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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
challenging
tense
slow-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
It's usually impossible to venture into a Kafka novel without already having preconceived ideas and theories about what the Kafkaesque entails. Rather than shading my expectant experience, the absence of these notions gave my reading a different colour altogether. I found Kafka's writing to be wryly humorous. Something I hadn't thought of associating with him. It turns out, when Kafka invited his friends to a reading of the first chapter of The Trial - they laughed!
Coming to the novel, what makes the circumstances of K.'s arrest severe is not the denial of providing him a reason or an explanation for it, but K.'s conduct in the light of this unexpected situation. The way guilt operates insinuatingly during an incomprehensible situation. Instead of impairing the order of things, one plays into it, abandoning the possibility and foreknowledge of innocence. Kafka's choice of setting is often grim and dense. And even this is exalted by the lucid prose of elaborate dialogue. The theological allusions drawn may subsume the entire novel, and yet it remains outside of it.
One is inclined to read into Kafka's evocation of bureaucracy as a projection of totalitarian nightmare. As tempting as that proposition is, the novelist deserves primacy. Kafka is no prophet; he's only a genius novelist.
Coming to the novel, what makes the circumstances of K.'s arrest severe is not the denial of providing him a reason or an explanation for it, but K.'s conduct in the light of this unexpected situation. The way guilt operates insinuatingly during an incomprehensible situation. Instead of impairing the order of things, one plays into it, abandoning the possibility and foreknowledge of innocence. Kafka's choice of setting is often grim and dense. And even this is exalted by the lucid prose of elaborate dialogue. The theological allusions drawn may subsume the entire novel, and yet it remains outside of it.
One is inclined to read into Kafka's evocation of bureaucracy as a projection of totalitarian nightmare. As tempting as that proposition is, the novelist deserves primacy. Kafka is no prophet; he's only a genius novelist.
Bello. Folle.
È comico nella tragedia. Tragico nel descrivere il quotidiano.
Angosciante, pungente, incredibilmente divertente (ho proprio riso come una cogliona).
Non 5 stelle perché è incompiuto e non sapremo mai se era proprio così che Kafka lo voleva. Inoltre non so se ho davvero capito.
Kafka però avrebbe adorato i meme corporate girl overwhelmed. Ne sono certa.
È comico nella tragedia. Tragico nel descrivere il quotidiano.
Angosciante, pungente, incredibilmente divertente (ho proprio riso come una cogliona).
Non 5 stelle perché è incompiuto e non sapremo mai se era proprio così che Kafka lo voleva. Inoltre non so se ho davvero capito.
Kafka però avrebbe adorato i meme corporate girl overwhelmed. Ne sono certa.
When compared to The Castle, this is significantly better. The tendency for superfluousness that plagued The Castle still shows up here, with numerous incidents and characters being described that really didn't need to be, but the story overall is significantly tighter and the themes are better explored (and concluded). That being said, this novel is almost *entirely* held up by its themes and it's message moreso than anything else. Outside of K, characters only really exist to be obstacles or instruments K is to handle and lack any real depth. As with other Kafka works I've read, the writing quality isn't exceptional but isn't bad by any means either. Overall a bit disappointing given it's reputation, but ultimately a solid novel.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-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
My second venture into audiobooks has fared less well. Classic it may be, but The Trial did nothing for me. I was aware of the story in advance, knew the themes but didn't know the content. It seems that was the least important part anyway. I found the experience frustrating and ridiculous, developing immense dislike for our protagonist with his wildly fluctuant confidence/arrogance and disdain, flitting from one bizarre and pointless situation to the next. Plus, I found his aggressive sexuality to be more than a little disturbing, seemingly forcing himself on any female character whether reciprocated or not. An attempt to actually control something in his rapidly disintegrating life? Perhaps, but unpleasant none the less.
The endless circular discussions, blind-ended alleys and characters who only serve to reiterate the ridiculous, threatening and claustrophobic nature of the grander themes; they all grated. I can see why it's a classic but it's not up my alley. Kafka does not appear to be for me.
The audiobook reading by Rupert Degas was ok though his female characters all sound the same. It didn't add anything and perhaps took away a little. Hmmm.
The endless circular discussions, blind-ended alleys and characters who only serve to reiterate the ridiculous, threatening and claustrophobic nature of the grander themes; they all grated. I can see why it's a classic but it's not up my alley. Kafka does not appear to be for me.
The audiobook reading by Rupert Degas was ok though his female characters all sound the same. It didn't add anything and perhaps took away a little. Hmmm.
كتاب كان ممتاز -الا انه فيه بعض التمطيط- الى النهاية صارت كارثة ، النهاية متسرّعة جدًا الفصل الاخير كان ٨ صفحات فقط وهو شيء قليل على اسلوب المحاكمة في الفصول المستقلة عن بعض ، ما عرفت اي معلومات مهمة عن القضية كلها معلومات تافهه طوال الكتاب
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is not the exact edition that I read, but it is my best guess. The edition I read was a translator who lived and breathed Kafka, and the translation was brilliantly faithful to the original German. I hope to figure out who it was one day. This is my favorite book of all time and is what made me fall in love with literature. Since then I have read every story that Kafka ever wrote. The nightmarish atmosphere is complimented by the strange and whimsical actions of the characters, and the long winded run on sentences only add to the overall feeling of the book.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes