Books like Siddhartha, Demian, and Other Writings

4.5 stars for Siddhartha -- an excellent philosophical narrative, full of redemption and the interconnectedness of everything. I was, however, somewhat unconvinced by the narrator's abrupt transformations. Anything's possible, though. The mystical elements of the book were artfully done.3 stars for Demian -- I most enjoyed the beginning, where Sinclair struggles with the concepts of right and wrong, joy and guilt. But Sinclair's ideation seemed to reflect what psychologists would call "intrusive thoughts," which affect some people more than others. Rather than resolving his inner unrest upon realizing the interconnectedness of things, as did Siddhartha, Sinclair seems to have a adopted a philosophy of amorality that borders on nihilism. I kept hoping for something to happen that never transpired. I think I would have enjoyed the novel much more had Demian and his mother not been in it. If I reread this one in a decade or so, I might get a different impression.