#GermanLitMonth Metamorphosis (Kafka week)
by 
Franz Kafka
Finish date: 14 November, 2024
Genre: novella
Rating: A
#GermanLitMonth and #NovNov24
Good News: Classic novella: Traveling salesman Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to discover that he has transformed into a giant insect. His metamorphosis makes it impossible for him to work.
Good News: Audiobook is perfect! (2 hrs and 33 mins) You can immerse yourself fully in this surreal world. Kafka is its best a is a joy to listen to recommended to anyone on a long bike ride or on a dreary winters morning while you sip your coffee. I had no idea how diffcult it is for a bug to get out of bed!
Personal: The Metamorphosis is a metaphor for how our lives can take unexpected and absurd turns, leading us to question the purpose of our existence. This is one of the most famous stories in the literature…..absurdly comic!
#MustRead or #MustListen
Feedback:
Good question from Head Full of Books...what does becoming a bug mean?
Gregor always felt himself as insignificant…only appreciated if he could earn money for the family. So it is not surprising he comes to resemble an ‘insignificant’ bug.
NancyElin.blog 
The thought of a bug trying to get out of bed, made me chuckle wryly as I remembered all the cicadas I’ve rescued this spring who ended up on their backs on the ground and couldn’t turn themselves back over :-)
Thanks for helping all creatures large and small!
I do love this. Such a classic tale
So comical in a surreal way….loved this bookcover too!
I read Metamorphosis for the first time last year and wished, WISHED I knew more about how to interpret literature. What was the bug supposed to represent?
I am participating in Novellas in November for the first time.
Gregor always felt himself as insignificant…only appreciated if he could earn money for the family. So it is not surprising he comes to resemble an ‘insignificant’ bug.
Good point. Especially since after he became a bug everyone pretty much ignored him except his sister.
Everytime I listen to the audio i imagine a giant beetle scuffling around a bedroom with a duvet on its back to hide under! Thanks for you comment…and I’ve finally joined Disqus so I can comment on your blog!
Thank you. I’ve contacted Askemet (sp) to ask that they review my blog and remove me from their SPAM list. Irritating.
“Head Full of Books”: Thanks for you comment on The Metamorphosis “What does becoming a bug mean?” I glad I discovered your website…you have been very diligent posting reviews. I too have had trouble “keeping writing reviews” due to lack of response from other readers. Believe me, I know how difficult reviewing poetry is….but not every one takes the time to appreciate poetry. Some of the BEST books I’ve read were poetry collections. (see page ‘Poetry” on my book blog. Links to other bloggers reviews on my blog…well, I would rather you mention the date of you review and others can look it up for themselves. I will look at your past reviews and am an avid fan of “poetry reviews” . :) I’m not able to comment on your blog so it will have to be via my blog.
I loved it too.
Now you can read Murakami’s story Samsa In Love, which is basically the opposite.
Thanks for your comment.
I just posted my review of Kafka’s diaries. Now I need to read Metamorphosis and Penal Colony, and America.
I’m glad to hear from you that Metamorphosis is good!
Commented on your review of Kafka’s Diaries on your blog…bravo!