amazon review:
Argued by many to have influenced the counterculture of the 1960s, "Steppenwolf" succeeds in captivating the reader with its philosophical informative stance, while entertaining with ... an immersing plot.

... this is a book about philosophy using the plot of a novel to present its ideas, although with more maturity and depth than this comparison. The main narrator is the Steppenwolf himself - a self-concious and depressed man cynical of the bourgeouis society in which he lives. Although a very distinct character, we are able to empathise with his experiences and the thoughts he has. We follow a great change in the Steppenwolf as he is introduced to new relationships and a very different culture and way of life to that which he endures at the beginning of the novel.

Nothing more need be said of this classic except of its guarantee to captivate the reader and force upon them obvious questions perhaps never asked before - one of those books you find your mind drifting back to long after its back on the bookshelf.

RELEASE NOTES:

If not taken at the meet-up, will wild release somewhere in Hay.

Did not release this book after all, so it is back as AVL.

Reserved for bookgroupman at Uncon.

Hi 'Katisha50' - it was good to meet you in Brum. I'm looking forward to reading this after seeing a couple of glowing recommendations recently :)

I'm half way through this, and thought I would write a quick 'half-term' report... :)

It's been blooming tough to read so far, although Harry Haller, the Steppenwolf, has just met a girl; lets call her 'Herman' for now, and things are lightening up a bit and becoming less obscure (let's hope so!)

So Steppenwolf, the wolf of the steppes, '...that beast astray who finds neither home nor joy nor nourishment in a world that is strange and incomprehensible to him.' That's how i'm feeling at the moment ;)

There is an unusual note from the author explaining how some readers have misunderstood the book, or only picked up on part of its meaning and underlying message...so I’m left in some doubt as to whether I really understood it, book-reading performance anxiety I don’t need! HH sums it up succinctly, ‘...the story of Steppenwolf pictures a disease and crisis – but not one leading to death and destruction, on the contrary: to healing’

I won’t attempt to explain the story, but I will give you a warning that it is a dark philosophical tale, HH calls it ‘poetic writing’, I found it quite challenging. It reminded me a bit of Paul Auster’s New York Trilogy, and maybe Camus in his depressed existential moments!?

I like to think in the end that the Steppenwolf does manage to reconcile his animal and nihilistic instincts, as only one of his ‘thousand souls’. With the help of sensualists Hermine, Pablo & Maria, and the Magic Theatre (what a trip!) he does find joy, and a release from his pompous, intellectual & isolating inner-torment.

Ready to pass you...

RELEASE NOTES:

I took this along to today's Ipswich meet-up, and it was shamelessly pushed onto SemioticGhost...don't feel obliged to add to tottering Mt Tbr :)

I loved "Siddharta" when I was young. Now it's time to read this...

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Released at the inaugural Bury Bookcrossing Meetup!

Picked up at the first Bury Meet. It's a classic of the 60's. We'll see how well I do with nihilism!

Time to move on.

Picked up from Scatz to help this travelling book on its journey

Here for our monthly meet up. Will be left on the shelves if no-one decides to grab.