Kafka by David Zane Mairowitz and Robert Crumb / 4 Stars

[Kimber]

Kafka by David Zane Mairowitz and Robert Crumb
4 Stars

This graphic biography of Franz Kafka, brilliantly illustrated by Robert Crumb, is an overview of Kafka's life that includes summaries of some of his most well-known stories. Kafka lived most of his life in Prague, with his overbearing father, his mother, and his sister. This biography gave so much insight into Kafka's life – there are many insights and surprises in these pages of illustrated text, including descriptions of Kafka's extreme self-loathing that fed so much of the subject matter of his stories.

I was fascinated by Kafka and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I've read a few graphic biographies and autobiographies now – Kafka, Trotsky, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel – and I find it's a medium I appreciate for biographies. The books give me an overview of the people and their lives – just the amount of information I'm seeking, and the illustrations add the value of art to the story. I recommend Kafka in particular and graphic biographies in general.

[Idit]

Ooh. Tempting! Thanks for that

I must read it. I had it at home from the library last year, after I read Kafka’s The Castle, but I had to return before I advanced enough (it’s a very dense comics book, isn’t it)

And Crumb as well... I’m fond of this nervous and bizarre artist since I saw the doco about him

[Kimber]

Idit wrote: "Ooh. Tempting! Thanks for that

I must read it. I had it at home from the library last year, after I read Kafka’s The Castle, but I had to return before I advanced enough (it’s a very dense comics ..."

It is a very dense comic! There is quite a lot of text per page, and it took me quite a few weeks to read as I kind of turned it into my "lunch hour" book. The Castle is one of Kafka's stories that they delve into in this biography, along with Metamorphosis and I think also The Trial. The Trial is on my TBR list - in fact I think it's in my Trim the TBR list for this year's PBT challenge.

Robert Crumb's illustrations are amazing and so well-suited for this book.

I like reading biographies of authors around the same time I'm planning to read one of their books. I think it provides extra insight into what I'm reading. Hope you enjoy this Kafka biography when you get to it!