I Love Books

One of the few good things about being in lockdown is that I will finally read some books that I have been postponing for years.

Today I started Hermann Hesse's 'The glass bead game'. I remember starting it in my early twenties, after being spellbound by Demian and Steppenwolf. But 'The glass bead game' was something different. Too dense. Too cold. Like a palace made of white ivory that you look in awe but you feel you cannot enter. I could not finish it, and I remember I thought 'maybe at some point later'. Well, that 'later' has finally come.

Anyone else going to read some long overdue book during lockdown?

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Sssslm · F

Not reading any books in particular but have enrolled in 2 online courses to take.

SW-User

I wondered about The Glass Bead Game, as you, deeply enjoyed Demian and Steppenwolf, had picked up Narcissus and Goldmund but didn't finish it .... few months ago started again The Man Without Qualities, i had gotten to around page 700 something, but was taking too many breaks, wanted to relive what i had read, it's such a genius work, full of ideas .... Leopardi's Zibaldone has proven to be quite the chore, much of it is just linguistics, nothing to chew on, i want Schopenhaurian gloom from Leopardi!! .... In the kitchen while cooking i got some Pablo Neruda poetry, very good, so many books in fact, i hardly ever finish them, they in that way never end ... but the best books to me are endlessly rereadable, Cioran and Nietzsche chiefly ..... i should pick one or just dip into some, not a novel for me, something with digestable parts, great paragraphs (Proust), overwhelming how much there is!!

I dip into Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit a bit, read it out loud, it almost makes sense if i read it with conviction as if i knew what it meant lol

Cierzo · M

@SW-User Vow, Hegel, that's really heavy. I know my limits, and Hegel is beyond them 😄.

novembermoon · 51-55

Is this a bookworm club ? 🤓🤓🤓The books mentioned here sound really heavy

Cierzo · M

@novembermoon 😂

Nomoretomorrow · 46-50, M

Yep have a massive backlog of books to read. Currently reading Irvine Welsh's "A Decent Ride" then going to read "The Crow Road" by Iain Banks. I'll then have read the two remaining books by both authors I possess that I haven't read. After that it's anyone's guess. I've got a bucket list I drew up after a difficult time in my life to help me focus on on getting over it and moving on, giving my life structure and purpose. Because of recent events everything I'd planned for this year like hiking, an archery lesson, a foreign holiday and a ride in a hot air balloon are out of the question. Thankfully reading my book backlog is also on the list so at least I'll be able to get that one at least started on.

Mugin16 · 46-50, M

I have been struggling with Michael Hudson's book "...And forgive them their debts". I have started reading it twice but then left it to read other books. It is quite dry and dense.

SW-User

"The Glass Bead Game" is on my to-read list as well. But right now I'm going to finally start the 1000+ page tome "1Q84" by Haruki Murakami. It's been on my shelf forever and I've been daunted by its size but it's time to give it a go.

Cierzo · M

@SW-User I hope your experience with Murakami is better than mine.

SW-User

@Cierzo I loved [i]Kafka on the Shore[/i] and [i]The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle[/i] ([i]Norwegian Wood[/i] was so-so). So I have decently high hopes. :)

Cierzo · M

@SW-User I started both. Could not finish The Wind-up bird chronicle (I found it really empty). Kafka on the shore is better, but did not blow me away at all.

Nomoretomorrow · 46-50, M

Also, read "Steppenwolf" a few years ago and loved it. Sadly have no more Hesse books but will look into it when this is done.

Nyloncapes · 61-69, M

Yes doing exactly same thing

SW-User

Yep I have 6 books to read ☺️🧻

Add a comment...