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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
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100 reviews
July 15,2025
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Damian presents a redemption narrative regarding Sinclair's transformation from a drunken and immoral individual to a bright and diligent student in school.

Regrettably, the author seemed to prioritize cramming in excessive philosophical jargon rather than making the story engaging.

Sinclair drones on and on about his emotions and how much of a failure he is, leaving no space for an interesting plot. The book attempts to赋予 Sinclair's redemption significance, but that impact is submerged in the ocean of self-pity that Sinclair wallows in.

It doesn't assist matters that the book takes a strange turn towards the end when Sinclair develops a romantic interest in his friend's mother.

In school, I am required to read numerous "critically acclaimed books," and for the most part, they are enjoyable reads. However, Damian serves as an example of what students despise about literature.

July 15,2025
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Emil was deeply in love with Max.

This feeling had been growing within Emil for quite some time.

Every time he saw Max, his heart would skip a beat and a smile would automatically spread across his face.

Max had this charm that simply drew Emil in.

His kind eyes, gentle smile, and caring nature made Emil feel special.

Emil would often find himself daydreaming about Max, imagining the wonderful times they could have together.

He would think about going on walks hand in hand, sharing secrets, and creating beautiful memories.

Even when he was apart from Max, Emil's thoughts would constantly drift back to him.

There was just something about Max that made Emil believe that they were meant to be.

No matter what anyone said, Emil was convinced that his love for Max was true and would last forever.

Change my mind.
July 15,2025
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I read Siddhartha several years ago and was truly enamored with it. The story, the characters, and the profound themes it explored left a lasting impression on me. Just recently, I picked up Demian and found it to be just okay. I realize that everything is often a matter of time and place. As I have grown older, however, Hermann Hesse's mysticism and his search for philosophical meaning no longer resonate with me as strongly as they once did.


Perhaps it is because my own life experiences have changed, or maybe my perspective has shifted. Whatever the reason, I still appreciate Hesse's works for their beauty and depth. But now, I find myself drawn to other authors and other styles of writing that speak more directly to my current state of mind.


Nonetheless, I will always remember the impact that Siddhartha had on me and the way it made me think about life, love, and the search for meaning. It will always hold a special place in my heart as one of the great works of literature that I have had the pleasure of reading.

July 15,2025
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This particular piece of literature felt like a Bildungsroman, yet it had a plethora of additional philosophical undertones.

Don't misunderstand me; it was an extremely interesting read. However, it left me with a sense of incompleteness. When you really think about it, Emil doesn't actually discover his true self. And that, in my opinion, is sort of the essence of a Bildungsroman.

Despite this, I am still excited to explore more of Hesse's books. His writing style has a certain allure that keeps pulling me in. I'm eager to see what other philosophical and thought-provoking works he has to offer. I'm sure there will be many more interesting characters and stories that will challenge my perspective and make me think deeper about life and the human experience.

I have a feeling that each of his books will be a unique and enriching journey, and I can't wait to embark on them.
July 15,2025
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He has lost count of the kilometers he has walked in the letters of Herman Hesse. In his characters, the wounds have also grown for the same reason. It is in this way that between repressed desires and self-taught learnings, in long walks, Hesse has constructed stories that, besides being interesting, we cannot doubt that they respond to many of the questions that a good reader may come to conceive.

Although the dosage seems to be the same, it is the way Herman Hesse supplies it in this pair of novels, contained in the Porrúa edition and its "Sepan Cuantos" collection, that is worth studying. On the one hand, Demian and the exploration of good and evil, that Nietzschean world of morality that the young protagonist Emil Sinclair questions from his earliest childhood and that also serves as the plot throughout the novel, a personal and uneducated understanding that, when the time comes, with the help of Demian, evolves into a judgment that nourishes an interpretation that changes Sinclair's opinion in the different stages of his life recounted in this novel. The questioning of morality, of religion, the mark of Cain represented as the strength of the man who decides to impose a will rather than a stigma, the "only" god of good and evil the object of Emil Sinclair's research, the passion for answers, the search, unfinished or concluded? That is the final task of the reader.

This duo is completed with the meditation-turned-novel, Siddartha. It is a journey towards the independence of thought, a novel that tells the journey of the young Siddartha towards his own religion, his own thought, the approach to those people who make up the experience of a man, the emancipation of Siddartha towards a path that in his opinion can conclude the eternal search. In the company of his friend Govinda, Siddartha leaves his father to follow with a group of Samana monks the sacrifice that those monks adopted to reach the highest of the soul, the self. Siddartha does this for a long time, but knowledge, according to his interpretation, requires more than indoctrination because doctrine is only a means that a group uses to create a path. This, of course, cannot be the same for everyone, and it is in this way that Siddartha proposes to know other secrets. Far from the indoctrination of the Samanas, he discovers love, which is given to him by Kamala whose requirement to teach him these secrets is wealth. Siddartha, then, stubborn in his search, becomes rich. After many years have passed and he has still not found answers, he decides to leave Kamala's bed, who keeps a secret. Siddartha continues an exhaustive path towards his own understanding, towards his own doctrine, which, according to him, cannot be transmitted to a disciple because in individualism and solitude lies the Atman, and with this, his belonging to the whole, which is resolved in the last lines.

