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A review by bucket
Death in Venice: And Seven Other Stories by Thomas Mann
4.0
I really enjoyed this group of stories. Many (maybe all?) feature misfit men who like to write. Some of them are young, awkward and coming of age. Others are old, pretty successful, but still quite different from the people around them and struggling with that difference. Each of them seems like a shade of Mann himself - perhaps rolling them all together gives a bit of biographical insight.
The main novella (Death in Venice) was the most intriguing. Gustav meets a new muse who inspires him to write again, and then we watch him deteriorate as his passion becomes obsession. I also really enjoyed Tonio Kroger, and Mario and the Magician.
A Man and his Dog dragged on (and on), and The Blood of the Walsungs disturbed and fascinated me in equal measure.
The main novella (Death in Venice) was the most intriguing. Gustav meets a new muse who inspires him to write again, and then we watch him deteriorate as his passion becomes obsession. I also really enjoyed Tonio Kroger, and Mario and the Magician.
A Man and his Dog dragged on (and on), and The Blood of the Walsungs disturbed and fascinated me in equal measure.