i didn't like this book

[nunya]

this book just didn't seem right to me. the book was not an attention getter. i realize that this book was written for education purposes, but usually when you are reading a book, you look for the climax of the story. There wasn't one in this book. it just kept going and ended all wrong. it was an open ended book, which i dislike strongly, and it left a lot of things left in the open. What happened to his son, did he achieve peace, unless that last scene when Vasudeva left was the place where he finally achieved peace. but have you read the little thing in the back about herman hesse? he was a wacko. (can you tell this was written by at 14 yr old??)

[Utima900]

To Nun Ya Business.

I Agree the novel not "book" has some weaknesses in the way it was written and the ending in particular took me by surprise as well. I do not believe the ending was as open ended as you claim since it was purposefully intended by Hesse in order for the reader to gather their own interpretations: Did Siddhartha finally attain peace and happiness or is he still searching like Govinda until the end?

In context to the argument about retaining to the climax in the novel, there is definitely one towards the end when Vasudeva shows Siddhartha how to listen to the river and let it guide him towards Nirvana. In my own personal opinion, the climax occured when Siddhartha kissed Govinda on the forehead and showed him what it felt like to discover ones self.

I do not know exactly what happened to his son, i believe he just ran away in search of his own life style. The one that Siddhartha blindingly tries to bind him to is not something that he wants, hence he runs away back into Samsara. His departure shows the significance of each individual's desire to find their own path in life, and how it cannot be forced upon them.

Herman Hesse could not have been a "wacko" as you describe, otherwise he couldn't have written such a good novel, is that correct? The idea that Hesse, a person who grew up in a Christian oriented household and studies the religion of Hinduism sheds light on a western perspective on an ancient religion. The novel is different because it has a western touch and interpretation which makes it easier for the readers to understand.

In regards to the last and final question of your epic treacherously long saga of stupid questions, Yes i could tell that you are a 14 year old since you spelled "a" with an "a and t". I noticed that you used "nunya" as your user name, which suggests that you are insecure and does not want people to know who you are, a sign that shows you are not yet reach puberty, hence you are 14.

[libernaut]

no it wasnt written for education purposes, thought they do often require people to read it in schools.

and yes the english is poorly translated in the penguin edition especially. i recommend the non penguin translation for this book.