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melissakoe20 's review for:
Metamorphosis and Other Stories
by Franz Kafka
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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:
Complicated
My rating is based on the proportion of stories I enjoyed vs stories that were meh. I appreciated the translator’s notes at the end and Jason Baker’s introduction situating Kafka during his time and providing more context to his writing. (Highly recommend reading the stories first before the introduction).
Themes- bureaucracy, authority, capitalism, labor, how society treats people who are disabled, familial and parental relationships. The stories are bleak, bizarre, and most of the time, the characters aren’t able to escape their fate. Showcases the dark side of humanity. We “lose a little” of the Kafkaesque vibe when we attempt to interpret the stories as I think they’re meant to be open and unsatisfying, disturbing even. I think his stories gave me a window into the loneliness and emptiness he felt, growing up estranged from his family. That made me feel less alone.
Themes- bureaucracy, authority, capitalism, labor, how society treats people who are disabled, familial and parental relationships. The stories are bleak, bizarre, and most of the time, the characters aren’t able to escape their fate. Showcases the dark side of humanity. We “lose a little” of the Kafkaesque vibe when we attempt to interpret the stories as I think they’re meant to be open and unsatisfying, disturbing even. I think his stories gave me a window into the loneliness and emptiness he felt, growing up estranged from his family. That made me feel less alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Violence
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Rape