Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Meditation by Franz Kafka is our Old School Classic Group Read for February 2025.
Note: This book is also titled Contemplation. This is a spoiler thread.

Here is my review. And I'm happy to jump in as the discussion takes off.

There's a March buddy read of his complete short stories, which is great timing since these early vignettes foreshadow the mood and ideas that became more fully realized in the later work.

"Meditation" (or "Contemplation") is a collection of Kafka's early writing--eighteen short works, many of which could be described as sketches or prose poems. These short works are interesting because they show his early development as a writer as he uses some of the same themes that are present in his more famous works. There is beauty in his prose, and it's already obvious that Kafka spends a lot of time in his own head.

The delightful sketch, "Children on a Country Road," was much happier than anything else I've read by Kafka. Some of the works show acute observation, such as "On the Tram." "Excursion into the Mountains" starts off with loneliness and ends up whimsical. Anxiety and a fear of loneliness is present in "Bachelor's Ill Luck" ("The Fate of the Bachelor"). Social discomfort is the theme of "Rejection." Fear in a potentially dangerous situation is shown in "Passers-by" ("The Men Running Past").

This 1912 collection shows an unusual writer learning his craft, and writing about themes that he will explore again in his later stories.

Connie (on semi-hiatus) wrote: ""Meditation" (or "Contemplation") is a collection of Kafka's early writing--eighteen short works, many of which could be described as sketches or prose poems. These short works are interesting beca..."

Wonderful summary.

Thanks, Klowey. I'm looking forward to reading more of his works in the buddy read in March.

I would love to read this, but I can't find the book anywhere :(

Xaph wrote: "I would love to read this, but I can't find the book anywhere :("

You probably need to find an edition that includes these very short pieces. For example, in the U.S. you could get Franz Kafka: The Complete Stories By Franz Kafka.

Xaph wrote: "I would love to read this, but I can't find the book anywhere :("

For online: There are links in the non-spoiler tread.

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Xaph wrote: "I would love to read this, but I can't find the book anywhere :("

For online: There are links in the non-spoiler tread."

Thank you, I found it and started reading!

Xaph wrote: "J_BlueFlower wrote: "Xaph wrote: "I would love to read this, but I can't find the book anywhere :("

For online: There are links in the non-spoiler tread."

Thank you, I found it and started reading!"

Great. You can either download a PDF or read free via the Internet Archive library, as you probably saw.

My Personal Page lists the specific books in Meditation and their alternate titles depending on translation.

I couldnt find a hard copy version, so I am going to read it online. I started tonight with the first one, Children of the Country Road was it? It was beautifully descriptive, but i will admit, i did not quite understand the ending. I mean, it just seemed a little random, maybe? Was this a bedtime story for kids to get them to go to sleep or something? Haha Sorry, i didnt fully read all of the comments so far on here for fear of spoilers, but not sure this particular thing was mentioned.

Anyway, looking forward to more stories! Also, I have to look up what is "mail". I am wondering if it is the same mail mentioned in Tale of Two Cities, or wait, was it Misery (the novel within the novel part) cuz that seemed like older times? Yeah, I am kinda stupidly trying to read all at the same time. Sometimes things line up nicely, but other times they sorta jumble together, i guess. Oops! Lol

I am reading this more like a read a poetry collection. Reading it once for understanding in general and then once more for detail.

So far I guess the stories are not related, but should be read in the same way: Asking "What does this symbolize?"

If you are struggling to getting going, I suggest reading Unmasking of a Confidence Man. Would it help doing that today?

I also am intending to read these "stories" twice - done once, second reading and comments coming soon...
:oD

I finished my re-read, and I think I got more from it, especially spotting themes across the stories (windows come up a lot!)
I thought the three trickiest-to-understand were "Resolutions", and two which involve a mysterious figure leaning in a doorway(!) "Unmasking a Confidence Trickster" and "Being Unhappy"
so I'd be interested to hear what others thought about those in particular...

