Joyita Chakraborty

It's been a very long time since I first finished this novel, and yet I often find myself fondly reminiscing of some scenes and characters which stood out during Castorp's rather unexpected seven year-long stay at a sanatorium in the mountains, which was only meant to be "a visit". A humanist perspective on sickness and love, on the extent of man's weakness (and triumph) in trying to fathom the life in happiness out of proximity to death, this novel is truly something which will stay with you, however faded, in your memory.