tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post5938494599774025311..comments2023-11-05T19:08:10.849-08:00Comments on Booked for LIfe: The Magic Mountain by Thomas MannRuthiellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-6743543754274285752021-05-19T05:00:29.867-07:002021-05-19T05:00:29.867-07:00Thanks for the insight about Hans! I've been ...Thanks for the insight about Hans! I've been wanting to discuss that particular point for some time but Mr. Janakay is TOTALLY unsatisfactory on these things (he'd blanche with horror at the very IDEA of reading MM!) I agree with your take on Hans. His cousin was truly ill (didn't he eventually die? I remember being quite sad about him) but Hans . . . well, as I read I kept thinking that there was really nothing physically wrong with him, he just found living on the mountain more enjoyable than working back in Hamburg (a "slacker" perhap?) When you think about it, this is probably part of Mann's joke, i.e., his protagonist lives in a sanatorium with sick people but is perfectly healthy; it's only when he leaves the sick house to return to the ostensibly "healthy" world that he dies.<br />What a great book! It just demands to be re-read, but I'm not sure I have the attention span these days.janakayhttp://youmightaswellread.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-86344242890045405982021-05-18T17:30:53.646-07:002021-05-18T17:30:53.646-07:00I don't think that is a stupid question at all...I don't think that is a stupid question at all! I think that Hans did not have tuberculosis (as opposed to his cousin who was really ill). I think he stayed up the mountain for so long because this life of the mind was preferable to him that what Hamburg and working for a shipping company had to offer. Hans is a dilettante, his knowledge never goes too deep but his interests are wide. His seven years in the sanatorium allowed him to indulge that dilettantism. <br /><br />I've not read Death in Venice yet. I did see the movie many, many years ago. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-91079849755794088762021-05-17T17:53:23.394-07:002021-05-17T17:53:23.394-07:00I am Totally impressed! First by the fact you rea...I am Totally impressed! First by the fact you read MM in German, second by your great review, which gives a wonderful summary of the novel in very clear terse language. I'd be going on for pages, missing the point, if I were able to review it at all.<br />I absolutely loved MM when I read it in my early 30s, so much so that it put Mann on my "favored authors" list. For some reason, however, I haven't read anything by him in years. I did try Doctor Faustus a few years ago but didn't get very far. <br />One stupid question about MM: do you think Hans Castorp actually had anything wrong with him physically or, rather, that on some level he just saw/used the sanatorium as a way for a more satisfying, albeit temporary existence?<br />Did you ever get to Death in Venice? I liked it, but not as well as MM or Buddenbrooks.<br />Finally, I totally agree with you about the humor. Mann can be very, very funny.janakayhttp://youmightaswellread.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-83967040987651200052021-04-05T18:12:31.270-07:002021-04-05T18:12:31.270-07:00I wish every college student could do a year abroa...I wish every college student could do a year abroad program. They are so enriching in my experience. I wish my German reading comprehension were better, but as I wrote above, its all about practice! Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-33029560687944986512021-04-04T20:41:48.937-07:002021-04-04T20:41:48.937-07:00This is one of those books that all educated peopl...This is one of those books that all educated people should know even if they haven't read! So I appreciate your insight and am impressed by your ability to read in German. Although I was a 16th century History and Literature major, my college did not encourage study abroad and I regret never having lived outside the US.CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-22793312132538844722021-03-07T22:22:11.793-08:002021-03-07T22:22:11.793-08:00Actually, my spoken German is probably better than...Actually, my spoken German is probably better than my reading comprehension. I am sure your French would have gotten better and better if you had stayed longer in Paris. It's all about practice. :D Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-11253090225217217172021-03-04T15:31:37.206-08:002021-03-04T15:31:37.206-08:00Hi Ruthiella, congratulations on your feat!! I'...Hi Ruthiella, congratulations on your feat!! I'm impressed! Is you reading of the German language better than your speaking of it?? I remember quite a lot of French if I see it written but I'm hopeless at speaking it, unfortunately. That became obvious when we were in Paris in 2019 and even hearing it was difficult to keep up with.