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100th out of 119 books
—
16 voters
The Basic Kafka
Published together for the first time are selections from all Kafka's writings: The Metamorphosis, Josephine The Singer, plus his short stories, parables, and his personal diaries and letters.
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
June 3rd 1984
by Pocket Books
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The book that introduced me to Kafka in high school. Man, I was such a tool in college that there are actually photographs of me holding the door open for friends to enter Denny's with one hand, and a copy of this book in the other (whilst wearing a fucking leather jacket. and a do-rag. and a goatee.)
Like, I know you guys are going to bore the hell out of me, so I'm going to bring THE BASIC KAFKA into DENNY'S so I don't have to run out to my car, thus maximizing my poseur time.
Christ. I'm payin...more
Like, I know you guys are going to bore the hell out of me, so I'm going to bring THE BASIC KAFKA into DENNY'S so I don't have to run out to my car, thus maximizing my poseur time.
Christ. I'm payin...more
This book was my introduction to the work of Franz Kafka and remember carrying it around with me everywhere devouring each of Kafka's bizarre, dreamlike stories, as well as his collection of parables. A great book to introduce Kafka to the uninitiated.
Reading selections from this book for a course I am taking, "Psychoanalysis and the Modern Novel" and then the remainder of its contents I'll read on my own...
p.s This book seriously needs "In the Penal Colony". I do not understand why the editors/publishers chose to not include it.
Read so far:
Letter to his Father.
- Very interesting and insightful towards his psyche and life, though a bit whiny.
The Judgement.
- Seriously brilliant. I cannot really explain my amazement with this story unless I go...more
p.s This book seriously needs "In the Penal Colony". I do not understand why the editors/publishers chose to not include it.
Read so far:
Letter to his Father.
- Very interesting and insightful towards his psyche and life, though a bit whiny.
The Judgement.
- Seriously brilliant. I cannot really explain my amazement with this story unless I go...more
A fantastic collection with an invaluable selection of letters. If you have any interest in Kafka at all, and you're not well-versed, this is a great choice. There are some amazing pieces in here, as well as the collection of pathologies that constituted Kafka's unfortunate existence, and finally also some amazing... well what amounts to fragments.
An essential! I felt that this is one of the most important collections of Kafka's writing made public. The pieces are an example of the scope of his work, the depth of his ability; good for anyone new to Kafka.
Kafka is so brilliant, poignant, and beautiful, but I routinely have to put him down. Sometimes poignant and gut wrenching flow together, I suppose. Well, mingled with a little abject horror.
I so enjoy Kafka. I reread this book every few years.
I highly recommend this book as a great way to first get to know Kafka and his work.
I highly recommend this book as a great way to first get to know Kafka and his work.
I don't care if it's cliche: A Hunger Artist, the Metamorphosis and Josephine the Singer have changed my life, artistically, that is.
He did not want his work to be seen by the public. Thank god after his death his friends published it despite his wishes!
A few stories were good, but the rest went from boring to just plain bad. I think Kafka does much better with novel writing.
This is a good primer on the writings of Franz Kafka. As expected, the stories are quite bizarre.
i think this was the edition we had in my world lit class, oh, so long ago.
The quality of the book as a collection of Kafka's writing suffers for not having included 'In the Penal Colony', 'Investigations of a Dog' and 'The Hunter Gracchus'.
great edition; has almost all of his best short works.
Jul 07, 2012
Aditya Prakash
is currently reading it
very Kafkaesque :P
If I had never had to read this for school, I would never have found this book. I would have been much better off that way. However, I have witnessed accounts of few people that actually did appreciate the book and all its probing, deeper meanings behind the slightly disturbing and sorrowful tale, so I encourage this unlikely novel to be read as well as not letting my own negative viewpoints get in the way.
Feb 11, 2008
Paul Hathaway
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Rational People
Recommended to Paul by:
The Trial, Directed by Orson Wells
I met this drunk guy at a bar once. He had obviously come from his first semester of Advanced lit. to celebrate his own developing genius.
He said, "If you're just open to it, anyone can just look at Kafka and, and just KNOW what its all about!"
I said, bored, "Dude, don't you know what people mean when they say the something is Kafkaesque?"
I recommend this book.
He said, "If you're just open to it, anyone can just look at Kafka and, and just KNOW what its all about!"
I said, bored, "Dude, don't you know what people mean when they say the something is Kafkaesque?"
I recommend this book.
Okay, this is really really good if you read Kafka's actual stories, but please, please, please do not read the boring letters he wrote about how annoying his father is. It's like reading junk mail.
I only read The Metamorphosis so I must return to the other stories soon. I enjoyed how weird it was. Rock on, Kafka.
May 19, 2011
Meen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Meen by:
Got it for $0.48 at The Strand!
Omg, I finally finished this fucker! (Not the book's fault, law school's fault.)
Really liked the stories. The letters got a bit tedious.
Really liked the stories. The letters got a bit tedious.
The perfect introduction to Kafka's works. The preface and introductions really help put Kafka in his historical and literary context.
A little *too* basic, though enjoyable. A great start on Kafka, but not a comprehensive resource. Makes for a great bathroom book! :)
May 12, 2013
Blake Roberts
added it
I can't blame the book for my being unable to finish it. I blame myself for specifically reading a book to feel smart.
the gem in here is the short story "A HUNGER ARTIST",,,
Josephine the singer and the mousefolk-that is all.
Mar 31, 2007
Misnomer
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
If you can question existence, then this book is for you.
Surreal. I challenge anyone to nail down answers.
I read this in between all other books.
Teen angst? Pick up Kafka.
weird truely very weird. Kafka = weird
Found it, goddamnit! Yeehaw.
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Franz Kafka (German pronunciation: [ˈfʀants ˈkafka]) was one of the major fiction writers of the 20th century. He was born to a middle-class German-speaking Jewish family in Prague, Bohemia (presently the Czech Republic), Austria–Hungary. His unique body of writing—much of which is incomplete and which was mainly published posthumously—is considered to be among the most influential in Western lite...more
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“And I leave my post of observation and find I have had enough of this outside life; I feel that there is nothing more that I can learn here, either now or at any time. And I long to say a last goodbye to everything up here, to go down into my burrow never to return again, let things take their course, and not try to retard them with my profitless vigils.”
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