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A review by ltg61
The Complete Stories by Franz Kafka
2.0
Kafka has to be one of the most inconsistent authors I can think of. I'd even go so far as to say hes - gasp! - overrated.
Before reading this, I was consumed by The Trial. The Trial is a book that absolutely justifies any Kafka worship. It was aggravating, tedious and absurd, but in a profoundly realistic, relatable way. It was surreal but identifiable.
As for most of these stories? Aimless rambling. They lack the absurdity to make them interesting, but not earthly enough to feel personal. "Investigations of a Dog" certainly sticks out as the worst of the bunch. I honestly couldnt tell you what its about. Its a string of introspective babbling that requires multiple read-throughs to decipher any meaning, and considering how boring it was, that sounds like absolute torture. Far too many stories found in this collection bear the same qualities. After a good majority of these tales I found myself thinking "what the hell was the point of all that? Never mind, I dont care."
Thats not to say there wasn't some diamonds in the rough - both "Metamorphosis" and "The Penal Colony" are worthy of his reputation. I cant help but think that people extend the love they have for his strong work to all his work, instead of accepting the uncomfortable fact that he produced brilliance and boring trash in equal measure.
Before reading this, I was consumed by The Trial. The Trial is a book that absolutely justifies any Kafka worship. It was aggravating, tedious and absurd, but in a profoundly realistic, relatable way. It was surreal but identifiable.
As for most of these stories? Aimless rambling. They lack the absurdity to make them interesting, but not earthly enough to feel personal. "Investigations of a Dog" certainly sticks out as the worst of the bunch. I honestly couldnt tell you what its about. Its a string of introspective babbling that requires multiple read-throughs to decipher any meaning, and considering how boring it was, that sounds like absolute torture. Far too many stories found in this collection bear the same qualities. After a good majority of these tales I found myself thinking "what the hell was the point of all that? Never mind, I dont care."
Thats not to say there wasn't some diamonds in the rough - both "Metamorphosis" and "The Penal Colony" are worthy of his reputation. I cant help but think that people extend the love they have for his strong work to all his work, instead of accepting the uncomfortable fact that he produced brilliance and boring trash in equal measure.