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sarahrosea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Violence, Mental illness, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Animal death, Gore, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Police brutality
mihai26's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Interesting read.
One of Gregor's first thoughts after realizing his transformation is that he will miss work. This shows how much stress can create the fact that he is solely responsible for his family's financial stability and summarizes the pressure put on workers in a capitalist society.
Besides the classical father complex that critics mention, I really liked to focus on Greta's own metamorphosis. She is the one who keeps the tie between Gregor and the rest of the family and she is the one who takes care of him. While starting out of kindness, she loses the connection to him and loathes her new "duties". In fact, Gregor affects his family so negatively that even Greta considers him just an insect, wanting to get rid of <i>it</i>, which in turn convinces Gregor to starve himself.
Kafka puts Gregor and his family in a very interesting antithesis. He has a depressing life, both before and after the transformation, while his family gets better and better. Greta matures, gets a job, and might soon marry, the parents get jobs as well, become financially stable and move into a new residence.
The only thing that annoyed me is how a few parts seemed to happen without a reason - just as a simple example, nobody questioned how Gregor actually turned into an insect.
One of Gregor's first thoughts after realizing his transformation is that he will miss work. This shows how much stress can create the fact that he is solely responsible for his family's financial stability and summarizes the pressure put on workers in a capitalist society.
Besides the classical father complex that critics mention, I really liked to focus on Greta's own metamorphosis. She is the one who keeps the tie between Gregor and the rest of the family and she is the one who takes care of him. While starting out of kindness, she loses the connection to him and loathes her new "duties". In fact, Gregor affects his family so negatively that even Greta considers him just an insect, wanting to get rid of <i>it</i>, which in turn convinces Gregor to starve himself.
Kafka puts Gregor and his family in a very interesting antithesis. He has a depressing life, both before and after the transformation, while his family gets better and better. Greta matures, gets a job, and might soon marry, the parents get jobs as well, become financially stable and move into a new residence.
The only thing that annoyed me is how a few parts seemed to happen without a reason - just as a simple example, nobody questioned how Gregor actually turned into an insect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Death and Suicide
festiveconclave's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Body horror
Moderate: Death and Suicide
sarahrosea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, Gore, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and Ableism
kyoko1's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Death
morgiah's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Excrement, Suicide, and Eating disorder
a_ira's review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Animal death
Moderate: Suicide
ahyacinthine's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book has its merits if you look at the plot for what it is: man wakes up in a surreal reality (that isn’t that strange for him nor anyone else) as a bug. The premise alone had me interested because of all of the possibilities. Knowing that this book can be (and in my opinion is better) when interpreted as an allegorical piece of literature is what makes it even more incredible . The very rapid descent into disdain and despair the family has for our protagonist reminds me of people whom have been outcasted by their communities for possessing qualities that - to others - made them inhumane and nasty (bug like). the similarities in behaviors and thought processes between gregor and Anyone Else of Lower Significance was written in such a fascinating matter, and i found myself leaving this book thinking of it days later, which is my sign of a classic favorite.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Death
creatures2010's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Suicide
ssgcedits's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Child death, Torture, and Suicide
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