Amerika by Franz Kafka Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Amerika
Book Review: Lost in Amerika
Summary: 4 Stars
By the author's own admission, "Amerika" is a much more optimistic piece than Kafka's other works. Since Kafka was never able to finish this work, the reader is unable to read the final "happy ending" that the plot is leading toward fulfilling. Even without the afterword which alleges the eventual ending, the lack of angst and thinning sense of confusion point toward resolution.
After fathering a child in his teenage years, Karl Rossman is shipped to America to begin his life free of stigma. But getting off of the ship that brings him to America becomes a challenge that leads him to a wealthy family member in America. However, Karl's life of luxury is short-lived. After offending his uncle, he is cast out on his own. Falling in allegiance with a pair of out of work tramps, Karl hopes to start anew. Delamarche and Robinson continually take advantage of Karl's resources until work finds Karl. These two men cost Karl his job of stature and try to force him into the servitude of the obese singer that employs Robinson and Delamarche. We never learn how Karl escaped this predicament, but find Karl in the last chapter finding an apparently great opportunity in Oklahoma.
Since this is an unfinished work, there are some gaps in the story as pointed out in my review. Many have dismissed this work of Kafka as it does not fit the typical mold of his work. While the gaps in the story make it difficult for me to give this book five stars, I would recommend this book to fans of Kafka.
Book Review: No Title
Summary: 5 Stars
Kafka had never been to America when he wrote this novel. Yet, his imagination and his notes told an almost accurate story. Some things are a little off. Such as the Statue of Liberty is holding a sword. But those little things merely made the novel a little humorous. The story was never finished but I don't really think it needed to be. It's a great work of fiction.Book Review: One frustrating set piece after another
Summary: 3 Stars
While others have called Amerika a comedic piece, I found the protagonist's, Karl Rossman, behavior and situations frustrating and aggravating. But being Kafka's first novel, I see him testing out a thesis that dominates much of his work: the individual suffering at the caprice of the rest of society.And indeed, Rossman suffers! Seemingly everyone is out to take advantage of him and despite his desire to cling to "virtue," (despite his less then virtuous behavior that landed him on the boat bound for Amerika), he is treated like a second-hand person without any savvy to cope with the world around him.
While reading the book, I kept asking myself, why is Rossman putting up with these situations? Why is he so timid to take action for himself? Why is he letting himself get bowled over by these rogues? I read the book all the way through, but several times I was tempted to put the damn thing down and not read any more.
But when I put it in the perspective I first mentioned, that it would become Kafka's theme that the individual is powerless against the societal forces around him, then I can see the characters as allegories rather than real people. And then we see Rossman not as the victim who is innocent, but we see him as the hypocrite that he is.
Still, the book is frustrating to read -- not because it's difficult, but simply because I found it impossible to identify with any character on a level where I wanted anyone to win. By the end of the book, I didn't give a hoot about Rossman and concluded that he got what he deserved.
One final note: Kafka wrote this manuscript without ever visiting the U.S. So his scenarios are based on what he thought the U.S. was like. In some cases, he was quite accurate in his portrayals, but in others, he was way off.
If you want to read Kafka, save this one for last. Read his other material first as it is far better.
Book Review: Spend your time with Kafka elsewhere...
Summary: 3 Stars
Look. If you're reading this review, you're more than likely to have read a bit of some good lit. You're here because you're searching for more. If you're here because you heard Kafka is amazing, great. If you haven't read Kafka, don't start here. Read the Trial and the Castle. If you have read all the essential Kafka, read something else. Pick up Blood Meridian or even read Dante, or please read Notes from the Underground. There's a lot better stuff out there than Amerika.
-JRW
Book Review: The American Nightmare
Summary: 5 Stars
Kafka drives the reader crazy by this epic narration about the adventures of Karl, an adolescent sent to America at the beginning of XX century. While escaping from a stupid love affair Karl is to meet his uncle who will receive him at home and will push him into the secrets of accounting.Thanks to one of Kafka's eternal "malentendus" Karl is sent to the immigrant's arena and he has to live on his own. Almost penniless, his sole possessions are his battered trunk and an old photography of his parents.
One can't but feel empathy and tenderness for young Karl. Fired by his uncle who was supposed to protect him, Karl has to cope with two drunkards (an Irish and a French) who attempt by all means to abuse of his innocence by promising him a job in the west coast.
Karl then finds a humble place at a big hotel. He is in charge of one of the numerous elevators and works almost sixteen hours a day just to be dismissed due to a new misunderstanding.
At times hilariously, the novel describes the situation of many Europeans who might have dreamed of America as an oasis to later realize they were just joined as a little part of an enormous and unspeakable machine.