– Metamorphosis

I recently delved into Franz Kafka's masterpiece, "The Metamorphosis," and I was utterly captivated from start to finish. This novella is an absolute gem, deserving of every single one of its five stars. Kafka's storytelling prowess is nothing short of extraordinary. He weaves a tale that is both profoundly thought-provoking and deeply unsettling. As we follow the bizarre transformation of the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, into an insect, Kafka masterfully explores themes of isolation, alienation, and the absurdity of human existence. What struck me the most was Kafka's ability to make us empathize with Gregor's plight, despite his grotesque transformation. The way he depicts Gregor's internal struggle and the reactions of his family and society is both tragic and darkly comical. The prose in this edition, beautifully translated into English, maintains the essence of Kafka's original work. The writing is elegant, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in this surreal world. It's a testament to the enduring power of Kafka's words that this novella continues to resonate with readers across generations. In summary, "The Metamorphosis" is a literary masterpiece that deserves a place on every bookshelf. Its exploration of the human condition, coupled with Kafka's unparalleled storytelling, makes it a must-read for anyone who appreciates thought-provoking literature. I highly recommend this edition, and I can't wait to explore more of Kafka's works.

A fun premise, written in a matter-of-fact tone which emphasises the humour of the strange situation. My copy wasn't terribly well translated - which unintentionally added to the humour at times or made it (minutely) confusing at other times - and the end seemed abrupt and inconclusive, but it was an interesting read. Gregor's sudden metamorphosis may be considered a metaphor for long-term illness (physical or mental) and how that affects the way people around may view the invalid: first with kindness and consideration which turns to fed-up contempt. I believe that is the point Kafka is making underneath the humour of the literal ridiculous situation. And the ending (whether you look at the story literally or metaphorically) is bittersweet. It feels like a sad breath of guilty relief. [...]

I agree with CaSundara on all points: this book had amazing potential but fails to see it through. Kafka explores quite a few issues in a short space (and I disagree about the lack of a plot, though it's very simple) and did leave me feeling chilled. Gregor's transformation can stand as an allegory for so many things, including but not limited to sudden unemployment and disability (which speaks to my own experience). Metamorphosis is so poorly written, however, that the message is hard to reach and difficult to decipher. Sentences are unnecessarily long, grammatically unsound, and use insane numbers of semi-colons while simultaneously misusing commas. Minor characters (non-family) don't get names and are not clearly differentiated, so I am still unclear on who did/said what (most notably the trio of gentlemen tenants). Some things never quite break the cultural barrier: the narrative is unapologetically misogynistic (probably as a result of the publication period circa 1915), and while Gregor *claims* his family to be poverty-stricken as a result of his transformation, they can still afford to hire more than one maid. The dissonance between actual poverty and Gregor's idea of it made it very difficult to sympathise with his family; they came off as lazy and far too reliant on Gregor's overworked lifestyle on top of neglectful and abusive. They may even be deliberately unsympathetic, but it's hard to really tell for sure. Overall, I can't quite figure out how this has so many good reviews, both on and off Amazon, or why it is so "influential". Other works have explored the same themes before and since, and did a much better job with much better characterisation. That said, however, I still find myself thinking about Metamorphis a week after reading, so it must clearly have done something right.

nice little size, and the cover is pretty. I loved the book.

I liked the straight forward unsentimental description. Gregor's transformation changes not just himself but everyone's who relies on him. An easy enjoyable experience

Thank you, Kafka, for writing a short, entertaining novel so your readers can get a feel for your approach. This is a bit odd, of course: a travelling salesman wakes up to find he has turned into a beetle. But it really works: it is a great study of manners and snobbery as well as being a study of family love and betrayal. More than that, it also works as a kind of science fiction and, alongside other monsters, this beetle hero is misunderstood. Published in 1915, the book could be seen as sensing the ostracism of the Jews 20 years later (and Kafka was Jewish in Vienna), but it certainly shows how an individual who looks different suddenly falls foul of society. I thought that this was a very good translation, by the way.

The storyline was very unexpected. I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't rush to read more Kafka.

The book is decent quality, not to mention pretty, but while reading, the paint from the cover kept coming off and sticking to my fingers. There's now a very noticeable patch of stripped paint on the front, and I've had the book for less than a day. Maybe I just got a bad copy, but I’d expect better durability, especially for the price.

Without spoiling, I consider this a beautiful book.

good book, good condition

Just loved it, the quality also very good.

Livro muito interessante e mantém a gente preso a leitura. Muito bom

You know you bought it because you already know you must read this one