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820925595506920754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-14244007966626634602021-02-23T08:34:57.262-08:002021-02-23T08:34:57.262-08:00I will get back to Giovanni's Room soon!I will get back to Giovanni's Room soon!reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15818057262934008241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-56375416835476497032021-02-21T20:32:24.405-08:002021-02-21T20:32:24.405-08:00I don’t know if I will reread it ever.I don’t know if I will reread it ever.Silviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249978624747684879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-13934353836830178812021-02-21T17:30:31.612-08:002021-02-21T17:30:31.612-08:00Hi Kathy. I wish second languages were more encour...Hi Kathy. I wish second languages were more encouraged in the U.S. Though my German could be much improved, knowing it and having lived there does open a window on a world, for sure. When I was a little kid, one of my favorite shows was The Big Blue Marble where they went around the world and showed how children lived in other countries. That kicked of my curiosity about traveling and living outside the U.S. <br /><br />Mann was no fan of fascism. In fact, he was was quite public about his disdain for the Hitler regime and had to leave Germany due to his political beliefs, so I am sure he was acutely aware of the undercurrents in Europe at the time. I think if I had read Death in Venice too early in my reading career, it would have fell flat for me to. Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-18436118921979908312021-02-21T17:22:35.168-08:002021-02-21T17:22:35.168-08:00Thanks Lark. I had to refer to dictionaries, the t...Thanks Lark. I had to refer to dictionaries, the translation and friends in Germany many, many times! Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-9953785177587254332021-02-21T17:21:55.633-08:002021-02-21T17:21:55.633-08:00Wow jenclair. I think you will find it a worthwhil...Wow jenclair. I think you will find it a worthwhile challenge if you do read it!Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-76558447346814149122021-02-21T17:20:41.583-08:002021-02-21T17:20:41.583-08:00Thanks for the comment Ruth. I wanted to do that r...Thanks for the comment Ruth. I wanted to do that read along last year too, but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep to a schedule! Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-47528147442525256352021-02-21T17:19:15.137-08:002021-02-21T17:19:15.137-08:00I totally agree, Mann is operating on multiple lev...I totally agree, Mann is operating on multiple levels in the book. When Naphta and Settembrini debated, I often got lost in the arguments but still found them fascinating, even if I only understood a small portion of them. I don't know if I will ever manage to re-read it. I have so many other chunksters like Moby Dick or War and Peace to tackle. But perhaps one day! Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-79022535967917480592021-02-21T17:13:57.446-08:002021-02-21T17:13:57.446-08:00Now Reese, you have to pay me back and review Giov...Now Reese, you have to pay me back and review Giovanni's Room. LOL<br /><br />I felt that Naptha got the upper hand in the argument many times. And I think that Settembrini’s nationalism, to its extreme is also dangerous. But that’s what is so great about the book, right? So many ideas - so much to think about. <br /><br />What ultimately drags Hans back to Germany is perhaps that which is alluded to in the beginning of the novel, that sense of tradition and family ingrained upon him by his Grandfather. And also possibly the sense of duty that he so admired in his cousin Joachim. <br /><br />I lived in Germany for over 10 years, so my German, while rusty, is fairly fluent. But I am lazy. Even when I lived there, I read novels in English. It is only now, decades later where I am thinking I need to keep up my skills or I will lose them. I have never read any Goethe, but I am familiar with the outline of Junge Werther. I should read it and then Lotte in Weimar after. <br />Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-27901989896165213212021-02-21T17:11:53.116-08:002021-02-21T17:11:53.116-08:00Jane, this book was made for mountain climbing ana...Jane, this book was made for mountain climbing analogies! LOL.<br /><br />You are right that the signs were there long before the Second World War. Unfortunately, pretty much what I learned before college, if anything, was that Hitler and Nazi were a "German thing" and “we” beat him and now Americans have nothing to worry about; any emphasis was placed on the atrocities of the Holocaust and the U.S.’s role in winning the war. So every time I learn something more about the complicated events leading up to WWII (and there is so much more to learn), I am impressed. <br /><br />Death in Venice will probably be my next read. I’ve seen the film but that was ages ago. I am interested in Dr. Faustus and the Faust myth in general and would like to someday read Mephisto, by Klaus Mann as well. <br />Ruthiellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871834571645928819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-76268639672886807842021-02-21T13:59:01.988-08:002021-02-21T13:59:01.988-08:00Hi Ruthiella, You did a great job with this review...Hi Ruthiella, You did a great job with this review and I was also interested to learn that though Magic Mountain was published in 1925 it is prophetic about the rise of fascism. No one could have predicted how terrible things would become but clearly Mann saw signs which he framed