Demian

The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth

By: Hermann Hesse

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is the dramatic story of young, docile Emil Sinclair's descent - led by precocious schoolmate Max Demian - into a secret and dangerous world of petty crime and revolt against convention and eventual awakening to selfhood. A brilliant psychological portrait of a troubled young man's quest for self-awareness, this coming-of-age novel achieved instant critical and popular acclaim upon its 1919 publication. A landmark in the history of 20th-century literature, it reflects the author's preoccupation with the duality of human nature and the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment.

©1925 Fischer Verlag; 1965 Harper and Row, Publishers, Incorprated; 1948 Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc. (Introduction) (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Great read

Great performance, it carried the prose thoughtfully. It’s a good coming of age story with a mix of fantasy and harsh realities.

Great book

No wonder that the author was able to sell more than 150 million books during the mid 1900

changed me

this little book has taken me six months to get through. every so often, a passage or phrase would hit me a little too closely to home, and i would need to put it down. i don't even have the words to explain why this book has affected me so deeply, but i know it's one i'll be returning to again and again over the course of my life. thank you, namjoon, for the recommendation.

I understand BTS would find so inspiring

Beautifully written. It touched my soul. Hesse has a way with words. I'm forever changed.

Metaphysical

An intriguing look within the development of a young man’s connection with his soul snd the path to spiritual awakening

hermosa

la narrativa es hermosa, la historia es frágil y tempestuosa una hora maestra sobre la juventud y la amistad

Books that make you a better person.

This book is a guide and a journey in which you will re-discover yourself, beliefs, religion, and maturity..

No doubt this book must be read more than once through your life...

Love this book - Found the reader irritating.

So,
This is a classic. I read it and re-read it a zillion times from HS forward. I still really love it. The reader made it a slog at some points....I did not care for his interpretative vocal choices.
Just me probably!

Nothing happens

Sinclaire is an incel, and never achieves anything. The story just keeps going, and going, and nothing really happens. No real drama. Sinclaire should've ended up with Damien to be quite honest.

This is my favorite work of Hesse

I've read it in Japanese years ago with the beautiful translation by Mr. Kenji Takahashi. It's nice to hear it now in English. Yes, yes, this book was telling me how someone would fall into an unfortunate situation from the start of their life. And Hesse describes so well the feelings hard to put in words. I can't help but be curious what Max actually said to the evil boy to save poor Emil, though, I definitely wish most of men were like Max. There're something unworldly about Max and his mother, but that's what Emil felt: Hesse wanted to write it that way. I enjoyed reading those scenes like the organist lectured Emil and created a bird head in the flame of fire, and made me understand how ancient people came to awe fire. I wish I could listen to the organist performances.