The Basic Kafka

Rating:
Summary: Contains All of Kafka's great works...well almost
Review: Introduced to Kafka by a news section comparing American Military Tribunals for Afghani POW's to Kafka's work "the trial", provoked me to pick up a copy of The basic Kafka from the local library's annual book sale. Realizing that this book didn't have the story "the trial." I put it down for a few months, eventually picking it up again and reading the most enjoyable short stories I have ever read.

The highlights of this book are "The metamorpheses", "Josephine the Singer", and "The Hunger Artist" all of which contain a strong social statements in an almost surreal setting. The influence of existentialist thought on Kafka's writings, anyone interested in the application of existentialism on literature would be wise to begin here. Concise stories that are just as interesting as thought provoking.

There are also diary entries and letters for those who wish to delve into Kafka's personal life. I just skimmed through this section, but it was apparent he was a mysterious and intelligent man. This book is recommended to anyone whether their interest in modern schools of thought are high or not. Even if the stories dont exhibit a strong social messag, the stories themselves are interesting enough to carry you through this introductory book with ease.

Rating:
Summary: if you like a challengeing book to read this is it
Review: Kafka is the most complex writer ive ever read, i enjoyed reading this book.it has exerts from metamorphisis and josephine the singer and short stories, parables and exerpts from his diaries, it is very interesting

Rating:
Summary: Portrait of a Reclusive Artist
Review: Prior to a friend purchaseing this book and toteing it around, I had only known Kafka as an obscure author that I probably would never read unless forced to. The cover, somehow, caught my intrest, althoguh I'm not entirely sure why. Eventually, when my friend finshed reading it, I asked if I could borrow it, and he allowed me to.

I'm glad the simple little cover caught my attention. Kafka was simply full of amusing quips, dark and dieased plots, and stunning revlations and details. He was touching and he was poingent, and he was, most of all, a story teller. Even his letters had a unique presepctive that made them intriguing to read. The Metamorphisis is by far one of my favorite books to this day, and as it serves as the opener of the book, it is the perfect introduction to Kafka.. and the rest of this body of work.