as the conflict between humanism and populism and that certainly has relevance today and its scary. I did read years ago Death in Venice but the book fell flat for me but that's my fault because Mann is such a great writer and congratulations on reading Magic Mountain and in German. I wish I had taken the time to learn another language.Kathy's Cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967595794483824444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-38356995965079496492021-02-21T12:19:28.968-08:002021-02-21T12:19:28.968-08:00So impressed that you read this one in German! Tha...So impressed that you read this one in German! That's awesome. :)Lark https://www.blogger.com/profile/13777891312147377769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-63367736577250117742021-02-21T11:04:27.192-08:002021-02-21T11:04:27.192-08:00You've convinced me. The title has come up fr...You've convinced me. The title has come up frequently over the years, but I've never been truly tempted until now. Thanks!jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-83350963065801256882021-02-21T08:23:23.045-08:002021-02-21T08:23:23.045-08:00Ahh, I was supposed to read this last year...was i...Ahh, I was supposed to read this last year...was it last year already? So I only got through maybe 10 pages???? It was just too challenging to begin and keep going in what I felt was a very distracting year (#2020). So I took a break. I cannot imagine reading through it in a second language. But you did it! Good for you. Ruth @ with freedom and bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531827758868215023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-70642103127689516622021-02-21T06:14:12.387-08:002021-02-21T06:14:12.387-08:00Congratulations on reading it in German. Books lik...Congratulations on reading it in German. Books like this have that ability to present us philosophies or worldviews embedded in the characters, however I don’t know if that’s your experience, but although I always felt Mann was saying something at a deeper level, to me the story is the story of Hans and the sanatorium is the world and his world. <br />I read this when I was very young, and I am sure that the humor escaped me but though serious it didn’t feel heavy either.<br />The poor/wealthy theme was well represented, the idealism of the rich and illness and death as an ultimate leveler. It’s a great title and I agree that as such it surely will give me something new each time I bet.Silviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249978624747684879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-68008791394413597792021-02-20T19:27:45.181-08:002021-02-20T19:27:45.181-08:00I'm such a taskmaster... ;-) But thanks for th...I'm such a taskmaster... ;-) But thanks for the shout-out!<br /><br />I am so super impressed you read it in German. I had two years of college German about a million years ago and there's no way I would try this.<br /><br />It is funny in places, isn't it? I think that's the unexpected thing about Mann. And an important one to note.<br /><br />The Ploughshares article was fascinating--thanks for the link!--though I'm not 100% sure I agree with its premise. Almost anybody who reads Mann these days is going to find Settembrini more convincing than Naphta, but I do remember Mann giving Naphta some pretty good arguments on occasion. (It's been a while & now you've made me want to reread it...) And between them, Naphta and Settembrini (and I suppose Mynheer Peeperkorn) do nothing but lead Castorp to go out & get himself killed, so there's still something missing, it seems. Ah, well. I really do need to read it again...<br /><br />I remember Death in Venice as pretty great--but not funny. (Though I've been thinking about rereading it after the Nooteboom.) But for another funny--and relatively short Mann--try Lotte in Weimar. Goethe meets the girl from Young Werther years later and she's married and he's famous. It's pretty good!<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for this! It was fun and interesting to read about your experience. Five words for slope, all unknown...how come I'm not surprised...reesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15818057262934008241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-927098956199060247.post-86159667353388086852021-02-20T18:11:49.118-08:002021-02-20T18:11:49.118-08:00Reading the Magic Mountain is like climbing Mount ...Reading the Magic Mountain is like climbing Mount McKinley, reading it in German has got to be like climbing Everest. I read it when I was in college because mine was one of the authors I studied as an English major, but I’ve never even thought about rereading it. I’m glad you got a lot out of it. <br /><br />I guess I don’t think anyone should have been surprised by the rise of the Nazi party in Germany and fascism in Europe, so many authors basically prophesied what happened. In a way, it seems it was inevitable.<br /><br />Death in Venice is my favorite work by Mann and I have read it 3 or 4 times—it is what sparked my interest in studying Mann. I also really like Buddembrooks, which is more of a traditional novel than many of us other works. I remember liking Dr. Faustus as well.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.com