Review

🍃 The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, written in 1912 and published in 1915, is surreal and existential in nature, exploring themes of alienation, absurdity, and the degrading effects of contemporary life.

🍁 The book is pretty short, but it packs a huge punch. It's one of those stories that sticks with you long after you've finished reading it.

🍂 Basically, it's about feeling totally alone, like nobody understands you, and how weird and unfair life can be sometimes. Kafka is a master at making you feel like you're right there with the main character, even though the situation he finds himself in is completely wild. The very first sentence of the book is famous because it just throws you right into the deep end!

🌱 What's really cool about this book isn't just the bizarre starting point, but how Kafka explores what happens next. He really digs into how this strange event affects the main character's mind, and even more surprisingly, how it changes the people around him. It makes you think about things like: How do we treat others when something unexpected happens? What does it mean to be responsible for someone? And how easily can our connections with people break? It's like a big story about feeling like an outsider, carrying heavy burdens, and how fragile relationships can be.

🌸 Kafka's writing style is very direct and to the point. He doesn't sugarcoat anything, which just makes the whole story feel even more unsettling. He won't give you all the answers or a neat little ending, and that's actually a good thing! It leaves you thinking about it, and you can come up with your own ideas about what it all means. That's why people are still reading it and talking about it over a hundred years later.

🌷 If you like books that make you think, or stories that explore the human mind and what it's like to feel different, then The Metamorphosis is a must-read. It's a truly unique experience that will make you look at your own life and the hidden struggles people face in a new way. Get ready for a strange ride that's also very, very human.

🖨 Edition Suggestion : The Willa and Edwin Muir translation is a classic and widely appreciated. Everyman’s Library offers it in a beautifully made hardcover with outstanding production quality. Penguin also has a well-crafted hardcover edition that’s worth a look.