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A review by gingervandorsten
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
I was really pleasantly surprised by this!
I've never been in any rush to read Kafka; when it comes to classics I much prefer Romantic and Victorian fiction to most movements from the 20th century, but I was gifted a copy of the Metaphorphosis by a friend, so I gave it a try. I was vaguely aware of the reputation Kafka has and so I expected this book to be dry and highly philosophical and hard to get through - but I actually found his writing (in the Arcturus translation) very easy to read, with a great balance between straightforward language and the occasional striking metaphor or bit of imagery. I read this in a day and was as gripped as I ever am while reading.
The language is, however, deceptively simple. I struggled to find much of an overarching message while and after having read just the text, but reading the introduction of my copy (which I always leave until last because I've had the whole plot laid out to me one too many times) and doing a little bit of extra research gave me a much better sense of the things that The Metamorphosis is, or could be, actually about. And I think it dealt with these themes wonderfully, if subtly. I have also been lucky enough in my life to rarely feel deeply outcast or helpless the way Gregor does in the novel, so I think that is also part of why some of the nuances were initially lost on me.
So, all in all, I highly recommend! It might be worth doing a little research on the themes before reading if you want to avoid that experience of reading something allegorical but having no clue what it is an allegory for (like I did). If you're intimidated, know that the style is clear and even entertaining, and the ideas discussed, once realised, are both comprehensible and poignant. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Kafka's work!
I've never been in any rush to read Kafka; when it comes to classics I much prefer Romantic and Victorian fiction to most movements from the 20th century, but I was gifted a copy of the Metaphorphosis by a friend, so I gave it a try. I was vaguely aware of the reputation Kafka has and so I expected this book to be dry and highly philosophical and hard to get through - but I actually found his writing (in the Arcturus translation) very easy to read, with a great balance between straightforward language and the occasional striking metaphor or bit of imagery. I read this in a day and was as gripped as I ever am while reading.
The language is, however, deceptively simple. I struggled to find much of an overarching message while and after having read just the text, but reading the introduction of my copy (which I always leave until last because I've had the whole plot laid out to me one too many times) and doing a little bit of extra research gave me a much better sense of the things that The Metamorphosis is, or could be, actually about. And I think it dealt with these themes wonderfully, if subtly. I have also been lucky enough in my life to rarely feel deeply outcast or helpless the way Gregor does in the novel, so I think that is also part of why some of the nuances were initially lost on me.
So, all in all, I highly recommend! It might be worth doing a little research on the themes before reading if you want to avoid that experience of reading something allegorical but having no clue what it is an allegory for (like I did). If you're intimidated, know that the style is clear and even entertaining, and the ideas discussed, once realised, are both comprehensible and poignant. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Kafka's work!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death