Reviews

The Trial by Franz Kafka

Only show reviews with written explanations

ein's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Этакая мрачновато-фантасмагорическая бюрократическая антиутопия.

nonilove's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

znnys's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

It's unfortunate this book is essentially unfinished. I think Kafka does a fantastic job in illustrating the dizzying and exhausting bureaucracy of law. There's a sense of anxiety throughout the entire book that's so palpable. I was struck by the entire page where K. debates on whether or not take his coat off in the painter's atelier.

I don't mind the abrupt ending and I think it feels very fitting that the trial never even happens, but again, it's a shame we never got to see Kafka's final vision.

nincrony1's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

My first slice of Kafka and whilst I found it very interesting and fairly stimulating, I think I like the concept better than the execution. Parts of this shine; like the early chapters with K learning about this strange world and beginning to understand the unnecessarily complicated laws and regulations that bind it. Haunting parts like stumbling across some offices being whipped or even the grim ending really stuck with me. But I felt some parts in execution were necessary (such as the long list of hypothetical results for K) but not always fun to read. Still; you have to respect and the stark prose (written in long blocks of paragraphs) really does subject you to the (ahem) Kafka-esque nightmare.