Reviews

Demian by Hermann Hesse by Hermann Hesse

blertaa's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

alexey_wish's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

michinio's review against another edition

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4.0

მშვენიერი რამეა, უბრალოდ აშკარად ასე 20-25 წლით დავაგვიანე წაკითხვა, თორემ იქნებოდა წიგნი, რომელმაც ცხოვრება შეცვალა... ასე რომ, 20 წლამდე თუ ხართ ვინმე, დაანებეთ თავი 'თამაშს ჭვავის ყანაში' და სასწრაფოდ აიღეთ 'დემიანი'. 25-მდეც შეიძლება ისევე მოიტანოს, გააჩნია ადამიანს

phoenix2's review against another edition

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4.0

“The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world. The bird flies to God. That God's name is Abraxas.”

For a book full of philoshophical meanings, Demian was quite understandable. The author did a great job to present his character's thinking and feelings, and even the transition from a boy to a man. Okay, so Demian is a book about growing up, finding oneself and one's place and role in the society. The young boy of the book combines only to his family's world, though he feels the need to rebel and reach the world of darkness, the one that exhisted outside his house and his family's morals. He gets the opportunity from Demian, an older schoolmate, who guides his through life and help's him understand the dreams that he is having, which result to his true destiny.
Apart from the meanings this book passes through, the story is very good, with a fast pace plot and relatable characters. You can easily identify with Sinclair, as he expresses everyone's anxieties and confusion while growing up and passing from childhood to adulthood. The writing is very good as well, understandable and doesn't tire the reader. Overall, a great book, so 4 out of 5.
P.S.
Okay, I confess I've read this one to help me figure out BTS's MVs. I mean look at this:

Now I'm more confused...

chou520's review against another edition

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5.0

this was definitely, and oddly enough, a love story, in the most untraditional sense. herman hesse seems to suggest that every object of our longing, whether it be an image, a person, or an idea, is simply a manifestation of innermost ourselves.

4.5 stars <3 undoubtedly beautiful.

‘The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world.’

‘Every man is more than just himself; he also represents the unique, the very special and always significant and remarkable point at which the world's phenomena intersect, only once in this way, and never again. That is why every man's story is important, eternal, sacred; that is why every man, as long as he lives and fulfills the will of nature, is wondrous, and worthy of consideration.’

and my personal favorite:

“Perhaps you’ll need me again sometime, against Kromer or something. If you call me then I won’t come crudely, on horseback or by train. You’ll have to listen within yourself, then you will notice that I am within you.” ..

kdonegan's review against another edition

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challenging 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

3.75

lara_reading's review against another edition

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5.0

De verdad creo que este libro ha sido la sorpresa del año.
Me hice con él porque como buena fan de BTS este libro es obligatorio para entender las teorías del grupo y mirad, si os digo la verdad no tenía muchas esperanzas en que me fuera a gustar, pero sí estaba entusiasmada por leerlo y menos mal que lo he hecho porque se va directo a la lista de mis libros favoritos.

"Demian" nos cuenta la historia de Emil Sinclair, un niño que defiende estar en el lado bueno del mundo junto a su familia y amigos. Poco a poco se empieza a ver influenciado por el resto del mundo y un día decide mentir para que los chicos de su clase lo vean como un igual. En ese momento es cuando empieza el bullying y conoce a otro chico: Demian, que será el guía de Emil desde su infancia hasta la edad adulta. Este le enseñará más allá del lado bueno del mundo puesto que también existe la oscuridad, el mal.
"Demian" nos presenta la historia de un chico que se debate entre el bien y el mal a pesar de que puede existir un punto intermedio.

Como ya he dicho antes, no pensaba que me fuera a gustar tanto y, definitivamente, me ha cerrado la boca puesto que, a pesar de ser un libro corto, tiene mucho contenido e información increíble que te hace reflexionar. Puede que me hayan faltado mil cosas por entender, pero me ha hecho pensar demasiado sobre ciertas cosas y, WOW, jamás he estado tan atenta a un libro y taan enganchada.
La narración me parece simplemente exquisita y Hesse hace un gran trabajo en la parte descriptiva tanto del ambiente que rodea al protagonista como del pensamiento de este. Simplemente, hace que te lo imagines tal cual es narrado, todo con un tono muy oscuro y melancólico.

En cuanto a los personajes tengo que decir que Emil me resulta un personaje curioso ya que no para de darle vueltas a todo lo que le sucede y, aunque a veces me cansaba el estar en su cabeza, creo que es un buen reflejo de lo que es ser una persona porque es un personaje con sus luces y sus sombras (más sombras) y que no es perfecto.
Luego tenemos a Demian (mi faavorito). Es un personaje que me ha hecho estar más enganchada al libro porque en cada aparición me cautivaba. Como he dicho, es el guía de Emil y es el personaje más misterioso y oscuro que he leído nunca. NO TENGO PALABRAS PARA DECIR LO MUCHO QUE ME GUSTA, PERDÓN. Solo me sale decir que me he enamorado jaajaj.

Mi conclusión es que es un clásico que no mucha gente conoce (un poco raro) y que merece mucho la pena leer. Puedo entender que a algunas personas les haya parecido un libro un poco tedioso por tanta descripción, pero realmente creo que es maravilloso leer cada palabra que escribe Hesse y que, simplemente por ese tremendo final lo recomiendo un montón.
Si me preguntáis durante estos meses por instagram algún libro para recomendar, uno de ellos será "Demian" porque lo leí el mes pasado y aún no me lo he conseguido sacar de la cabeza.

Por último, quiero dar las gracias a BTS por esta recomendación y por haber creado el videoclip de "Blood, sweat & tears" basándose en este libro porque les salió INCREÍBLE.

minqlina's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful informative mysterious reflective relaxing medium-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

5.0

connorlangham's review against another edition

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5.0

Like Max Demian, the works of Hesse always come exactly when they are wanted and needed the most.

cjf's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.0