The Trial

Rating:
Summary: The writing ruined what could have been an excellent story.
Review: I shouldn't be reviewing this book, 'cause I never even finished reading it. I couldn't. Maybe my attention span is too short, or maybe the way I read doesn't mesh with Kafka's writing. Either way, I found it impossible to get through. It was boring. I wanted very badly to finish it and find out what happened to K., but it was simply too hard to weed through Kafka's verbose style (well, maybe not Kafka himself. His writing could have been lost in the translation, but I somehow doubt that). Maybe I'll try reading it again when I'm really wired, for the plotline is not one to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Existentialist Piece of Work
Review: Franz Kafka's chilling tail of the overwhelming abusive powers of the government. Kafka was a genious who was trying to predict what would soon happen in Germany. This existentialist tale is frightening because it is the type of treatment that often occurs in our society. The most absurd treatment comes when Joseph K. (We don't even know his last name) is accused of a crime he did not commit. He is later killed for this crime without ever gracing the courtroom with his presence. I would reccomend this book to anyone who wishes to form an opinion on the oppresive nature of government over society.

Rating:
Summary: frighteningly prophetic but that can't save it
Review: It seems that as we look back we see how right Kafka was. He saw the abuse of power that was about to hit Germany as well as the rest of Europe. However, no matter how good of a prophet Kafka may have been The Trial was not the best book I've ever read. Kafka's style of writing grates on the nerves as he takes so long in stating his intentions. The fantastic plot helps but it can not save it.

Rating:
Summary: Kafka was a contemporary prophet
Review: The trial is about the absurdity of the abuse of power; a government charging a man with a crime about which he is never told, and sentencing him to death without his presence in the court room. It is not far different from the experiences of many activists in these modern days when cities are in actuality "corporations" run for the benefit of those in office and control. If you question their decisions/procedures, you may find yourself in the same Kafkaesque world where the court, prosecutors and their official armies jeer at your rights, and the charges are made up just so they can destroy you and your life. Kakfa had insight into the abuse of bureaucratic power and his telling of the story is in fact the experience of more people than you might care to know in our so called "free country". It will shake your sense of security and safety, and as well it should. You might call this a method of "ethics cleansing"!

Rating:
Summary: Ahhhh!
Review: I will not take to much space to say that this is book that needs to be read by any lover of great books. One word popped into my mind upon completion of this novel -- WOW!

Rating:
Summary: Joseph K. says., "Like a dog."
Review: Wow! I am still puzzling over what the hell I just read. I am not sure that I understand all of the symbolism just yet, but I do feel much for the central character. Overall the feeling that humanity is somewhat displaced in the world today seems to be the motif.

Rating:
Summary: It was a Ok book that I needed to read.
Review: I had to read this book for my english class but it was worth it though. It was alot better then any of the other books we needed to read. It had a great plot that can be followed and really kept the interest of the reader. I would tell other people about it. The other people in my class liked it too. It was a great book and if i had time to read it again i would read it again in a heartbeat. It is great book and i give it a good rating.

Rating:
Summary: What's the big Deal???
Review: I didn't enjoy this book at all. My friends told me that I had to read this book. I found the book very boring. Kafka may be famous for his style but I think he was a terrible writer. The book had a good plot but he never got to the point. He kept on beating around the bush.

Rating:
Summary: A beatifully crafted prophesy
Review: This book is an extremly complex journey through the mind of Franz Kafka. The ideas are all masterfully crafted and although the text itself is rather easy to read. The story has a timeless feeling to it and is a prophesy to what would happen in Germany soon after this book was written. The diologue can be confusing though, being that there are no line breaks for character changes. This is the one thing that brings the book down.

Rating:
Summary: another thought provoking read
Review: Wow! After reading various short stories of Kafka I decided to tackle one of his longer works. At first,I wasn't quite sure if this was a good idea, since each and every sentence of his works are so very profound, and to indulge myself in "The Trial" would be a very long and tenuous battle. Now that I have treated myself to this fine work of art, I encourage one and all to read it; you will understand yourself a little more, I know I have.