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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We all already know that Kafka is a master, and stories like "Metamorphosis", "In the Penal Colony" and "The Hunger Artist" are among the most brilliant and disturbing ever written, so the attention here is on the translator, Michael Hofmann. I haven't done an extensive comparative study, but I'm very impressed by his work. He's able to bring through some of the humour in the stories very effectively, and they just feel "right" in his English prose. I plan on reading his version of Amerika as well.
I didn't really read the whole thing. Just wanted to read Metamorphosis, but I really enjoyed it!
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Still need to read the other stories, but so far I give it 4 stars.
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Incredible writing - I will be thinking about some of these stories for years to come
slow-paced
I wanted to read this because The Vegetarian by Han Kang and The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector were both compared to Kafka's work, and I really enjoyed both of those books. Overall, I did prefer reading both of those novellas to reading this short story collection, but some of these stories fucked
My favorites:
Metamorphosis
In the Penal Colony
A Country Doctor
An Old Journal
Eleven Sons
A Report to the Academy
I like Kafka best when he's weird and kinda violent, the other short stories were less my speed
My favorites:
Metamorphosis
In the Penal Colony
A Country Doctor
An Old Journal
Eleven Sons
A Report to the Academy
I like Kafka best when he's weird and kinda violent, the other short stories were less my speed