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The problem is that this didn't translate into enjoyable reading for me.The Good: According to the critics and those of the academic community the good is practically limitless. Franz Kafka was born into a Jewish middleclass family in Prague in July 1883 and succumbed to Tuberculosis in June of 1924. Much of the work is reported to be incomplete and the larger portion of it is collected in this book "The Complete Stories".In the interest of full disclosure I did not finish the whole book. If you want to enjoy what you read you may want to try reading something else.
I slogged on this for as long as I could but found myself constantly wondering why I was reading it since I was enjoying none of it.Overall: Academic value = 5 stars. Enjoyment reading = 1 star and since I read for enjoyment 1 star overall. The stories and characters are basically just overly morose and depressing. To top that off the characters were generally placed in bad situations with no hope of a positive outcome and a lack of desire to look for one.
I know many will say that I cant give a complete review because of this but I am only giving my opinion of what I read which was all similar in one form or fashion so I am operating under the assumption the I would have found all of the stories I left unread as unbearable as those I did read. The stories I read were boring and full of uninteresting characters, subject matter and plot-less storylines that tended to meander everywhere and go nowhere. Much of his literary work was published posthumously is reported to be amongst the most influential in Western Literature for it's time. Unfortunately for me I couldn't find any of it.The Bad: I just didn't enjoy a single moment that I spent with my nose in this book.
Before going any further I would say that according to the pros (which I am not), Kafka's writing is of great academic value which I do not dispute. To be honest I couldn't bear to read another page of it. If you think there is a story I should have read let me know.
Buyer take note. If this is the "COMPLETE" version of his stories why don't I see The Trial and The Castle listed. Seems "complete", as in "free", has a whole new definition these days.
It's ability to continually ask more profound questions of us, rather than give pat answers or provide facile solutions to the dark riddles and dilemmas we all face in life to varying degrees. It's an astute observation, and when put into practice, reveals the genius inherent in Kafka's work. The 1st line in the postscript mentions Albert Camus remarking that the whole art of Kafka consists in compelling the reader to re-read him.
The longer ones include masterpieces such as The Metamorphosis, In the Penal Colony, and A Hunger Artist. Much is made of conflicts with outside forces over which the individual has no control, but the primary struggle is with oneself and is spiritual in nature. The best place to start with Kafka is with his short stories, and here we have all of his stories, published and unpublished, complete and incomplete, in one volume.
Kafka is a master at using irony and many of his stories end with satiric plot twists and sarcastic character revelations. John Updike provides an illuminating intro and the Muir's translations are excellent. Also included are 2 short introductory parables, Before the Law, and An Imperial Message, which perfectly set the tone for what is to follow.
Kafka's troubled life can obviously be used as a reference point for his literature, but the stories stand alone as disturbing, often humorous, unique, and concise yet complex examinations of the human condition.
I guess the reason in having them in this edition is in order to be able to call it 'The Complete Stories'. These protagonists are sometimes human beings but some are neither human nor animals.One could call them Kafka imagination's progeny.The reason I give it only 4 stars is because some of the stories are bordering on.boring. Thus - if you are ready to accept some less than stellar writing, you'll be rewarded in most of the book by an extraordinary style and truly 'kafkaesque' ideas. Most of the stroies are gems. Kafka's unique style lies with the way he uses the language - he manages in bringing the reader to the darkest corners of the psyche using a matter-of-fact, almost bland collection of allegedly objective observations on his protagonists' emotions, thoughts and behaviours.
Kafka has had enormous influence on modern fiction. That his world is ours is the magic of his genius. This is a fabulous collection.
Kafka's subject, which is something like 'the estrangement of the soul and modern man's quest for hope in a hopeless universe' sounds awfully familiar.The truth is that little else has been said to expand on Kafka's central insight into modern man's spiritual dilemma. Yes, we've been there alright, but we cannot explain how it happened. "There is hope, but not for us." Kafka, rather like Poe, writes creepy tales.
Kafka is still "the rage," one supposes, but it is hard to see how, now that he has become an icon. Reading him today is especially interesting; you would think these stories had been written the day before yesterday. We can, as they say, relate.to Kafka's narratives of anxiety, helplessness, and fear.
Updike is right that these stories are excellent. He may be one of a handful of highly important authors.
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