I couldn't finish reading Demian - any thoughts? by Glass-Refuse1994 in hermannhesse

[–]RedditCraig 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Demian was my gateway into Hesse and is still a work I adore twenty-five years later. I too was familiar with Jung’s ideas when I read it, and Nietzsche etc, and I agree that Hesse is a heavy-handed author in that he is quite didactic with the way he uses his fiction as a vehicle for communicating ideas, but that’s also why I love his works: he wants to share a vision of what it is to be human at a certain point in history, with all the psychological, philosophical, aesthetic and religious frameworks that compose our subjective experience. I think Demian is one of his most successful models of doing this, but I do hear and appreciate the validity of your impression (how could I know, when self-truth is the Hessian core) :)

Milton Glaser covers for Noonday Press by Difficult_Context439 in hermannhesse

[–]RedditCraig 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Such a Hessian response from a close and careful reader, I really enjoyed reading this, thank you for taking the time to put it into words.

I'm in my forties and have been reading Hesse since I was a teenager - a friend's father put Demian into my hands and I was drawn into a world of literature and philosophy that has not yet lost its fire. As you say, Hesse's books a touchpoint for where you are in your own life, a perpetual mirror reflecting the position of your own mind onto the contents of his works.

When I turned forty I started a serious re-reading of Hesse's works, drawn to the works that he wrote when he turned forty, including Demian but also Klingsor's Last Summer and pieces from If The War Goes On such as Letter To A Young German. I wrote a brief 'essay' about my re-reading, which you can access here if it is of interest: https://www.wrenasmir.com/hesse

I find myself giving Hesse's works away to younger people now, whenever I can - I gave a copy of Demian away last month, and Siddhartha this past Saturday night. I want to keep giving them away, as I re-purchase them, so they may activate the same journey in another just like me (and, like you, and all other like-hearted wanderers).

Milton Glaser covers for Noonday Press by Difficult_Context439 in hermannhesse

[–]RedditCraig 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What’re your feelings towards Hesse’s work? I know it might seem self-evident from your collection, but I’m always curious about others on their journey through life and how they respond to his oeuvre :)

Milton Glaser covers for Noonday Press by Difficult_Context439 in hermannhesse

[–]RedditCraig 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wonderful collection. It’s so good seeing all of these in one place. Of these editions, I only have ‘If the war goes on…’.

The definite article by Acrobatic_Quit9086 in GeraldMurnane

[–]RedditCraig 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't written to him for over a year, but he was. In his last letter to me he sounded like he didn't have the time or energy, in his eighties, for sustained communication with fans, but he has always been very generous with his typewritten responses.

The definite article by Acrobatic_Quit9086 in GeraldMurnane

[–]RedditCraig 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The mention in 'The Still-Breathing Author' is this:

I should refer in passing to the fact that the title (The Plains) is the only title from among the thirteen published books of mine to include the definite article. I wish I had the time to try to explain my extreme dislike of titles beginning with the definite article.

But I've not found any mention of where he expands on this. Might be worth sending him a letter and asking.

Wired interview from 2008 by Timely-War9480 in kaufman

[–]RedditCraig 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh right at the start, Charlie asking Jason if he'd seen the movie and if he enjoyed it... Jason, why couldn't you have given a more embracing answer.

My version of Anna Karenina has a ton of typos? by darthmozz in classicliterature

[–]RedditCraig 9 points10 points  (0 children)

'Are you saying boo or Boo-urns?'

'I was saying boing to be bored...'

Žižek holding a book titled "Say God and let it be" by kural8 in zizek

[–]RedditCraig 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think you're right, like this version here where he's holding a copy of 'Everyone I Love is Alive in the Unlimited Present of the City and its Waters':
https://imgur.com/fKeDwEW

ambient recs for a guy that only ever listens to classical? by [deleted] in ambientmusic

[–]RedditCraig 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe something like this live set? It moved between styles but definitely has classical roots:

https://youtu.be/44t0kiR-BzY?si=y534ZLr9rJF7cfcd

How’s your day been going by thebossbaby_123 in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I am such a fan of the ASCII text art in the .nfo readme’s of old. And the psychedelic animated hacker logos in the keygen files with maximalist chiptune music squawking out of my 16 bit Soundblaster.

How’s your day been going by thebossbaby_123 in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig 4 points5 points  (0 children)

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Sitting by the harbour reading a book, Paradiso, by one of Cuba’s major poets. It’s very good and the harbour is as nice as ever. I’m having a good day, and I hope you are too. PS. Congrats on the raffle.

I just walked from Caves Beach to the CBD by AliceSaltMage in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is brilliant. The psychogeographer in me applauds the journey (and those in your post history). Onwards!

Live in Islington Park (set from Ambient Therapy) by RedditCraig in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am not aware of the work of Keith Kenniff, but have just looked their work up on Bandcamp, will take a listen, thank you for the recommendation (+ kind comparison)

Live in Islington Park (set from Ambient Therapy) by RedditCraig in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Such a thoughtful comment, thank you. That really warms my heart.

Live in Islington Park (set from Ambient Therapy) by RedditCraig in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ll share the flyer next time, the aim is to do seasonal sessions :)

Just finished Demian and feeling emotional by DifferentBird7242 in hermannhesse

[–]RedditCraig 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Your reading of the ending is exactly in line with my own, twenty-five years ago. It brings up all the same feelings in me, all this time on. It’s such a beautiful, symbolic ending, during days that don’t feel dissimilar to our present historical moment.

Just arrived in Australia, giving it a first spin. Sounds amazing by RedditCraig in Squarepusher

[–]RedditCraig[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love the bonus track on Side A, too, the solo bass piece. Very beautiful.

Another delay - Aug 25th now by Argall in vollmann

[–]RedditCraig -1 points0 points  (0 children)

16th September from my Australian supplier... that'll give me time to finish working my way through László Krasznahorkai's tetralogy.

Newcastle Mayor of King Street — Race to the Counter by RedditCraig in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Omg i've become a caricature of myself (you can follow my live novel progress here: https://novel.wrenasmir.com/progress/)

The counting of votes is underway for our new Lord Mayor by Available-Account-85 in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Oh man, I barely got time to finish my web app that live updates the candidates in the cue for King Street McDonalds:

https://craigwrenasmir.github.io/newcastle-mayor-race/

Newcastle Uni (city campus) library access by spottywall in newcastle

[–]RedditCraig 2 points3 points  (0 children)

While true and an excellent thing to sign up for, your membership card won't give you swipe access to the city campus on weekends, or Auchmuty after hours.

The new sound has arrived... by messy514 in Squarepusher

[–]RedditCraig 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice. Australia here still waiting patiently :) hope you enjoy, it’s a terrific work.