Reviews

The Trial by Franz Kafka

kaceyymair's review against another edition

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3.0

Some interesting takes and conclusions on the law (deffo would’ve helped with my diss), and I enjoyed the fantastical and nightmarish qualities, I just wish that there was more depth on all the characters (including K.)

youngthespian42's review against another edition

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3.0

Good, not great. If this is the only Kafka you plan to read stick to the short stories. Was really engaged with plot and character for the first half but then the book dragged on. There is a tight Novella/novelette here.

basketballbooklover's review

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Boring, too slow

tobyj416's review against another edition

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Wasn’t in the mood

phedudu's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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

4.5

vattenhare's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

finnuca's review against another edition

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5.0

Kafka erwartet von seiner Leserschaft zwar sicherlich Fragen wie Warum? oder Wodurch?, wenn Letztere die Texte von Erstgenanntem lesen, doch er gibt ihr auf diese Fragen nie eine Antwort. So muss die Leserschaft beispielsweise einfach hinnehmen, dass Gregor Samsa über Nacht zu "Ungeziefer" geworden ist.
Genauso ist es mit dem Prozess des Franz K.. Ähnlich wie Samsa erwacht es morgens, nur dass bei ihm keine körperliche, sondern eine soziale Verwandlung stattgefunden hat: Er wird verhaftet und hat es auf den folgenden 270 Seiten mit einem Prozess zu tun, dessen Beweggründe K. und auch die Leserschaft nie erfahren werden.
Ganz im Gegenteil füllt Kafka die Seiten mit immer mehr Mysterien, sei es durch eine komplizierte und undurchsichtige Bürokratie, skurrile Dachbodenkanzleien oder einen beängstigenden Dom, den K. bei dunklem Licht einsam durchschreitet.
Kafka schreibt nüchtern und sachlich, während das Beschriebene doch überhaupt nicht sachlich, sondern viel eher komisch und rätselhaft erscheint. Denkt K. zu Beginn noch, dem Prozess entkommen zu können, nimmt er doch schnell sein ganzes Leben ein und die Konsequenzen des Prozesses klingen, in Kafkas mysteriöse Worte verpackt, umso dramatischer: "Willst Du denn den Proceß verlieren? Weißt Du was das bedeutet? Das bedeutet, daß Du einfach gestrichen wirst."

sosiq's review

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dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

stephibabes's review against another edition

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4.0

Absurd, confusing and labyrinthine. It is very clear why the term Kafkaesque often applies to very convoluted and impenetrable bureaucratic processes.

Following K., or at least trying to, on his journey as a man accused of a crime that we never learn the circumstances of and neither does he, is frustrating and unsettling. The state apparatus is not intended to be clear and transparent. And the consequences for K. are that he starts as a man full of zeal and energy against the accusation he faces and wants to prove his innocence. But by the end, after many run in's with all sorts of persons attached to the court, he has nothing left to give.

A clear allegory for power crushing the weak little by little. I found it a compelling read. It was a book I had sat on my shelf for years. Glad I finally got round to it.

forenzer's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.0