Reviews - Der Steppenwolf | The StoryGraph

2.06k reviews for:

Der Steppenwolf

Hermann Hesse

3.96 AVERAGE

emperk's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The overarching story and development of an internal war ranging from extremely relatable embarrassments at a dinner table with old acquaintances to fantastical balls with mystical afterparties. The language is hard to get through at times and slow paced but the second half picks up in time with the main character’s own development

Content Warnings

seattlefraggle's review against another edition

1.0

A male friend loaned this to me a few years ago and several of my male librarian friends have recommended it to me since then. Siddhartha has also been praised by my male friends. I couldn't get into either book which lead me to assume that Hesse is just not for me. However, Saritza and I had a discussion one time about repeatedly hearing from our guy friends how awesome Hesse is, which made us theorize that perhaps Hesse is one of those writers that just appeals more to male readers. We could be right or we could just be talking out of our asses. Either way, I found this book boring, pretentious and wordy and couldn't slog my way through it. The best part about it was the furry looking cover of the paperback edition I read.

shzaina_s's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional 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

sarahlouisely's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

An interesting read, and a surrealist take on thoughts of suicide and a midlife crisis.

It's a well written book and not a difficult read, as we're navigated through Harry Haller's thoughts and mindset.