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404jazzy's review against another edition
4.0
I read Metamorphosis a few years back and I hated it. I picked it up again today and devoured it less than 2 hours.
I believe Kafka’s work needs to be read in a very specific mind frame with a lens that is big enough to let his ideas wander in and I don’t believe I was there when I first read it. In Metamorphosis, Kafka writes a rather absurd story about a man named Gregor who wakes up one day as an insect. As the novel unfolds, we follow his acclimation with his new life and the way his family reacts to him.
Fear, disgust, shame, anger, love. Those are all but some of the human emotions that Kafka paints on his canvas and plays around with to give us his depiction of society and human nature.
Metamorphosis was a great thought-provoking read which definitely calls for some reflection afterwards.
I believe Kafka’s work needs to be read in a very specific mind frame with a lens that is big enough to let his ideas wander in and I don’t believe I was there when I first read it. In Metamorphosis, Kafka writes a rather absurd story about a man named Gregor who wakes up one day as an insect. As the novel unfolds, we follow his acclimation with his new life and the way his family reacts to him.
Fear, disgust, shame, anger, love. Those are all but some of the human emotions that Kafka paints on his canvas and plays around with to give us his depiction of society and human nature.
Metamorphosis was a great thought-provoking read which definitely calls for some reflection afterwards.
tea_and_bookies's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
A powerful work by Kafka. Intensely slow, but a deep dive into our purpose. Gregor’s hope for compassion was commendable, making his plight all the more tragic.
saylorrains's review against another edition
3.0
This was really good, honestly, but it made me sad so I can't bring myself to love it. By the end, the treatment of the main character is incredibly sad and dehumanizing, literally. It was probably made worse when at the end of the book, someone I know made the whole situation comparable to his dad who had alzheimer's. Messed me up.
likeklocwork's review against another edition
4.0
The surrealism makes this a surprisingly good children's book when read in a sing song voice.
cinnamoni's review against another edition
5.0
waking up disabled and becoming a financial burden to your family is a real and valid fear
jo35_21's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found this book to be okay, but not amazing. While Franz Kafka is clearly a talented writer, the story didn't wow me as much as I expected. The ending was pretty easy to see coming.
This is a sad story about a family dealing with their son/brother turning into something they can't handle. Each family member reacts differently:
- The mother keeps hoping things will get better
- The father completely gives up on his son
- The sister tries to help at first but eventually sees her brother as a problem
The ending wasn't surprising with the main character unable to even talk to his family and no way to go outside without being killed, there weren't many other ways this could end. He was the one who used to take care of the family, and without him, they had to learn to manage on their own the hard way.
While it's a well-written story, it's pretty depressing from start to finish. It shows how quickly family relationships can fall apart when things get tough. The message could probably have been told in a different way, but it definitely makes you think about how we treat people when they change or become difficult to deal with.
This is a sad story about a family dealing with their son/brother turning into something they can't handle. Each family member reacts differently:
- The mother keeps hoping things will get better
- The father completely gives up on his son
- The sister tries to help at first but eventually sees her brother as a problem
The ending wasn't surprising with the main character unable to even talk to his family and no way to go outside without being killed, there weren't many other ways this could end. He was the one who used to take care of the family, and without him, they had to learn to manage on their own the hard way.
While it's a well-written story, it's pretty depressing from start to finish. It shows how quickly family relationships can fall apart when things get tough. The message could probably have been told in a different way, but it definitely makes you think about how we treat people when they change or become difficult to deal with.
ribetzi's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mia_aka_ted's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Nice writing style, timeless classic!