Darwin8u's Reviews > Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf
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“There are always a few such people who demand the utmost of life and yet cannot come to terms with its stupidity and crudeness.”
― Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf
![description](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1447862121i/17059342._SX540_.jpg)
There is this bourgeoisie period in every man's life. A midpoint between birth and death where man is trapped alone. Unable to exist in the hot or cold of the absolutes he tries to find his way between the extremes in the comfortable center. Fearing life and death, he just |exists| ... barely. This is not a novel for the young. Just like it is better to save King Lear for late(r) in one's life, it is better to save Steppenwolf for those crisis years of the midlife.
Hesse's novels seem to flirt between the edge of memoir, scripture, prose poem and Eastern philosophy tract. This isn't a book you want to read in a hot bath with scotch in one hand and a razor blade in the other. You will either spill your drink or spill your blood or lose every printed word; the hot water erasing pages and pickling your fingers, toes and time.
― Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf
![description](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1447862121i/17059342._SX540_.jpg)
There is this bourgeoisie period in every man's life. A midpoint between birth and death where man is trapped alone. Unable to exist in the hot or cold of the absolutes he tries to find his way between the extremes in the comfortable center. Fearing life and death, he just |exists| ... barely. This is not a novel for the young. Just like it is better to save King Lear for late(r) in one's life, it is better to save Steppenwolf for those crisis years of the midlife.
Hesse's novels seem to flirt between the edge of memoir, scripture, prose poem and Eastern philosophy tract. This isn't a book you want to read in a hot bath with scotch in one hand and a razor blade in the other. You will either spill your drink or spill your blood or lose every printed word; the hot water erasing pages and pickling your fingers, toes and time.
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Reading Progress
September 16, 2011
– Shelved
February 28, 2014
–
Started Reading
March 1, 2014
– Shelved as:
2014
March 1, 2014
–
Finished Reading
March 2, 2014
– Shelved as:
1001-ante-mortem
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message 1:
by
Riku
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 01, 2014 09:49PM
![Riku Sayuj](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1433433464p1/1651956.jpg)
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![Darwin8u](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1547440402p1/2294090.jpg)
![Riku Sayuj](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1433433464p1/1651956.jpg)
Hmm... I need to think about my impressions to see if I count among them. Very possible. Disadvantages of not having a review to refer back to.
![Darwin8u](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1547440402p1/2294090.jpg)
![Larry](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1644458271p1/314025.jpg)
![Ian "Marvin" Graye](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1702079141p1/5022264.jpg)
I agree. I read this as a young man and have been transfixed by it ever since. I can't wait to read it again as an old man. One reason being that it contains one of the few genuine examples of an unreliable narrator that I've come across.
D8u, there must be poetry in your fingers today: "fingers, toes and time" and "It was written for the bloom and not the bud". Amazing.
![Larry](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1644458271p1/314025.jpg)
I agree. I read this as a young man and h..."
Ian, I agree, sometimes I think Darwin8u is squandering his poetry here, on goodreads. The bitch is a poet!
![Ian "Marvin" Graye](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1702079141p1/5022264.jpg)
Haha, do you think it's not squandered if two of us love it!
![Riku Sayuj](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1433433464p1/1651956.jpg)
Haha, do you think it's not squandered if two of us love it!"
three!
![Darwin8u](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1547440402p1/2294090.jpg)
I tell my clients that if I had my druthers I'd be a shepherd and write poetry on rocks. Unfortunately, I am a bourgeoisie bitch cloaking myself in cashmere and not a mangy wolf from the steppes. I'm a socialist stockbroker who cares little for money, except for the game, power and freedom it gives. But anyway, thank you three (Ian, Riku, Larry) for waking me with a smile.
A gift back?
A steppensweater:
![steppensweater](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1393772522i/8761302._SX540_.jpg)
![Ned](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1526900273p1/21232850.jpg)
I will simply note that if young men love Hesse, then he must be a young man's writer. I've said before that I read this at 35- it occurs I should read next year when I'm 55 to see how it ages. I loved the beginning/middle and hated the sci-fi ending, but that's just me.
![Larry](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1644458271p1/314025.jpg)
Haha, do you think it's not squandered if two of us love it!"..."
You play the game well my friend.
![Larry](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1644458271p1/314025.jpg)
I tell my clients that if I had my druthers I'd be a shepherd and write poetry on rocks. Unfortunately, I am a bourgeoisie bitch cloaking myself in cashmere an..."
I think I saw that guy at brunch today. "clients"
![Darwin8u](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1547440402p1/2294090.jpg)
In the next life, there will hopefully be no need for masters or servants or clients or whatever I am.
![Matthias](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1448737319p1/9889835.jpg)
![Darwin8u](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1547440402p1/2294090.jpg)
Good point. And certainly drinking/drugs + bathing + reading is always a disaster.
![Darwin8u](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1547440402p1/2294090.jpg)
"
Thanks Glenn. Hesse kinda begs to be reviewed. Literally begs.
This review is what I call nutritious. Good for the soul to read.
![Darwin8u](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1547440402p1/2294090.jpg)
I think this is one of the reviews where the comments trump the review. :) Thanks T.
![Mel](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1546466781p1/7182738.jpg)
![Darwin8u](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1547440402p1/2294090.jpg)
Just over-caffeinated Mel.
![Pamela Dolezal](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1641357193p1/15296965.jpg)