I condemn hypocrisy in all its forms - މުނާފިގުކަމުގެ ހުރިހާ ސިފައެއް އަހަރެން ކުށްވެރިކުރަމެވެ

Sunday, November 17, 2024

BOOK REVIEW: "Knulp" by Hermann Hesse

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Life-affirming. Philosophical. Existentialism at its very best.

I have read only the Dhivehi (the native language of the Maldives) translation of this book — and that, three times. It was translated by Dommu (Mohamed Mamduh Waheed) and is available at President Anni's (Mohamed Nasheed) Ocean Library in Malé, Maldives.

"Knulp" is so engrossing that one of my relatives, who generally doesn't read stories written in Dhivehi, devoured the book in one sitting! It is philosophically that compelling.

Dommu is an outstanding writer in both Dhivehi and English. I’ve also read his original work, a novel called "Thin Huvafen" (literally "Three Dreams", read my review here), three times because it is exceptionally good and stands out as a one-of-a-kind Dhivehi novel. It’s particularly impressive considering it comes from a mature mind at the young age of 22.

SPOILER ALERT:

In "Knulp" (written in Dhivehi as ނަލްޕް), my relative and I could relate to the protagonist's reckless acts after discovering he is terminally ill and, therefore, feels he has nothing left to lose.

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