19.9k reviews for:

Die Verwandlung

Franz Kafka

3.68 AVERAGE

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Franz Kafka’s most popular work is as depressing and alienating as it is heartbreakingly relatable. This is my intro to Kafka, and to be honest I think that I’ll be more engaged and enticed by his longer novels. Though I do think this novella accomplishes plenty during its short length, the situation depicted in the novel I find a bit jarring and, even though I know most of its symbolisms and have made my own interpretations of the novella, still find its premise to be a lot more complicated then its presented to be and, dare I say, should be a bit longer.

Kafka’s prose is very singular, the only inspiration I noticed while reading being some of the descriptive and detailed aspects of Dostoevsky’s writing. Nonetheless, I find this to be one of the most accurate portrayals of loneliness and admiration I’ve read thus far.
dark reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A delightful anthology of Franz Kafka's greatest short stories, Metamorphosis and Other Stories perfectly showcases Kafka's literary range, from ironic commentaries with dots of dry humour (e.g. A Hunger Artist) to absurdist tales such as In the Penal Colony.

However, the jewel in the crown is naturally the titular Metamorphosis. Kafka writes Gregor, the sole breadwinner of his family, as a character for whom one can't help but feel sympathy. After coming to terms - remarkably quickly - with his physical transformation into a "monstrous cockroach" (according to the Hoffmann translation), the story focuses on Gregor's mental transformation. Kafka shows two elements to this second transformation: the state of Gregor's surroundings, which gradually morph as his mental state matches his physical presentment closer and closer; and his treatment by his family. 

El cuento me encantó. Poder comprender un texto desde cientos de ángulos distintos. Decido creer que el bicho es una alegoría que sustituye una enfermedad mental que imposibilita una persona de poder trabajar, como lo es la esquizofrenia o la depresión. Me gustó profundizar el cuento con los análisis, aunque algunos parecían repetirse y tenían valoraciones no muy interesantes.
mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

So cool Nightcord At 2500 wrote a song about this Samsa guy

i love the humanity of kafka, how his writings cater to the everyday mind and how it wanders through trains of thought. my particular favourites were the penal colony and the first few one page or so stories at the start.
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes