[charlesbahn]

Yes, Hesse is short and easy to read, Mann is laborious. I'm 60 now and still enjoy reading Hesse so I'm not sure he is just for the young. I find that every time I read one his works I come away with something a little different as I get older. Fortunately they are short so they are easy to go back to again and again (unlike Mann). Funny how the prism of time has had an affect on how I read his works. They are worth a second (or third) look through older eyes, in my opinion.