As usual, nothing that gets out from Hesse's mind could dissappoint. This is a novel about talented musicians, youth, love and longing, but also tragedy. For me, what is there to adore in Hesse's writing style is that he manages to capture the in-betweens in very clear images, managing to convert feelings into words while playing with the musical and romantic theme and intertwining them. If there are lovers of Steppenwolf or Demian, this is the book for you. I definitely recommend it.

Gertrude is a confirmation that life is messy. You are always, in some sense, at variance with your friends and family. When everything is going well, you might not be completely happy. When things are going poorly, it might not be that hard to recover. Not everything happens at the most convenient time. People who give you advice might not know what they're talking about. Invariably, the future will differ from what you expect.

Gertrude has a lot of insight, in a thoughtful, contemplative way. It could use a little more narrative development and a lot more sense of setting. It's not exciting, and it's not masterful, but it's good, it's pure, and it's true.