Noel’s Reviews > Diaries, 1910-1923 > Status Update
Noel
is on page 295 of 521
Kafka’s diaries might honestly be my favorite thing I’ve ever read. In fact, “favorite” is understating it. This is a guidebook for life. It’s impact on me so far is comparable only to the first two volumes of In Search of Lost Time, the sum total of David Wojnarowicz’s writings, and Kafka’s own letters to Milena. Those three authors basically write the way I think, but especially Kafka.
— Sep 07, 2026 04:27PM
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Noel’s Previous Updates
Noel
is on page 393 of 521
It is entirely conceivable that life’s splendour forever lies in wait about each one of us in all its fullness, but veiled from view, deep down, invisible, far off. It is there, though, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf. If you summon it by the right word, by its right name, it will come. This is the essence of magic, which does not create but summons.
— 16 hours, 45 min ago
Noel
is on page 393 of 521
It is astounding how I have systematically destroyed myself in the course of the years, it was like a slowly widening breach in a dam, a purposeful action. The spirit that brought it about must now be celebrating triumphs; why doesn’t it let me take part in them? But perhaps it hasn’t yet achieved its purpose and can therefore think of nothing else.
— 16 hours, 46 min ago
Noel
is on page 341 of 521
Going to pieces. To go to pieces so pointlessly and unnecessarily.
— Sep 10, 2026 08:16PM
Noel
is on page 339 of 521
Completely indifferent and apathetic. A well gone dry, water at an unattainable depth and no certainty it is there. Nothing, nothing. … What is there to tie me to a past or a future? The present is a phantom state for me; I don’t sit at the table but hover round it. Nothing, nothing. Emptiness, boredom, no, not boredom, merely emptiness, meaninglessness, weakness.
— Sep 10, 2026 07:54PM
Noel
is on page 334 of 521
Incapable of living with people, of speaking. Complete immersion in myself, thinking of myself. Apathetic, witless, fearful. I have nothing to say to anyone – never.
— Sep 10, 2026 07:52PM
Noel
is on page 295 of 521
I am more and more unable to think, to observe, to determine the truth of things, to remember, to speak, to share an experience; I am turning to stone, this is the truth.
— Sep 06, 2026 04:19PM
Noel
is on page 292 of 521
(A lovely short sketch.)
I paced up and down my room from early morning unto twilight. The window was open, it was a warm day. The noise of the narrow street beat in uninterruptedly. By now I knew every trifle in the room from having looked at in the course of my pacing up and down. My eyes had travelled over every wall. I had pursued the pattern of the rug to its last convolution, noted every mark of age it
[…]
— Sep 06, 2026 03:42PM
I paced up and down my room from early morning unto twilight. The window was open, it was a warm day. The noise of the narrow street beat in uninterruptedly. By now I knew every trifle in the room from having looked at in the course of my pacing up and down. My eyes had travelled over every wall. I had pursued the pattern of the rug to its last convolution, noted every mark of age it
[…]
Noel
is on page 266 of 521
Only this everlasting waiting, eternal helplessness.
— Sep 04, 2026 02:32PM
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Sep 07, 2026 04:29PM
My review of this book is going to be either a dozen pages long or two sentences. I find I tend to have not very much to say about books that move me very deeply. I guess because I really have too much to say and am preemptively exhausted at the thought of expressing it, or paralyzed at the thought of expressing it badly (as I feel I do most of the time).
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If I write a review, it’s going to be about Kafka’s self-exile and his attempt at salvation through literature, but it also seems like it would be too difficult, and also I’m out of practice.[Also, I’ll have to reread Walter Benjamin’s essay on Kafka in Illuminations. I barely read it the first time because back then I wasn’t much into Kafka. Benjamin also chose Proust and Kafka as his two defining figures.]
I feel for you Noel! The feeling is all too familiar... And yet I try to express my observations and thoughts in a terse way, as best I can. In French if need be, for lack of time or energy to write it in English or Spanish. I find expressing it even imperfectly, in a lapidary way or summing up the notes written while I was reading the work helps me make more sense out of it. Often, that is! Lately, I doubt I made much sense on Mathieu Laine's essay, for lack of energy and dedication to write a proper assessment of this book I wanted to like but did not because of the author's political background 🙂 When that happens, I allow myself to rewrite or rework the review, but at least the foundations are here for this hypothetical rereading, I find it easier that way! 🙂Anyway, I hope you find joy in your reading currently, Noel! Feel free to list works you associate with Kafka's diaries, it can help a lot retracing your throughts and observations too!
Thanks a lot, PE :) Yes, I think that’s what I’m going to do.
All you've wrote is true.
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I have this edition in portuguese. I've started reading it but found it to be too bleak. reading your reactions made me want to go back on this book and give it a second try.