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86th out of 864 books
—
492 voters
The Metamorphosis
Acclaimed graphic artist Peter Kuper presents a brilliant, darkly comic reimagining of Kafka’s classic tale of family, alienation, and a giant bug. Kuper’s electric drawings—which merge American cartooning with German expressionism—bring Kafka’s prose to vivid life, reviving the original story’s humor and poignancy in a way that will surprise and delight readers of Kafka a...more
Paperback, 80 pages
Published
July 20th 2004
by Broadway
(first published August 5th 2003)
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I read this back when I was in high school and all I remembered about this book was that the main character turns into a cockroach. I had a vague feeling that I had liked it, but probably never understood what it was about to begin with.
I've been reading some classics in graphic format lately. I was at the library and they caught my eye. I figured by reading this one, the memories of the story would come back, but it only made me realize that I had truly forgotten what this book was all about.
No...more
I've been reading some classics in graphic format lately. I was at the library and they caught my eye. I figured by reading this one, the memories of the story would come back, but it only made me realize that I had truly forgotten what this book was all about.
No...more
It's been well over a decade since I read Kafka's "The Metamorphosis," which has one of the most memorable opening lines of all time. I thought that revisiting it in the graphic novel format was appropriate enough, given the surreal nature of the story. Kuper's artwork, which combines German Expressionism and the visual language of American comics, is terrific. At times the images of the Samsa family looked like they'd been drawn by R. Crumb. This came out in 2003, and since then the trend of in...more
This 80-page graphic novel by Peter Kuper is an interpretation of Franz Kafka's novel of the same name. I have never read the Kafka novel, but I thought that this graphic novel could be an introduction to the storyline of Kafka's famous book, which I have wanted to read for sometime. Basically, it tells the story of a man who gets turned into a massive beetle and is forced by his parents to live in a room of their house, ostracized from normal family life. The ending of the story is not a happy...more
Frank Kafka’s dark surreal vision is given an appropriately skewed graphic treatment. Gregor Samsa’s plight is either a descent into madness or a sad commentary on the transient nature of a wasted life. Samsa believed that all his self-sacrifice as a salesman meant that he was providing for his family. But when he is stricken with a strange transformation (a metaphor for deformity, illness, insanity or crippling injury?), he proves peripheral to his family.
They carry on without him, managing fi...more
They carry on without him, managing fi...more
Summary
The Metamorphosis is really about a man who wakes up one day to realize that he is a cockroach. His family does not accept him from then on and he is the only one who does the bulk of moneymaking. Yet none of his family members want him and by the end not only do they want him to die but also his dad actually tries to murder him at one point.
Review
I felt like the beginning was nice in how the author shows what it would be like to be a cockroach and he really does a great job of showing th...more
The Metamorphosis is really about a man who wakes up one day to realize that he is a cockroach. His family does not accept him from then on and he is the only one who does the bulk of moneymaking. Yet none of his family members want him and by the end not only do they want him to die but also his dad actually tries to murder him at one point.
Review
I felt like the beginning was nice in how the author shows what it would be like to be a cockroach and he really does a great job of showing th...more
My first reaction to the novel "The metamorphosis" was that "It is a really weird story". I can hardly say I enjoyed the novel since the mood was too dark, and the story began tragically. Usually novels begin with calm or covered events, but the this novel was quite extreme for me to read as the main character , Gregor Samsa has changed into a vermin. Eventually I finished the book with weird feelings as if I read Edgar Allan Poe's novels. However, it was not just a scary or bizarre book but als...more
I always avoided this classic tale of a salesman, Gregor, who wakes up one morning to find he has been transformed into a huge bug. I love science fiction, but not horror stories, which I presumed this to be; also its absurd premise would seem to defeat �suspense of disbelief� needed to engage a reader of either genre. But I was pleasantly surprised to find the story is highly focused on reality. We totally empathize with Gregor as he struggles to move about in his alien form and deals with remo...more
Metamorphosis, the graphic novel, was illustrated by Peter Kuper. The graphic novel follows the storyline of the classic novel, however it takes away the large amount of details that are present in the novel. Metamorphosis is the story of a man by the name of Gregor who one day wakes up and realizes he is a cockroach. The graphic novel beautifully illustrates the treacherous tale of how Gregor struggled with his new found situation, and with how his family dealt with this huge burden. The graph...more
My mom is a huge Kafka fan. I don't think I am a huge Kafka fan (although an adapted graphic novel version of ONE of his stories isn't enough to truly judge). The Metamorphosis is about a man who goes to sleep and wakes up in the form of a giant bug. He slowly loses who he was as he mentally transforms into the bug as well. While the art style was horrific (in a good way) and the lack of color made everything seem so drab and hopeless, the entire work was just a bit too dramatic. Expressions of...more
I've never read the Metamorphosis novella, but was somewhat familiar with it and knew it was a story studied and read often in class/courses, so I was curious when I found the graphic novel form. It's a bit depressing, and I think I get some of the main points being made, but still, I would've liked a little more insight with it. I can see why it would help to discuss it in a classroom setting.
