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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “this book is one of a kind. it's the kind of book that may change your views on things like sciences and music. Hesse celebrates the knowledge of the human kind and make a unique tunnel in the invisible elements in the soul of a wise man from his very begging to the end of his life. a life that...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Ugh... ugh... ugh... no... This book took itself WAY too seriously. I could barely plow through it. THEN I made the mistake of glancing at the introduction. A friend of Hesse's said he worried that readers would not be able to understand the book's "humor." Um... humor... wait... WHERE THE HELL...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“Hesse's magnum opus. In the future philosophy and aesthetics have mixed into a beautiful game (the Glass Bead Game). From the future Hesse reflects on the twentieth century as no author could. ”
Davy M wrote this review Wednesday, November 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A book o examples and thoughts”
laura a wrote this review Friday, October 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Ugh... ugh... ugh... no... This book took itself WAY too seriously. I could barely plow through it. THEN I made the mistake of glancing at the introduction. A friend of Hesse's said he worried that readers would not be able to understand the book's "humor." Um... humor... wait... WHERE THE HELL WAS THE HUMOR??? This was one of the most self-possessed books I've ever read. Crap.”
Ria A wrote this review Thursday, September 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I remember finding the plot interesting, about a monastic/academic style of life, but most of what i remember is the glass bead game itself. Very clever and probably impossible in reality, though maybe these days computers could make it possible? One plays by creating a pattern alluding to a theme. The next player adds a bead to make the pattern more strongly represent THEIR alternative analogous theme. As more beads get added, there may be many different themes/analogies of the single pattern being created by the colored glass beads. Who wins is a kind of artistic decision by external judges, I think. A lot like jazz, really, but also chess or go. ”
Helen B wrote this review Wednesday, September 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Still better than I remembered.”
Masha wrote this review Monday, August 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“While I was reading this book I couldn't form any opinions on it I just knew that I had to finish it. Only once I had triumphantly returned it to the library did I decide that it had been a truly beautiful, meaningful read. Stylistcally Glass Bead Game is different from Hesse's earlier books, but many of the themes are very similar.”
Zo wrote this review Thursday, July 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A tough one”
richard n wrote this review Friday, June 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A long,complicated read. You may have to be a die-hard Hessian to get through it. the entire concept of the glass bead game is beautiful. It poses interesting questions about the merits of intellectualism,creativity,and purpose. ”
Matea wrote this review Thursday, June 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“His best book, but a tough read.”
SEL wrote this review Sunday, June 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
