A review by welkinvault
Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

dark reflective slow-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

2.75

Dense, beautiful prose.  I was merely enjoying the prose (just wash over me until the first time the object of Gustav's obsession, a beautiful older child (and the all descriptions is of a child in his apparal and interactions with his family in the earlier part of the book).  I have difficulties getting beyond the descriptions of his 'gratification', his stalking, his desire to continue to observe and to devise ways to touch the boy's hair, etc. 

I felt it was very fitting that this desire, and the inability to leave Venice, brought about his mortal destruction.

Not really for me.   This is in many way, a very unemotional book, stunningly descriptive, often reflective, but passive. 
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