A review by jo35_21
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

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.