My general summary:

Oh, this is another difficult one to rate. I mean, I kinda liked most of the stories, but I am no seasoned critic when it comes to more poetic prose. I definitely could sense the reminiscing of better days as well as regret and or meloncholy of lonliness, for example. After reading a short bio of the author, I can see where these "contemplations" stem from. It is very interesting!


Some slightly more specific thoughts:
The tricky on for me was the Wishing to be a Red Indian. I mean, what was that even about? And just 1 sentence! Lol

Resolutions made some sense to me when i read it, but then when i read the Wikipedia description, it seems like i missed something. I gathered that the speaker was willing to do x, y, and z, but then was also kind of losing motivation or reason to do them. I think. But Wikipedia made it sound like it was about how we are often fake in front of people. We wear a mask and are not our authentic selves. We are maybe even afraid. So with my theory mixed, i am not sure if it is mean that it takes effort to be fake and so we go back to ourselves, or the reverse, it is harder to be authentic and so we fall back into being fake to fit in. The latter makes more aense, when you think about the themes of lonliness and isolation in many of the stories.

The Trickster. While i am not exactly sure what the trick was supposed to be, the speaker doesnt really like the "trickster". Perhaps he doeant know why he does t like him? And then he realizes that he is a trickster, and maybe feels justified in his dislike. The wiki description says that it is left open to interpretation whether or not the speaker's thought is actually true.

I forgot the Being Happy one. Might have to reread that.

J_BlueFlower wrote: "I am reading this more like a read a poetry collection. Reading it once for understanding in general and then once more for detail.

So far I guess the stories are not related, but should be read ..."

Yeah, more like poetry, which is not my strong suit. Lol But the stories do have a general theme and it is in the title itself, Meditation or Contemplation. These are like poetic journal thoughts. And as i mentioned in the other post, very reflective of Kafkas personality, which I can somewhat empathize with. It is sad to hear that he had a pretty sad life.

I think the wikipedia article on this first publication of Kafka's is enlightening. I have to break up the link.
wikipedia.org /wiki/Contemplation_(short_story_collection)

I have read a lot of Kafka and I don't think these stories measure up to his work after that. So please don't give up. Some of the stories that follow are amazing. I think these are good, especially the titular story, "A Country Doctor."
wikipedia.org /wiki/A_Country_Doctor_(short_story_collection)
"Before the Law" in that collection is brilliant.

And one of my favorites that's odd and was (as with a lot of his work) unfinished, is "The Burrow" which features an anthropomorphic animal trying to hide away from life. And he's quite captivating. It would appeal to anyone who likes to have alone time and has some "issues" with "boundaries." Like me. LOL
wikipedia.org /wiki/The_Burrow_(short_story)

I really encourage you all to try the group read of his complete work, in March. I think if you read more Kafka you will see how these early "thoughts" fit into his development as a writer. I really appreciate them.

I also put a link to my review above at the beginning of this discussion, but here it is:

Eighteen very short prose poems written between 1904 and 1912. They are often not much more than a passing thought. I find them an interesting contrast to his more mature later work.
This compilation was Kafka's first published book, printed at the end of 1912 (with the publication year given as "1913").

Direct links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemp...
wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Country_Doctor_(...
wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burrow_(short_...

April wrote: "My general summary: ..."

Yes, the loneliness. The narrator is almost always looking at other people. Or just looking.

I got reminded of Wittgenstein : “I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves.”

This collection seemed random and incohesive to me. In my reading I became quite underwhelmed. The stories didn’t make much sense to me, and I wasn’t understanding what Kafka’s point was, what exactly he was getting at. The poems that truly got my attention were “The Rejection” and “The Exposure of a Swindler” I understood what Kafka was saying here because I could relate. Those two made me laugh. Other than those two, I was pretty much in the dark.

J_BlueFlower wrote: "April wrote: "My general summary: ..."

Yes, the loneliness. The narrator is almost always looking at other people. Or just looking.

I got reminded of Wittgenstein : “I don't know why we are here..."

Wow! That is a dark thought! (The quote) ha!

Klowey wrote: "I think the wikipedia article on this first publication of Kafka's is enlightening. I have to break up the link.
wikipedia.org /wiki/Contemplation_(short_story_collection)

I have read a lot of Kaf..."

