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wuthrinheights's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book alternatively could've been titled "A Series of Unfortunate Events" for Karl Rossman simply did not get to catch a break. From getting shipped off by his parents to the US, to every single place he was placed into and everyone he met, has failed and mistreated him. It was simply exhausting and pitying (despite being called his funniest novel). If anything, this book reminded me of that line written by Emily Dickinson when she said "God gave a loaf to every bird, but just a crumb to me."
Kafka's writing tends to give off that surreal, dreamy feeling. Reading this felt like I was an onlooker with cotton in my ears and smoke in my eyes. Like I was watching everything unfold but it was muffled. The one thing about his style that slightly turned me off was how he almost never separated his work into paragraphs; it was something I had to get used to. Anyway, Albert Camus was right when he said "The whole art of Kafka consists in forcing the reader to reread" because I definitely must read this again someday to understand it fuller.
Kafka's writing tends to give off that surreal, dreamy feeling. Reading this felt like I was an onlooker with cotton in my ears and smoke in my eyes. Like I was watching everything unfold but it was muffled. The one thing about his style that slightly turned me off was how he almost never separated his work into paragraphs; it was something I had to get used to. Anyway, Albert Camus was right when he said "The whole art of Kafka consists in forcing the reader to reread" because I definitely must read this again someday to understand it fuller.
sxren's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Found the hopelessness of job hunting and world of work v relatable BUT this was such a struggle to read and incredibly boring sorry kafka this one wasn't for me xoxoxox
minkkmuse's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
the horrors, trials, and absurdity of the (im)migration experience
amsiepamsie's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Rape
worstarchitect's review against another edition
Better than the trial. Karl is definitely one of the more interesting protagonists in Kafka's work, very sensitive but also relentless like all the others. As always for Kafka the best thing about this novel is the way characters communicate with one another. Stoker scene so good.
alexander_smirzitz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
camstipated's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.25
Very dull and slow, but the end is such a Hellish and interesting domestic situation that the setup might be considered worthwhile
_sal_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kafka himself called this his American Story, which it very much is. He was undoubtedly drawn by the American dream despite never having visited the US himself. The Man Who Disappeared its original title is apt for what happens to Karl at the end of the novel he finally cuts his ties with everything and everyone who ever held him back and was visibly or (readily) happier at the end. This as Kafka said is his lighter novel compared to his other works and I agree with this. We do not see the darkness from other novels and the setting calls for rather humorous escapades that honestly read a lot to me like a Steinbeck or Arthurian story.
“So then you’re free?’
‘Yes, I’m free,’ said Karl, and nothing seemed more worthless than his freedom.”
“So then you’re free?’
‘Yes, I’m free,’ said Karl, and nothing seemed more worthless than his freedom.”
charliekusiel's review against another edition
Where Josef K. is locked into the never-ending abuse of the system (as an established businessman), Karl Rossmann is locked out of it (as a teenage immigrant). Inverse stories.