A review by ryan_pc
The Trial: A New Translation Based on the Restored Text by Franz Kafka
4.0
OK here goes... It starts out with the arrest of our protagonist, "K.". See, simple isn't it?
He is confused by the arrest and doesn't know the crime he has committed. Not to worry, because neither do the guards arresting him. Thankfully he takes the initiative to get a lawyer - who also doesn't know - to help him navigate the confusing legal system that he will spend the next year entangled in. His journey involves escaping inexplicable sexual advances from women he doesn't know, taking legal advice from a painter knows a lot but not what he needs to know, and meeting various other in-the-know people, who... wouldn't you know it, don't know either.
I understand that doesn't really make any sense. The wonderful thing about this book is, if you go with it you end up getting so thoroughly confused that the things you're confused about start making perfect sense, which in itself is a very confusing experience.
There is no clear way to explain this book to someone who hasn't read it because you would sound like a crazy person. However, it is truly worth reading if only to give into it's absurdity, which I think is the point... although, don't listen to me, I may be confused still.
He is confused by the arrest and doesn't know the crime he has committed. Not to worry, because neither do the guards arresting him. Thankfully he takes the initiative to get a lawyer - who also doesn't know - to help him navigate the confusing legal system that he will spend the next year entangled in. His journey involves escaping inexplicable sexual advances from women he doesn't know, taking legal advice from a painter knows a lot but not what he needs to know, and meeting various other in-the-know people, who... wouldn't you know it, don't know either.
I understand that doesn't really make any sense. The wonderful thing about this book is, if you go with it you end up getting so thoroughly confused that the things you're confused about start making perfect sense, which in itself is a very confusing experience.
There is no clear way to explain this book to someone who hasn't read it because you would sound like a crazy person. However, it is truly worth reading if only to give into it's absurdity, which I think is the point... although, don't listen to me, I may be confused still.