I defintitely look forward to reading more. Im not sure that i said i disliked them, but that they just seemed sad (and a little confusing), or he seemed sad, and apparently he was. On the contrary, these were a relief to me after the amatuerish stories i read last month (ok, some were good, but some were definitely seemingly unedited journal thoughts). So yeah, whether i can do the group read next month or catch up in April, I definitely intend to read more Kafka and follow the discussions.

Kelly wrote: "This collection seemed random and incohesive to me. In my reading I became quite underwhelmed. The stories didn’t make much sense to me, and I wasn’t understanding what Kafka’s point was, what exac..."

I really like The Rejection too, for that reason, in a way! Ha! I mean, in isnt usually a mutual rejection, but maybe it was saying like, "well, you reject me, i reject you". And that is funny. Lol
I dont know why, but i dont remember this other one. I think in my book, the order was switched up a bit, but really all I lost in that was the themes. Cant recall them specifically at this moment, but there were like groups of 3 or 4 stories that had a similar theme, the next with a different theme, and so on and so on. But again, with that overarching them of Contemplation/Meditation.

Phew. Kafka is not easy. Here are my impressions.
I have marked the titles of my favourites in bold.

"Children on a Country Road"
I feel like I missed something here? Is it really about happy children?

"Unmasking a Confidence Trickster"
I think the German title is “Bauernfängers” is more wide than  trickster. In Denmark we talk about shrinkflation being bondefangeri (same word as Bauernfänger). Cheating by making something look as something else.
The trickster may not be a human. A very modern reading could be something tricking you to waste time. The narrator becomes happier from unmasking the trickster. Perhaps it is time to tap some social media on the shoulder and say "Caught in the act!"?

"The Sudden Walk"
The narrator break free of habit and feels better. He next thinks about breaking into a friends habit.

"Resolutions"
??

"Excursion into the Mountains"
The narrator starts being annoyed that nobody shows up. He turns it into a silly march of “nobodies”. It is balancing right on the edge between he is having fun and he is desperately having “fun”.

"Bachelor's Ill Luck"
Yet an angle on loneliness.

"The Businessman"
He has wealth from his business but is lonely and unhappy.
He takes the elevator while other have to take the stairs. Maybe this could be read as a story about privilege blindness?

"Absent-minded Window-gazing"
I am clueless here.

"The Way Home"
He is in the mood to think deeply but cannot think about anything. A bit of a first world problem.

"Passers-by"
The narrator see a man running followed by another man. It may be a crime he is witnessing. Then follows a long thought about the many possible stories behind, justifying to himself why he did not do anything.

"On the Tram"
A man sees a woman in almost unhuman detail. And?

"The Rejection"
Man: I want you.
Woman: You are just normal. I don’t want you.
Man: You are also only ordinary. I don’t want you.
The exchange is so overdone it is almost funny.

"Reflections for Gentlemen-Jockeys"
Almost no matter what you do, it will be wrong. Even win will be bad.

"The Street Window"
Yet an angle on loneliness.

"The Wish to Be An Indian"
This one is brutal. It reads in happy terms about the physical freedom on a horseback. Free even from reins. But at the last line the horse has no head and neck. The real Indians not free at all. You cannot be this free and still be real?

"The Trees"
Even the very solid is only temporarily?

"Unhappiness"
Yet more loneliness: The story seems to have three people: The narrator, the child and the neighbour. The child turns out to be a ghost. The neighbour dos not seem too real.

I was going to add some thoughts here but the discussion seems archived as I could not find it without a search. I will add my thoughts at the beginning of complete stories if that buddy read continues.

For me (desktop version) it becomes visible when there is activity. I suggest you write here if it is for this book specifically.

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Phew. Kafka is not easy. Here are my impressions.
I have marked the titles of my favourites in bold.

"Children on a Country Road"
I feel like I missed something here? Is it really about happy chi..."

Wow, i like this summary of the stories! Haha i also like that i am bot the only one clueless about some of them. 😜😂