Reviews

Amerika by Franz Kafka

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bruinuclafan's review against another edition

3.0

Poor Karl Rossman is shipped to America from Germany after a sexual misadventure with a housemaid. Things look promising when he arrives, but his situation deteriorates through a series of increasingly absurd scenarios.

I liked the book, and I love Kafka's writing. The only ding against it is that these sorts of books are generally hard to read for me, since nothing good is ever happening to the main character.

mak99's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

riorda15's review against another edition

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4.0

Dense but the genius is clear. The way Kafka write the injustice and confusion of bureaucratic situations is so True and easy to identify with.

ekp10's review against another edition

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3.0

Not sure how I feel about it. As always, Kafka is a great storyteller. His story is interesting and full of ups and downs. You expect the extreme when you started it and you got that. There was never once a boring moment when you read it, and it does makes you want to know more of the missing gaps. You care for the well being of the character and you get frustrated when he’s choosing something wrong.
I read that it’s supposed to be an exaggeration of America since Kafka himself has not spent time here. I guess it makes sense, because it’s highlighting those american experience in a grandiose way. From the politic campaign, obesity, servitude, and the theater of Oklahoma. Everything is quiet exaggerated yet still believable.
Buster Keaton -esque