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The Confusions of Young Törless
The Confusions of Young Törless | Robert Musil, Mike Mitchell, Ritchie Robertson
11 posts | 15 read | 3 to read
'between the life we live and the life we feel...there is the invisible border, like a narrow gate' Set in a boarding school in a remote area of the Habsburg Empire at the turn of the last century, The Confusions of Young Törless is an intense study of an adolescent's psychological development as he struggles to come to terms with his conflicting emotions. Through his relationship with two other boys Törless is led into sadistic and sexual encounters with a third pupil which both repel and fascinate him. Estranged from everyday life, Törless gradually learns to accept his experiences and describe them with analytical precision. The novel is based on the author's own experiences at an Austrian military academy. A school story with a difference, Törless extends the scope of fiction with its non-judgemental presentation of transgressive sexuality and violence. It is a profoundly disturbing exploration of a non-moral outlook on life and of dictatorial attitudes that prefigure the outbreak of the First World War and the rise of fascism. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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Darksideofmoon

the book that make me,love all books or essay of robert musil.

1 stack add
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LowCountryKnight

This is probably the last book I'll ever read in a state of despair.

review
Bertha_Mason
The Confusions of Young Törless | Robert Musil, Mike Mitchell, Ritchie Robertson
Mehso-so

This was a book about toxic masculinity and militarism and the seeds of fascism. The author buried the lede so badly, with his endless discourses on Törless' intellectual angst, that I wonder if it wasn't purposeful; like in Lolita, maybe we're intended to see right through the rapist's self-obsession and cowardly justifications, and just watch him desperately flee from self-knowledge. I'm going to see it that way, for my blood pressure's sake.

review
hanseatic
Pickpick

Mit einem unglaublichen Gespür für Gefühle beschreibt Musil die pubertären Verwirrungen des Protagonisten. Musil bleibt unpräzise und es ist genau das, was in mir dieselben Gefühle evozierte wie in meiner Teenagerzeit. Ich kann mich noch heute an eine lange Diskussion über Mathematik, Unendlichkeit und die Sinnhaftigkeit imaginärer Zahlen erinnern.

Man braucht etwas Zeit um in den Rhythmus dieses Buches zu kommen, aber es lohnt sich.

review
Simona
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Mehso-so

The literary-treated philosophical idea of morality and ethics (what is right and what is wrong) through the eyes of a young student of a boarding school, which faces its growing up, trying to understand human nature and the world. Slow and complex story about cruelty - dark side in humans. #backpackEurope

In the picture: Quite time in traditional Coffee House in Vienna. #Austria 🇦🇹

Leftcoastzen Beautiful coffee house . 6y
JenP When did you finish this book? Today? 6y
Simona @JenP No, I was actually for two weeks on vacations by the beach and I decided for no tv or any kind of electronic devices (except e-reader) ... so I did have all day just for books. 6y
JenP @Simona okay. Asking bc Austria is a blackout country this week (meaning you can‘t travel through it. If you are elsewhere then you can keep moving. 6y
Simona @JenP I‘m already on my way from Serbia to Bulgaria... 6y
64 likes5 comments
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hanseatic
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Nun mal wieder einen Klassiker lesen.

review
DreesReads
The Confusions of Young Törless | Robert Musil, Mike Mitchell, Ritchie Robertson
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Mehso-so

Summary: boys are mean.

I would guess men might like this better than women—if they can relate to this world of c1900 European boys boarding school. I can‘t, thank goodness. And per the intro the author said ythat nothing in here is false (or something along those lines). Glad to be done! #1001books

BarbaraBB I recognize your feelings about the book. Felt the same. 7y
28 likes1 comment
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DreesReads
The Confusions of Young Törless | Robert Musil, Mike Mitchell, Ritchie Robertson
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Most unattractive book cover ever?! My March #reading1001 #TBRchallenge read. I do judge books by their covers, and I would never have chosen this had I known about the creepy cover, ugh! I may need to make a cover lol. #1001books

JenP That is a bad cover 😂 7y
DreesReads @BarbaraBB here it is! 7y
BarbaraBB It is horrible indeed. But then again, so is the book, although I keep thinking if I shouldn‘t have rated it higher since it has this effect on me! 7y
24 likes3 comments
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Liz_M
Young Törless | Robert Musil
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Pickpick

A deceptively short book set at an elite boy's boarding school in the beginning of the 20th century. Törless is introspective, isolating himself in his emotions. He falls in with two boys that take advantage of another boy, learning how much power they can exercise over him. Törless observes and exerts his own influence as he struggles to reconcile his estatic glimpses of infinity with the socially constrained, rational world. #litsyclassics #Y

BarbaraBB I had a love/hate relationship with this book, can you understand that? 7y
Liz_M Oh yes. I enjoyed the writing, didn't care for / understand the philosophy. 7y
14 likes3 comments
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Liz_M
The Confusions of Young Törless | Robert Musil, Mike Mitchell, Ritchie Robertson
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Started this slim-looking volume for the first book of the year and #Y for my #LitsyClassicsAtoZ challenge. Of course I made a bingo card for it :-D :-D :-D

#LitsyClassics, @Sarah83

Liz_M I always forget to tag #1001books 7y
BarbaraBB All books of the list of course! You do have some good ones left, fortunately :) 7y
Liz_M @BarbaraBB I do! :-) 7y
11 likes3 comments
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BarbaraBB
The Confusions of Young Törless | Robert Musil, Mike Mitchell, Ritchie Robertson
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Panpan

I hated this book. Not because of its style but because of its subject. The humiliation of one boy by other boys (while calling -mentally- torturing 'confusion') is disgusting. Even worse is the complete lack of conscious the bullyers show. It being Germany in the beginning of the 20th century didn't help either.

Maybe I should rate this book with 5 stars because it has this effect on me but I just can't. #1001books

DreesReads I am starting this now and dreading it. Also my edition has the ugliest cover ever!! 7y
BarbaraBB @AudreyMorris I am looking forward to your thoughts, if the book will have the same effect on you - and to a picture of the cover 😉 7y
DreesReads I just tagged you on it. It‘s bad! 7y
6 likes3 comments