Hermann Hesse: Demian

[nomadic myth]

Anyone else find this book stunning?

I think the Pistorius sections are a little dry, but I'm very drawn to Demian's character. The idea of being in touch with your most inner self, and not in a modern touchy-feely way, but in an unleashing of power way, is very inspirational. I think Demian's personality is super cool. I like how Hesse doesn't/can't describe it fully. Hesse is dealing with something he wants personally, and is trying to bring it out in fiction.

 

[bookishwormish]

heavy but light

Demian is certainly a cool book. Seen as par to fhis entire work, it fits in to his development and is unfrotunately overshadowed by some more accomplished stories. That said, I love its freshness.... court somewhere between his early prose and his later works which get a bit heavy on the psychoanalysis. this is somewhere in between... deep enough to put forward his Jungian ideas... but not weighed down by them.

 

[overman83]

I don't know much about Hesse's early versus later works, but Demian is a good book. Hesse's Siddhartha, however, I thought was much better. It touches on various themes ranging from asceticism to hedonism, and it parallels the Buddha's life story in many ways. Demian is a little more contemporary is spiritual approach, but Siddhartha just seemed to resonate with me. It's a great book. You should check it out.

 

[LoeMa]

In my opinion Demian and The Steppenwolf are Hesse's best books.
I basically like books about self-discovery or self knowledge unless the stories are told in a more enthusiastic, optimistic way (I don't know how to describe exactly what I mean). Therefore I am not so fond of Siddhartha.

 

[Nash]

Yes great book. Felt like he was talking for me at times when describing the inner processes.