Franz Kafka: The Complete Stories by Franz Kafka Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Franz Kafka: The Complete Stories
Book Review: Kafka's genious shines through, despite translation troubles
Summary: 5 Stars
Kafka's genius lies in the intricate use of language. His sublte style conceals a world of secret doors to interpretation. The casual reader will easily glide by the well-masked portals and probably not come out the other end with much to show for it. On the other hand, the careful, open-minded reader could spend a lifetime exploring the labyrinth of interpretive possibilities within Kafka's works The only trouble with this particular book is the inherant difficulty related to translating literature. The translator did as fine a job as can be expected, considering the richness and pliability of the original text.
Overall, this book belongs in the library of any Kafka afficionado.
Book Review: Kafka: an author who captures the epic tale of tragedy
Summary: 5 Stars
Kafka's short stories are amazing. Few authors really harness tragedy like he does. Take "The Penal Colony" for instance. Kafka invents an ultimate devise of capital punishment, making it vile and disgusting, but coaxing the reader to almost rationalize the purpose of it's existence. As you finish the story though, you realize that it's not about an inhumane killing devise, but instead one man's obsession with it, and it's historical purposes. In a sense the story is a bad-mouthed eulogy of that man.One of Kafka's biggest achievements is his ability to have the reader sympathize with the "bad guy". Few authors can really get a reader emotionally involved with the book.
So take home this book and sit in an under-lighted room as you read it, but be prepared. Soon you will find yourself lost within the words of Franz Kafka.
Book Review: Nice Collection - Bad Binding
Summary: 3 Stars
I am a long time fan of Kafka. I enjoyed seeing all of this work in one collection; however, I thought the quality of the actual physical book was well below average. If I buy a Kafka book, I want it to hold up so I can revisit it 6 months, 4 years, or 3 decades from now. Many paperbacks will provide that level of use, but I doubt this printing will.Book Review: Not for everybody
Summary: 5 Stars
Let it be known to all interested, that most of the stories in this collection are fragmentary, sometimes incomplete, and more often than not, extremely absurdist in nature. Actually, a lot are just simple parables, but more peculiar than average. I recommend this for all fans of Kafka. If you've never read him and buy this, it could be a gamble. As it turned out I liked him from line one, but that is hardly normal for everyone. Read a few of his shorter works first (you can find a lot of his short stuff online) and then determine for yourself; most of his works have a similar feel and theme.Book Review: Nothing like this before or since
Summary: 5 Stars
Kafka has to be the one of the most influential writers of the century, not just for his ability to capture the alienation and unreality of much of modern life but because his vision, which is simultaneously totally bizarre and strangely moving, freed writers to try more and more daring ways of expressing themselves. After all, if one can write a moving story about a man who wakes one morning to discover that he has been turned into a huge cockroach, what can't the writer do?The impression left by these stories is all the more interesting when one realizes that Kafka wasn't a starving, drug or drink demented artist, but a minor clerk in a German insurance firm. A dull and orderly life. Of course, if you've ever worked for an insurance company Kafka's sense of unreality and alienation might seem natural.
These are unique and wonderful concoctions. Anyone who wonders what 'Kafkaesque' really means should take a peek into his world. These stories are the best place to start. Then on to The Trial for the full, gruely experience. Wonderfully horrible.