Hermann Hesse anyone

One of the greatest writers ever. Nobel prize. And author of some incredible books such as Demian, Steppenwolf, Siddhartha and some more.

What did you read from him?
Which did you enjoy most?

MAGIC THEATER

ENTRANCE NOT FOR EVERYBODY

 

Siddhartha was the only book I read from Herman Hesse, but I must say it is quiet good... I loved it. The way he writes is just magic. And the message goes directly to our hearts and minds...It is deep.

*~*~*Catinha*~*~*

 

Only read Siddhartha so far, a really good book. Very intense if a little hard going at times.

TTFN

Sage

 

If you liked Siddhartha, you cannot imagine what you'll get and how yo'll feel when you read demian or Steppenwolf, hew you'll get really AMAZED, really IMPACTED.
Serious, you have to read them.

 

i've only read excerpts from demian, but i have read much of hesse's poetry and i must agree he is quite astounding.. great anti-war material, an amazing man for sure. herbsttage is wonderful ~*

 

Who doesn't know Hesse? I've heard of his books all my life... but guess what: I never got around to reading anything by him!! I know, it's pathetic... especially when I say that I've heard of him all my life and when I've always wanted to read Siddharta... but since I've moved to Spain, I've actually had to buy books to read them, no more French libraries (I used to borrow so much...) And I don't understand Spanish well enough to read such books in that language. In English it would be fine, though. I guess I'll have to wait until I get a bit of money to buy it, or wait until I move the the states! I've also always wanted to read Steppenwolf -

 

I'm a definite disciple of his, even though he died 40 years ago. I read Journey to the East, Siddharta, Steppenwolf, Narcissus and Goldmund, Magister Ludi, Rosshalde, Demian, and I just got Beneath the Wheel, but haven't started it yet. I guess I'm sort of working on his corpus by now.
These books seriously changed me.
Highly recommended reading!
Oh, my favorite would have to be one of those first five I listed; I can't decide.

 

Hesse is amazing. And none of his books is alike any of the others.

The first one I ever read was Siddhartha, if I remeber correctly, but the ones I like best are The Glass Bead Game and Demian.

I've read The Glass Bead Game, Demian, Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, Beneath the Wheel, his fairy tales, and Narcissus and Goldmund. Basically loved them all, except for the last one. Each of the first four was a revelation for me. There's some intricate beauty to them that molds my view of the world even without me being aware of it.

And, even though I absolutely love The Glass Bead Game, it's Demian that's beyond special for me. I don't much care for the beginning of the story, and even less for the end, but the middle part is full of some mysticism, some strange fascination that I feel is MINE.

 

I've read The Steppenwolf. And I mean, WOW! That book was so good, I don't have the right words to discribe it... I was totally blown away by it.

 

I think Hesse's style of writing is hypnotic. I can read a Hesse book for hours on end.

Somehow I like his earlier works better than the Glass Bead Game. For some reason the Glass Bead Game jars on my nerves a bit. Demian, Steppenwolf, and Narcisuss and Goldmund are perhaps my favorite. I can totally identify with the Steppenwolf.

 

The Glass Bead Game was highly unusual - I almost had to force myself to read the beginning, but then all at once I found myself so entranced I could not stop.

 

The Glass Bead Game is such an awesome book, I love it. Very eccentric!

 

I loved them all and especially Beneath the Wheel and Demian, the depressing and rather adolescent ones. Probably because I read them when I was fourteen. There's a movie made from Siddhartha, and along with Brother Sun Sister Moon, it's one of the most classic spiritual flicks ever.

For me now, Journey to the East has the most relevance since I keep starting and stopping and starting on The Path. It's about losing and regaining faith.

 

I've read Siddharta more than once, but didn't like it very much

 

Hermann Hesse.


i just read Journey to the East yesterday and immediately checked out Siddhartha. Does anyone else recommend any of his other work, i am almost finished with Sid. I for one think that he is a more magical storyteller then a word craftsman, meaning his words arent always the most beautiful to read, sometimes simple, direct, but it is in that which make his stories seem to come unchecked and wonderful. I like him and am glad i was curious, tell me more.

ps, another example of a writer who is a greater story teller than a wordsmith is LEON URIS.

 

Yeah, one of my absolute favorite authors, almost a mentor to me it seems. Definitely read Steppenwolf and Narcissus and Goldmund. Magister Ludi is really good too.
Demian would be good right after Siddharta.

 

suuu weeeeet.
i loved the line in Journey

"faith is stronger than so-called reality"

 

My personal favourites are 'The Glass Bead Game(magister ludi)' and 'Demian'. But all HH's work is great.

 

Siddhartha changed my life! I realised that we are all on a journey, whether we know it or not! Everyone needs to know who they are... Other Hesse novels have left me feeling a little 'clynical', but you have to take into account the time in which they were written. The Prodigy is also very powerful though!


S

 

I've read Siddhartha, it is a good story. Need to really concentrate to get the message though.
Haven't read any of his other works yet.
I think the flaws in Hesse's writing are partly due to it being a translation, perhaps it flows better in the original language (German)