the expectations and perceptions his family and himself expect. These growing pains only worsen when he becomes entangled with the character Demian. Demian is mysterious, beautiful and frightening. He challenges everything Sinclair thinks he knows and although great pains are taken to ignore his growing feelings. When demian disappears from his life sinclair is devastated.
The relationship between Demian and Sinclair and eventually Sinclair and Pistorius are remnisct of one grappling with homosexuality within the midsts of a religion damning such feelings. The relationship between sinclair and both of these characters are tender, deep and intangible. They transcend what is expected between male friendships. These characters challenge sinclairs perceptions of religion, morality and desire.
Ultimately, Demian is a novel of self-exploration.
lorolemman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0