2026 Reading Challenge
The Castle

Questions About The Castle

by Franz Kafka

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Castle, please sign up.

Answered Questions (3)

Are all the English-speakers who are critiquing Kafka's style taking the piss or do they expect to be taken seriously?
Aaron A few months ago, someone I know, an English speaker, was in the middle of reading The Brothers Karamazov. She knew she was reading a novel from the 1…moreA few months ago, someone I know, an English speaker, was in the middle of reading The Brothers Karamazov. She knew she was reading a novel from the 18th century, and she told a group of us that she was enjoying the book despite the "old" style of the language. I didn't have the heart to point out to her in that group setting that she was actually reading a 2002 English translation of the original Russian text. Yes, the style of writing was very "old", 16 years old to be precise...

So in answer to your question: Yes I think it's very plausible that some if not most English speakers are being serious in their critique of "Kafka's style". I think a lot of English speakers forget there are other languages or at least don't have any appreciation for the impossibility of precisely transporting an author's style from one language to another.(less)
flag
I still think the way Kafka's characters talks doesn't make sense. Their sentences are way too long - and I'm using standards in literature, not an actual conversation - and they seem to lack to reason and decency owned by ordinary people. I understand that Kafka did make several aspects of his book weird and nonsensical - hence the Kafkaesque term - but are how the characters talk part of it as well?
Julie I haven't noticed the run on sentences or lack of reason or decency. I've read The Metamorphosis and The Trial, and want to read The Castle. I think t…moreI haven't noticed the run on sentences or lack of reason or decency. I've read The Metamorphosis and The Trial, and want to read The Castle. I think the Kafkaesque term is attributed to the situations that the characters find themselves in. I liken Kafka to literature, as Salvador Dahli is to art. (less)
flag
Did anyone else have to DNF this one? I've been trying to finish it for years and years, and in part, feel guilty because this is one of the titles which Kafka didn't want to be published, if I'm not mistaken; so it feels like going aganist his wishes as I read the book. In part, I feel guilty for DNF-ing it since I already started it haha
Mike Roper I was very close to DNF, but decided to charge through the last 100 pages after my partner fell asleep early last night. It's very very rare for me to…moreI was very close to DNF, but decided to charge through the last 100 pages after my partner fell asleep early last night. It's very very rare for me to DNF any book, which shows how little I was enjoying this.(less)
flag

Unanswered Questions (3)

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more