I had to read this book as part of my English Humanities 9 class last year in Ninth Grade. Now this isn't the type of book I would have picked up on own, and when we first started reading it, I though, “Oh great. Another boring book I'll have to read and be tested on!” But I was actually greatly surprised. This nvel was such an inspiration and had great deeper meanings and symbolism. I hope anyone not sure whether they should read this or not does pick up a copy from their library and gives it a shot. At worst, you won't like it. Or at best you'll love it. I was totally surprised at how interesting it became and the ending was also great. And guess what? Besides loving the book, I got a 100 on the novel exam! So it worked out great for me!
Siddhartha presented me a very spiritual odyssey undertaken by the protagonist. It also presented with a slice of Indian life in those times, which i believe is very accurate (as much as it could have been) and the implied acute criticism of Buddhist Philosophies, rising that time, adds a beautiful spiritual discussions and debates, is the core of the book, mostly to be read between the lines…
I read this book for English extra credit a couple years ago. What really struck me was the strength of the prose and the moral of the story- that when Siddartha became nauseated with material things and false pleasures, and when he accepted that life was something beyond his own personal control, he found his own sense of inner peace.
I would recommend this to anyone seeking insight into their own life journey.
This novel appeals to the range of human emotions-the human soul’s struggle to find answers and our neverending spiritual quest. Hesse reveals that the soul and mind are opposing forces; faith and peace cannot be learned from books or revealed by logic. The book displays the importance of embarking and acquiring a spiritual truth that we will gain when we least expect.