(or maybe 5) LOVED it when I read it in my 20's
But .. similar to Hesse's Siddartha & James Joyce's "Portrait of the Artist..." much of it wafter over my head a poetry that I was enjoying but it didn't stick with me & don't if I fully got it. I'm pretty sure there' store to "get" now that I'm older (& would def re-read) but I do think it's quite poetic / abstract / means different things to different people (i.e not just something you "get" or "don't get" ( )

"Demian" by Hermann Hesse is a coming-of-age novel that explores the journey of Emil Sinclair, a young man seeking his true self and grappling with the duality of human nature. Set against the backdrop of pre-World War I Germany, Sinclair encounters a mysterious and enigmatic figure named Demian, who becomes both a mentor and a catalyst for his spiritual and psychological awakening.

As Sinclair navigates the complexities of his relationships, societal expectations, and his own inner conflicts, he confronts themes of good and evil, light and darkness, and the quest for self-discovery. The novel delves into Jungian psychology, mythology, and existentialism, offering readers a profound exploration of the individual's search for identity and purpose.

"Demian" is a philosophical and introspective work that has resonated with readers for its timeless themes and existential insights, making it one of Hermann Hesse's most enduring and influential novels. ( )

Demian waxes and wanes poetically about the human spirit, but in contrast to Siddhartha, it is surprisingly direct in its focus on individualism and self-reliance.
The story is relatively simple – a bullied, questioning, and morally grey protagonist encounters an aloof individual named Demian, who takes a peculiar interest in him and makes him question Biblical allegories. He gains such an outsized influence in the protagonist’s life that even his dreams and art are dictated by him. It is worth mentioning that the novel contains so much Freudian influence that it should list him as a second author.
However, the meat of the story lies in its subtext – its glorification of individualism to insufferability, the “Mark of Cain” through which society’s disaffected individuals find each other, and its focus on dreams as a tool for discovering oneself. While it is hard to disagree with the novel’s aims and its unsubtle hints for people to start finding spiritual meaning, Demian sometimes becomes too heavy-handed, and it doesn’t have nearly as interesting characters, monologues, and plotlines as those in Siddhartha. I’d recommend Demian only because it makes note of the fact that solitude is important in one’s life and cannot be found in the company of others, however evident this sounds. ( )

For years I've been looking for a book that is similar to The Picture of Dorian Gray. I've read other works by Oscar Wilde, I've read other gothic Victorian era books. Nothing can quite scratch the itch.

This scratched it. Something about the philosophy and morality explored was just so deeply personal and intensely introspective on the same level. A certain beautiful loneliness that was extremely striking in both books.

However it was still a thoroughly different journey, an exploration of the human soul, and the spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional pains of adolescence.

I have a feeling I will being thinking about this book for a very long time. ( )

Svaki covek nije on sam nego je i neponovljiva, sasvim posebna, u svakom slucaju važna i znamenita tacka u kojoj se ukrštaju svetske pojave, samo jedanput i nikad više.