Metamorphosis and Other Stories [METAMORPHOSIS & OTHER STORIES]

by FranzKafka

Metamorphosis and Other Stories <> Paperback <> FranzKafka <> PenguinBooks

Paperback

Published March 31, 2008

Reviews

[Noah Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been hearing of Kafka for many years, mainly in reference to The Metamorphosis or the use of the word 'Kafkaesque'. I picked this book up recently to finally get a chance to read some of Kafka's work, The Metamorphosis in particular. Overall I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I found the subject matter and style both to be very unique and refreshing, particularly because I've been quite heavy in the fantasy genre for my reading list in the past few years.

Kafka managed to capture the horror of every day life and conversation, as well as the ecstatic beauty hidden within those same situations. His work was extremely personal, with clear references to his pained relationship with his father in stories like The Judgement, while also fitting in some universal experiences in stories such as In the Penal Colony (the experience of finding yourself a stranger in a new place, and being faced with new questions of morality and justice as you expand and change your worldview) or Children on the Road (the freedom and euphoria of childhood).

I did find that some of the stories felt almost unfinished, or just less polished than others - for example The Stoker dragged on and seemed to ramble, and Jackals and Arabs felt mostly pointless. I found this to be rare but consistent throughout the collection. I also feel that at times this particular translation wasn't really doing the content justice. I don't speak German, so I can't be sure, but would find it interesting to get a feel for Kafka's original prose. I've read he was quite particular with all aspects of his work, including the ordering of stories and the type and size of font used in publishing.

I had a goal through reading this book to determine if Kafka was a tortured genius or just a crazy man that managed to get out something interesting in his writings. I've concluded now that he was both, and that each of those aspects were important for creating some extremely influential and interesting work. Some stories I particularly enjoyed were The Judgement, The Metamorphosis, In the Penal Colony, and The Hunger Artist. I highly recommend giving some of Kafka's works a try if you haven't already. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's worth a read to at least get a sense of what he created.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read just Metamorphosis, but decided I might as well read the other short stories included in this version, and I’m glad I did. It was refreshing to read these unique stories filled with such imagination and creativity. To read Kafka’s stories is to be given the freedom to weave our own interpretations as a reader into the experience. Although I struggled to follow some lengthy sentences, I appreciated the ability and craftsmanship of Kafka to produce them with purpose. An example, one of my favorite lines is in The New Advocate: “Today, though, these gates are altogether elsewhere, and higher and more distant; no one points the way; plenty hold swords, but merely for the purposes of waving them around; and the eye that seeks to follow them will only be confused.” Some stories I particularly liked were The Rejection, For the Consideration of Amateur Jockeys, The Judgement, The Stoker (probably my favorite), In the Penal Colony, Jackals and Arabs, and First Sorrow. I also enjoyed many of the other stories (ex: Before the Law, The Worries of a Head of Household, A Little Woman), but in all honesty, I could not come up with my own interpretations and had to rely on online discussions, but some still failed to have any meaningful conclusions.

[Joshua Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evocative, strange, and a bit funny. The Metamorphosis might be the best “short” story ever written, The Stoker not far behind.