I think it's effective as a graphic novel content wise and was interesting, but that being said, it did...more
I think it's effective as a graphic novel content wise and was interesting, but that being said, it did...more
The Metamorphosis by Peter Kuper, is a 79 page adaptation of a well known classic. This is a fictional, subtle psychological story of that leads to a better understanding of an otherwise unimaginable event. The story starts off with the bread-winner of the family, Gregor, being suddenly transformed into an insect. The story goes on to show his distress, and having his sister take care of him. Eventually, he becomes a burden to the family and is slowly forgotten, leaving him alone as an insect in...more
Voilà une adaptation bien fait du livre. La qualité de l'ouvre de Kafka n'était pas perdu dans cette bande dessinée.
The book deals with the story about how one normal man turns in to cockroach and also shows how his family deals with it. Its graphics illustrated story effectively and they were even interactive. Well-used contrast of black and white gave the readers suspension and described the dark and depressing atmosphere very well. Even though the element that a man turns in to the cockroach does not happen in real life, the behavior of family was totally acceptable and realistic. This graphic novel also m...more
The Metamorphosis is the story of the young travelling salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to discover he has turned into a giant beetle. Gregor’s family is disgusted by this event, and he quickly becomes shut off from his family, his former life, and the world. The Metamorphosis is the story of Gregor adjusting to this change in his life and how his state affects his family and the way they live their lives.
The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous. Everything about this book was p...more
The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous. Everything about this book was p...more
This book was not my favorite. It was too confusing for me. One day, this man wakes up and he’s a huge bug. He explained how his life was all about work to support his family. Him being a bug didn’t settle well with everyone in the house. The father wanted to kill him, the sister cleaned his room only if he was hiding under the couch with a blanket covering him, and the mother would feed him trash. I saw a connection though when the mother gave him trash compared to when he was human and he wou...more
The Metamorphosis is a dark and twisted book, It starts off with a traveling salesmen, Gregor Samsa awakening to a horrible surprise. He is no longer a human, he transformed into an insect, A cock roach to be exact. He's not sure how to go along with his new appearence, but while he’s trying to find out his family becomes worried. When they find out about his change, they are unsure on how to deal with his situation. As time goes on they actually start to treat him like a bug and not a family me...more
While the idea of a traveling salesman-turned-cockroach is an intriguing one, the essence of this story can be found in the characters surrounding the shocking event and how their true natures are revealed, or quite simply transformed by it. It's in the examination of family life that Kafka offers his keen observations and greatest attack against capitalism and the ruthless nature of people emerging under such a system. He uses the family as a microcosm of human behavior in the face of modernity...more
The Book is 77 pages in my reader. I've never read Kafka before, and I have no idea of what it is about. However, some of the writing is beautiful--see the end of the excerpt--and the gist of it is that Gregor, a travelling salesman, woke up one morning and discovered that he had turned into a bug.
...‘he’s turning the key.’ For Gregor that was a great encouragement.
But they all should’ve called out to him, including his father and mother, ‘Come on, Gregor,’ they should’ve shouted, ‘keep going,...more
...‘he’s turning the key.’ For Gregor that was a great encouragement.
But they all should’ve called out to him, including his father and mother, ‘Come on, Gregor,’ they should’ve shouted, ‘keep going,...more
Nov 30, 2010
S
added it
Вот как бы вы поступили, если бы ночью превратились в огромного и отвратительного жука? Но Грегора Замзу огорчает вовсе не тот факт, что он потерял человеческий облик, а то, что он в таком виде не успеет добраться до работы. Да и все окружающие совсем не удивлены подобным превращением - их огорчает сам жук, но никакого интереса к тому, почему так произошло, они не испытывают.
