Reviews

Immensee by Theodor Storm

laura_21's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

ursy's review against another edition

3.0

I really loved this story. It was very touching and indeed reminiscent of the much later Thomas Mann novellas. At times the characters, especially Erich and Elisabeth, seemed undeveloped and it was difficult to find motivations for their actions. On the whole, though, I thought this was a very nice story.

mysimas's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Old man reminisces about his youth and first love that never came to be. All that on the background of nature and folklore. 

“Wer hat doch aber die schönen Lieder gemacht?” fragte Elisabeth.
“Ei,” sagte Erich, “das hört man den Dingern schon an; Schneidergesellen und Friseure und derlei luftiges Gesindel.”
Reinhard sagte: “Sie werden gar nicht gemacht; sie wachsen, sie fallen aus der Luft, sie fliegen über Land hierhin und dorthin und werden an tausend Stellen zugleich gesungen. Unser eigenstes Tun und Leiden finden wir in diesen Liedern; es ist, als ob wir alle an ihnen mitgeholfen hätten.” 

The one thing that somewhat reduced my enjoyment was the sheer predictability. Having never heard of the story before, I caught on very early on and could outline the oncoming events virtually step-by-step. 

Und nun sangen sie jene Melodie, die so rätselhaft ist, dass man nicht glauben kann, sie sei von Menschen erdacht worden.

But then again, perhaps that’s the whole point? Much like folklore, this is the type of story that stems from the very core of human nature. We all have, or at some point will have, experienced something like this.
How original and surprising can a story be, really, when we already know it by heart?

desdemona0b4b9's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

2.5

demo's review against another edition

2.0

Ich musste diese Novelle als Kursarbeit lesen und wie die meisten Liebesromane, habe ich es zu sentimental gefunden. Reinhard, ich gebe dir einen freundlichen Rat: Verfasse keine ängstlichen Gedichte. Sage deine Meinung und meine was du sagst.