What are you currently reading?

[André]

One of my favorite works by Hesse. Beautiful, and somehow innovative, story with a sophisticated, albeit deceptively simple, writing. I see the work as a prototype of Narcissus and Goldmund partially.
I am not sure about the relevance of the cover art. Doesn't matter, though.

Indeed, that cover art makes me uncomfortable.

[aligreto]

One of my favorite works by Hesse. Beautiful, and somehow innovative, story with a sophisticated, albeit deceptively simple, writing. I see the work as a prototype of Narcissus and Goldmund partially.
I am not sure about the relevance of the cover art. Doesn't matter, though.

It actually has a lot of relevance if you remember the end of the book. I obviously don't want to give away any spoilers but it relates to where he revisits his his home town and in particular his father's garden.

[André]

Ah, thanks for the clarification. He's looking back at his young days, I guess.

[aligreto]

One of the very few Hesse novels I haven't read yet. Thanks for the comment !

It is quite a short book and will not take you long to read, André.

Indeed, that cover art makes me uncomfortable.

It refers to a pointed and poignant moment in the story.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. He's looking back at his young days, I guess.

I was being discreet on your behalf as you had not read it but you are correct 

It is the time that he is looking at in his younger days and what he felt then and now is the essence of his memory.

[André]

I figured as much, but only after you opened my eyes with your comment. Sometimes it takes only a spark to light an entire room  .

[aligreto]

I figured as much, but only after you opened my eyes with your comment. Sometimes it takes only a spark to light an entire room  .

It is definitely a recommended read, André.

[André]

Thanks, I will. Here's the book I bought a couple of years back (still unopened):



Contents:

ROMANS
Peter Camenzind / L'Ornière
Rosshalde / Knulp / Demian
Le Dernier Eté de Klingsor / Siddhartha
Enfance d'un magicien
Le Loup des steppes / Narcisse et Goldmund
Le Voyage en Orient
Le Jeu des Perles de Verre

Knulp, Le dernier été de Klingsor and Le Voyage en Orient are those I haven't read yet.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Thank you for the clarification, Fergus and Andre. I will re-read Knulp next week. I am in the middle of Demian now.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Thanks, I will. Here's the book I bought a couple of years back (still unopened):

Contents:

ROMANS
Peter Camenzind / L'Ornière
Rosshalde / Knulp / Demian
Le Dernier Eté de Klingsor / Siddhartha
Enfance d'un magicien
Le Loup des steppes / Narcisse et Goldmund
Le Voyage en Orient
Le Jeu des Perles de Verre

Knulp, Le dernier été de Klingsor and Le Voyage en Orient are those I haven't read yet.

I don't see Gertrude. Imho, it is a wonderful and enjoyable novella- a story of love triangle among an introverted composer, a passionate opera singer, and a girl of upper-class family.

[vers la flamme]

And here I thought I'd already read most of the good Hesse books already. I've only read Demian, Siddhartha, Narcissus & Goldmund, and the Fairy Tales. I have a lot of catching up to do. I've loved everything of his that I have read.

[aligreto]

Thanks, I will. Here's the book I bought a couple of years back (still unopened):



Contents:

ROMANS
Peter Camenzind / L'Ornière
Rosshalde / Knulp / Demian
Le Dernier Eté de Klingsor / Siddhartha
Enfance d'un magicien
Le Loup des steppes / Narcisse et Goldmund
Le Voyage en Orient
Le Jeu des Perles de Verre

Knulp, Le dernier été de Klingsor and Le Voyage en Orient are those I haven't read yet.

So you have no excuse; you actually own it 

It only takes a matter of hours to get through it 

[aligreto]

And here I thought I'd already read most of the good Hesse books already. I've only read Demian, Siddhartha, Narcissus & Goldmund, and the Fairy Tales. I have a lot of catching up to do. I've loved everything of his that I have read.

So lots more to enjoy 

[aligreto]

Thank you for the clarification, Fergus and Andre. I will re-read Knulp next week. I am in the middle of Demian now.

   

And I have read neither of those 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

And I have read neither of those 

The both are wonderful books. Demian is a psychological-surrealistic story of a young man/intelligentsia of upper-middle class family. The strangely attractive novel was significantly influenced by Carl Jung and his theories of synchronicity, symbols, collective unconscious, dream, etc. At the time of writing the novel, Hesse was receiving a psycho-analysis treatment from a psychiatrist who had been Jung's student. Later, however, Hesse would prefer Freud to Jung. Gertrude is an enjoyable story of romance and music.

Post Ed. Demian has an organist friend, who plays Bach, Max Reger, and Buxtehude. I imagine Hesse liked their organ music.

[aligreto]

The both are wonderful books. Demian is a psychological-surrealistic story of a young man/intelligentsia of upper-middle class family. The strangely attractive novel was significantly influenced by Carl Jung and his theories of synchronicity, symbols, collective unconscious, dream, etc. At the time of writing the novel, Hesse was receiving a psycho-analysis treatment from a physician who was Jung's student. Later, however, Hesse would prefer Freud to Jung. Gertrude is an enjoyable story of romance and music.

Cheers and thank you. They will both be read....eventually 

[Artem]

Finished these books recently:


My second Vuillard book. Extremely short. 60 something pages. But it piqued my interested to read more about the Peasants war.


Collection of contemporary short horror stories from Argentina. Good diversion from the usual stuff I read.


This was a very pleasant surprise. Beautiful book. Published in 1931. So it has that charming, frivolous, innocent tale and a very gloomy feel in the end, predicting the horrible events to come.


It was ok. Not as disturbing as the Big notebook that I read many many years ago.


Disappointing, because this books just takes the style of Bernhard and uses it for a little over then 100 pages to critique the state of affairs in El Salvador. I will try to read something else by this author, because Latin American literature is one of my biggest passions.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Cheers and thank you. They will both be read....eventually 

Sounds good.    I am in a similar situation. There are many books waiting on my reading list.

[aligreto]

Sounds good.    I am in a similar situation. There are many books waiting on my reading list.

I cannot read and simultaneously listen to music. I must give my full attention to either one or the other. This is a real killer of both time and opportunity.

[Fëanor]

Some basic Stoicism ...

Epictetus:  The Enchiridion

Marcus Aurelius:  Meditations, (Introduction by Gregory Hays)

[Florestan]

Just finished this:



My kudos to them all: six honest, sincere and intelligent people who eventually rejected Communism precisely because they were honest, sincere and intelligent.