Впрочем, если так разобраться, человеческий облик Замза своей никчемной жизнью и не заслужил. Если бы не отношение родств...more
Впрочем, если так разобраться, человеческий облик Замза своей никчемной жизнью и не заслужил. Если бы не отношение родств...more
Follow one of the world's most famous short stories through an illustrator's lens in this 2003 adaptation. Gregor Samsa awakens for work one day to find himself transformed into a bug. His world quickly darkens as his fate unravels. The illustrations capture the darkness of Gregor's new reality, leaving the reader with little to interpret on their own. For instance, the first depiction of Gregor's father in the graphic novel shows the man with a ferocious scowl on his face as he bangs on Gregor'...more
May 26, 2011
Robert B. Miller
added it
Read by Lorie, Summer 2006:
"I had no idea what I wanted to read in a graphic novel. Most of them do no appeal to me in the slightest. After viewing the selection at the library, I picked one with a familiar original author. As I began to read the book, I realized it was a familiar story as well. The graphic novel I read was The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka adapted by Peter Kuper. The original work by Kafka is a novella which I remember reading in high school Yes that long ago - it was required r...more
"I had no idea what I wanted to read in a graphic novel. Most of them do no appeal to me in the slightest. After viewing the selection at the library, I picked one with a familiar original author. As I began to read the book, I realized it was a familiar story as well. The graphic novel I read was The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka adapted by Peter Kuper. The original work by Kafka is a novella which I remember reading in high school Yes that long ago - it was required r...more
This week I read the graphic novel version of Franz Kafka’s short story The Metamorphosis. Peter Kuper both adapted the story and illustrated the graphic novel. Having never read the short story myself, I cannot compare it to the original. I really did though enjoy the graphic novel.
The story is about a traveling salesman named Gregor Samsa who hates his job. He works hard and supports his parents and his sister Grete. One morning he wakes up to find himself transformed into a large insect. His...more
The story is about a traveling salesman named Gregor Samsa who hates his job. He works hard and supports his parents and his sister Grete. One morning he wakes up to find himself transformed into a large insect. His...more
Traveling salesman Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning transformed into a giant bug. This makes it very difficult to get out of bed and impossible to get to work. It also makes for very awkward family dynamics. Kuper’s adaptation of one of the most famous literary works of the twentieth century scrupulously follows Kafka’s original story. What Kuper adds with his dark shadings and heavy lines is a feeling of dark and claustrophobic gloom. It gives his cartoons the feeling of the work of some of Ka...more
this was a very interesting and saddening book full of hard ships cause by the son/brother because he turned into a dung beetle and everyone then had to work to support for the family but the only thing is why he caused such a hard ship I don't know, and another thing that I don't understand is how/why he was hated so much by his family, why didn't they care for him and what caused them to rejoice when he died.
So amazing! Read because I want to teach to my class next year but thought the original was inaccessible. Honestly, I have to go back to the original to review because this text is so loyal to Kafka I don't see how Kuper could have pared it down so beautifully. 4 stars for teaching and art appreciation.
Peter Kuper does an excellent job of adapting Kafka's classic novella into a graphic format. The art style is very stark and succeeds in conveying the tone of the original story. I particularly enjoyed the depiction of the three lodgers, though everything is displayed splendidly.
The Metamorphosis is a book written as a graphic novel about a man who wakes up to discover he has been turned into a dung beetle and what happens to him. It was an interesting read and the graphics were great. The story was well put together however the ending was a little confusing.
I have read the full version of "The Metamorphosis" a while ago and really enjoyed it. I saw this at the used bookstore and really liked the artwork. The harsh sketches really work well with the story. However, the story is pretty abridged, though the main idea remains.
I love Kafka, his original story of a man turned ugly creature has just fascinated me. But, to me the original story is dark and twisted and abit sinister. While this had humor it is not the way I like my Kafka. It's ok.
Would have gotten a higher rating, except that this is the third translation of The Metamorphosis we read; not to mention all the critics we had to read. I'm a bit tired of Kafka...
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Mar 15, 2013 03:33pm