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Sunday, July 14, 2013

The ferryman with a smile

Siddharta is the second book of Hermann Hesse I read in less than two weeks. I liked more the other one, still this one deserves a 4.00/5.00 or even a little bit more.

It is a book that I would call Hors Catégorie  not because its structure or technique but for its content.  The reading of the book is not hard at all. The narration is quite simple and easy to follow, as well as the story itself, nevertheless you feel that behind that simplicity hides a potential source of reflecto to change your life or at least your interpretation of it. A potential that seems, at least in my case, to be higher than my reach of understanding.

Similarly to The Steppenwolf, Siddharta is a book about a man finding its way out of spiritual crisis and unsatisfaction. It might seem like a depressing topic but in my opinion both books are all the opposite. I feel both books are quite positive and filled with hope.

I loved about Siddharta how it makes it beautifully clear that the way to happiness is unique to everyone and that no one can explain you the way to it. No one, even who already achieved happiness can guide you to it. It has to be yourself who take a journey to discover the path, let yourself experience and live. It shows how you shall not to stop seeking, the importance of voicing your interior and the importance of voicing the nature.

It is a book about individuality but also about unity, about love and about the importance of living and experiencing life by yourself. Others experience will never show you the path to your happiness.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

For madmen only: Between great and amazing

It was a while since I didn't read a book that shocked me this way, it was a while since I didn't read a good book. This one enters into my top ten books!

Steppenwolf from Hermann Hesse has been an incredible book in which I could see reflected the personality of my best friend, and, without being pretentious, some times even myself (or at least some episodes of my life).
Although it could be felt as a rather negative and sad book for me it was completely the opposite. For me it was about the existence of hope to winning the personal struggles, hope to enjoy life and about the option to find happiness in the life of a modern man.

The book has some elements that make me love a book such as change of narrator, change of planes/dimension, a superb fluency to describe situations, surprises and huge invitations to think and to challenge my points of views.

I am very glad I read this book. Sometimes I feel it would have been nice to had read it while I was teenager. Still, it is better late than never.

A book I will probably re-read one day, and a book I recommend to any who at any point has felt this world is too absurd and that there is a beast inside of you.