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Rowena's Reviews > The Sorrows of Young Werther
The Sorrows of Young Werther
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"I have been intoxicated more than once, my passions have never been far off insanity."
Although I have some sympathy for unrequited love, it was hard for me to understand Werther. My feelings toward him went back and forth between sympathy and frustration. At times I admired his love, at other times I found it to be very obsessive. Yes, he was sensitive and romantic, but the woman of his dreams did not lead him on in any way so I did find the way he behaved quite incomprehensible.
This was my first Goethe and it won't be my last.I love how he writes, and I enjoyed his philosophical musings, and his meditations on life, love, religion, people, etc. He made some interesting points although some of them did seem to come from an elitist's point of view.
Although I have some sympathy for unrequited love, it was hard for me to understand Werther. My feelings toward him went back and forth between sympathy and frustration. At times I admired his love, at other times I found it to be very obsessive. Yes, he was sensitive and romantic, but the woman of his dreams did not lead him on in any way so I did find the way he behaved quite incomprehensible.
This was my first Goethe and it won't be my last.I love how he writes, and I enjoyed his philosophical musings, and his meditations on life, love, religion, people, etc. He made some interesting points although some of them did seem to come from an elitist's point of view.
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Reading Progress
December 29, 2012
– Shelved
December 29, 2012
– Shelved as:
banned-book-challenges
December 29, 2012
– Shelved as:
german-lit
July 27, 2015
–
Started Reading
July 27, 2015
–
Finished Reading
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message 1:
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Cheryl
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Jul 28, 2015 03:21PM
Yay, good one.
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Stumbled on a second hand copy of this a few months ago, it's in my (colossal) to-read pile
Cheryl wrote: "Yay, good one."Are you planning on reading it?
Vishal wrote: "Stumbled on a second hand copy of this a few months ago, it's in my (colossal) to-read pile "This was a relatively quick read; it's quite short :)
Rowena wrote: "Are you planning on reading it?"Already did, Rowena. My edition was a bit different than yours though because it included other writings (/review/show...) and I noticed it's even hard to do a GR search on it. Hmm.
Oh! That's why I didn't see the rating next to your name. Thanks, Cheryl!
Ah, Rowena - you had a similar experience to me - impatience with the obsessive love but enjoyment of the other aspects. Very interesting.
Eventhough I'm from Germany (actually even from Goethes hometown Frankfurt) I've never read this one. But I read "Faust" (in school) which is much more popular in Germany than The Sorrows of Young Werther. Don't know if I want to read more by Goethe though. I see how his work is very important, but from todays point of view there is not that much to gain from the stories themselfs.
Fionnuala wrote: "Ah, Rowena - you had a similar experience to me - impatience with the obsessive love but enjoyment of the other aspects. Very interesting."I'm glad someone felt the same way as me, Fionnuala! I don't do to well with melodrama either! But Goethe is definitely a very insightful writer and I can't wait to read more of his works:)
Verena wrote: "Eventhough I'm from Germany (actually even from Goethes hometown Frankfurt) I've never read this one. But I read "Faust" (in school) which is much more popular in Germany than The Sorrows of Young ..."Hi Verena, did you like Faust? That one's on my list. One of the reasons I want to read it is because of literary references, it's one of those books that's discussed quite widely. It must be a wonderful experience to read the German greats in the original language too:)
I basically agree with you about this book. ;)
I had a similar experience when I read this. It's Goethe, so I wanted to love it. There was some beautiful prose, but I didn't really feel for Werther. Someday I may reread it and see if it affects me differently the second time around.
Akemi wrote: "I basically agree with you about this book. ;)":)
Susan wrote: "I had a similar experience when I read this. It's Goethe, so I wanted to love it. There was some beautiful prose, but I didn't really feel for Werther. Someday I may reread it and see if it affects..."There was definitely a lot of beautiful prose for sure. I will probably read Faust in the future:)
The group "Classics and the Western Canon" is currently reading Faust. I had intended to read it with the group, but I'm teaching too many classes this semester to squeeze it in.
Rowena wrote: "Hi Verena, did you like Faust? That one's on my list. One of the reasons I want to read it is because of literary references, it's one of those books that's discussed quite widely. It must be a wonderful experience to read the German greats in the original language too:)" "Faust" is one of the - if not THE - most important books in German literature. There are so many references in modern art (lit, movies, etc.) that it is never without benefit to know "Faust". For me it's not about the story line but Goethe's thoughts, his view on the world and some really great quotes. ;)
Verena wrote: "Rowena wrote: "Hi Verena, did you like Faust? That one's on my list. One of the reasons I want to read it is because of literary references, it's one of those books that's discussed quite widely. I..."You have definitely sold the book to me! I will most certainly be making time for it:)
I totally agree with your review, Rowena.
Gabrielle wrote: "I totally agree with your review, Rowena."Thank you, Gabrielle:)
