Book Review : Siddhartha
Book Name: Siddhartha
Author: Herman Hesse
Publisher: Public Domain (Standard Ebooks)
Genre: Classic Fiction
Format: Ebook
Print length: 132 pages
Rating: 4/5
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse is a classic fiction novel exploring the spiritual journey of the boy named Siddhartha.
Blurb on Amazon
Siddartha is the spiritual journey of a boy named Siddartha who lived in India during the period of Buddha.The story is based in ancient Nepal,where Siddartha, the son of a brahman leaves his home with his friend Govinda in the search of enlightenment and with the aim of joining the ascetics. He undergoes a series of changes and realizations and at last achieves his enlightenment as a ferryman listening to the sounds of the river that give long lasting peace and capture the essence of his journey. Siddartha is Hermann Hesse's ninth novel and was written in German in a simple yet powerful and lyrical style. It was written after he had spent some time in India during the 1910's.
Review
A timeless classic, Siddhartha explores the spiritual journey of a boy named Siddhartha at the time of Buddha. This book is set in ancient India, it is a captivating prose with profound insights that deliver significant lessons and teachings for living a peaceful life.
Though the story centers on the protagonist Siddhartha, the other characters introduced in this book played noteworthy roles in his life. The author pictured each character well so that readers would understand the essence of other beings in one's life, and the role they play in the transformation journey. Similarly, different characters in this book helped Siddhartha in his spiritual journey.
It is one such book that will demand the reader's attention again and again letting them take away different essence and meaning from the story of Siddhartha and its struggle while exploring to find peace in his life. The insights like the power of love, the illusion of self, and the river as a metaphor depicting fearlessness and strength offer effective messages for the readers, enlightening them to develop deep connections with themselves and the Universe.
The author's writing style is evocative, leaving readers in awe of the thought process of writing this fiction literary piece that would cater to a special place in readers' hearts. Readers who love to explore the spiritual world, and the teachings delivered from that will fall in love with this book at once.
One of the best parts of the book is the conversation between Govinda (a beloved friend of Siddhartha who left his comfort and started the spiritual journey with Siddhartha) and Siddhartha at the end when Govinda perceives Siddhartha's teachings and learnings as foolishness. Readers would love what Siddhartha said to Govinda about wisdom,
"Knowledge can be conveyed, but not wisdom. It can be found, it can be lived, it is possible to be carried by it, miracles can be performed with it, but it cannot be expressed in words and taught."
The overall experience of reading this book is inspiring and challenging simultaneously. Some readers may find it slow-paced in the initial phase. But the setting of the transition journey of Siddharth from Brahmin to different characters or personalities will lead readers to crave to know the impact of his other personality.
Buy it from Amazon - Siddhartha
I have heard only praises about this book. Do you feel the book does justice to the ideology of Siddhartha? Thanks for sharing this review 😁
ReplyDeleteHmm to be honest it is a book is little bundle of joy, but the ideology of Siddhartha is not followed I believe
DeleteI've heard such rave reviews of this book. Now, your review has ensured that I must read it. Gonna get this soon.
ReplyDeleteYes try once and make your own perspective, it would enrich your experience
DeleteWoof woof! 🐾 Thank you for paw-ticipating in the #ReadingWithMuffy challenge! Your entry has been paw-sitively noted. I am definitely going to read this one. I thing i will like this one.
ReplyDelete