Here we have two of my favorite works of one of my favorite authors, a Nobel Prize winner in literature around the 1940s. Herman Hesse, as always, offers texts that seep in and modify our questions. Hesse takes us by the hand once again and with him leads us towards the same direction, depending on the novel, which is the landscape he shows us.
July 15,2025
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Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is an outstanding journey about a man on a mission.

It is an outstanding story about a man who leaves everything behind for learning and understanding. Siddhartha gives up his comfortable life, his family, and all his possessions to embark on a spiritual quest.

Throughout his journey with his friend Govinda, he seeks enlightenment. He studies with different religious teachers, practices meditation, and experiences the pleasures and pains of the world.

During his life, he undergoes several life changes. He becomes a wandering ascetic, a merchant, and a father. Each stage of his life teaches him something new about himself and the world around him.

Themes such as the search for meaning, the importance of self-discovery, and the power of love are shown throughout his life. Siddhartha realizes that true happiness and fulfillment come from within, not from external sources.

Siddhartha will searches for the one major goal in life that is above all others, nirvana. He believes that by achieving nirvana, he will be able to escape the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth and find true peace and enlightenment.

Overall, Siddhartha is a profound and thought-provoking novel that explores the human condition and the search for spiritual truth.
July 15,2025
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Demian

"Only the ideas that we actually live are of any value."


Once someone discovers their core, is it possible to find contentment in what lies on the surface?


All that we are is made up of everything that exists. This is a story of Emil Sinclair's journey of self-discovery.


Emil initially saw the world in two distinct shades. Although he was sometimes attracted to the darker side, he could still distinguish between right and wrong. However, everything changed when he met Demian. Demian challenged Sinclair's perception of the world and introduced him to its dual nature. Instead of causing friction, these two aspects complemented each other.


Demian is not just a companion; he is a mentor, a guiding light, the voice inside your head, and in a sense, he is you.


The story of Demian can be interpreted in various ways. Through the use of symbols and philosophical discourses, Hesse creates curiosity and leaves the reader with questions about the intricate ideas of a new and flexible world that the protagonist desires to be a part of.


This book is highly recommended as it offers profound insights into the human psyche and the journey of self-discovery. It challenges our preconceived notions and encourages us to look beyond the surface and explore the deeper aspects of our being.

July 15,2025
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In this coming-of-age novel, Herman Hesse reveals himself by showing some autobiographical references.

The story, the youth of Emile Sinclair, is not the story of a hero, but of an ordinary person, much closer to us than we can imagine and think, just as it is told and described to us from the very first lines:

"It is mine, the story of a man not invented and possible, not ideal or in some way non-existent, but of a true, unique man, of a man who lives."

Sinclair's life is characterized by two aspects, or rather two worlds: on the one hand, the world of light, of positivity represented and formed by people like his family and friends; on the other hand, the world of the darkness of the shadows that "has a different smell and speaks differently", characterized by the presence of Franz Kromer, who will try to lead him to perdition.

The figure of Demian, so charismatic, will be a spiritual guide, a lighthouse in Sinclair's life, who will accompany him on the most complicated journey, the journey in search of himself.
July 15,2025
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Another book that I read was due to BTS.

I firmly believe that my taste in books has significantly improved because of the influence of Kim Namjoon.

Regarding the book itself, HOLY SHIT! I am truly at a loss for words.

It was incredibly profound! It had me constantly introspecting about my life, minute by minute.

Not many writers possess the ability to render me speechless with their words.

In my opinion, the way Hesse captures the harsh life in an urban setting while simultaneously delving deep into the subconscious in unbelievably complex ways is sheer genius.

I adored the characters and how three-dimensional they were. Especially Demian and Eva!

I was on the verge of tears while reading this book.

I will likely reread this book countless times to relive the emotions I felt while reading it.

It has truly left a lasting impression on me and has become one of my favorite reads of all time.

I am grateful to BTS and Kim Namjoon for introducing me to such a remarkable piece of literature.
July 15,2025
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Lee Demian if you want to relive the days when you fell into the clutches of atheism. The book of self-discovery, without a doubt xD I'm going to write an essay for it.

This book seems to hold a special allure, as if it has the power to transport one back in time. It makes me curious about the experiences and thoughts that led Demian to that state of atheism.

Writing an essay about it will give me the opportunity to explore those aspects in more detail. I can analyze the events, emotions, and realizations that might have shaped his journey.

Maybe through this process, I'll gain a better understanding of not only Demian's story but also the broader themes of belief, doubt, and self-discovery. It could be a fascinating exploration that enriches my own perspective on these profound topics.
July 15,2025
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I would like to say that I am Demian, but in fact, I am Sinclair. I am just a 20-year-old girl who felt extremely identified with everything that Sinclair went through in his childhood and adolescence.

The ending really destroyed me. It was as if a part of my own soul had been torn away. Sinclair's experiences were so similar to mine that I could almost feel his pain and confusion.

I related to his search for identity, his struggle with the expectations of society, and his longing for something more meaningful in life.

The story of Demian and Sinclair made me realize that we are all on our own unique paths, but sometimes, those paths intersect in the most unexpected ways. It also made me understand that no matter how alone we may feel, there are always others out there who have gone through similar experiences and can offer support and understanding.

Although the ending was devastating, it also left me with a sense of hope. Maybe, like Sinclair, I will be able to find my own way and create a life that is true to myself.
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