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_cro's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
2.5
thelyingbitch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dsapho's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
arszania's review against another edition
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jasminedanai's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ryanm2's review against another edition
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
raymanesque's review against another edition
2.0
This is a book where absolutely nothing happens. Nothing makes any sense, and everything is ultimately a pointless mess that's a struggle to get through from beginning to end.
Of course, that itself is emblematic of Kafka's themes of bureaucracy and futility - and to that extent it's an interesting piece of art that deserves its place in the literary canon. But as a BOOK?! Nobody should subject themselves to this.
Perhaps Kafka's original German prose flows more engagingly and beautifully, but in translation the text is dead. Stone dead. Rather than a fever dream, this feels like you've had a fever, and then with temperature still ablaze were pulled along and forced to navigate a foreign country's airport security while trying not to vomit. All the confusion; none of the magic.
The foreword to my copy of Kafka's works comments that Kafka is perhaps over-celebrated and that while he isn't wholly without merit... Let's just say, I get it now. I agree.
If any other author had written this book, it would be garbage that should never have been published. This is a piece of performance art - a book designed to torture the reader to teach them via example and subjection the futility of life's struggles and our ultimate lack of agency. You evil genius, Kafka. What a madlad.
Mark Twain said that a classic is "a book that people praise but don't read." This is a book that deserves to be talked about and discussed, the thematic message and corresponding delivery is somehow compelling, but not to be read. That's why I consider it performance art. You should know *about* The Trial, but you should praise it without ever reading it. And to that extent, Kafka certainly wrote a classic.
Of course, that itself is emblematic of Kafka's themes of bureaucracy and futility - and to that extent it's an interesting piece of art that deserves its place in the literary canon. But as a BOOK?! Nobody should subject themselves to this.
Perhaps Kafka's original German prose flows more engagingly and beautifully, but in translation the text is dead. Stone dead. Rather than a fever dream, this feels like you've had a fever, and then with temperature still ablaze were pulled along and forced to navigate a foreign country's airport security while trying not to vomit. All the confusion; none of the magic.
The foreword to my copy of Kafka's works comments that Kafka is perhaps over-celebrated and that while he isn't wholly without merit... Let's just say, I get it now. I agree.
If any other author had written this book, it would be garbage that should never have been published. This is a piece of performance art - a book designed to torture the reader to teach them via example and subjection the futility of life's struggles and our ultimate lack of agency. You evil genius, Kafka. What a madlad.
Mark Twain said that a classic is "a book that people praise but don't read." This is a book that deserves to be talked about and discussed, the thematic message and corresponding delivery is somehow compelling, but not to be read. That's why I consider it performance art. You should know *about* The Trial, but you should praise it without ever reading it. And to that extent, Kafka certainly wrote a classic.
timlarsson's review against another edition
2.0
Chapter 9 of 10 was superb and would get 5 stars, thought provoking!
The final chapter was alright, nothing really special. The rest of the book was not good; long never ending sentences, a main character I absolutely loathe, a wired story, nothing is really explained and some character are just forgotten and others serve no purpose.
Was sadly disappointed.
The final chapter was alright, nothing really special. The rest of the book was not good; long never ending sentences, a main character I absolutely loathe, a wired story, nothing is really explained and some character are just forgotten and others serve no purpose.
Was sadly disappointed.
vishal_moorthy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5