Rating: 
Summary: WARNING: Review of the graphic novel version only
Review: When I first saw this graphic novel in the store, my first reaction was confusion. I already owned the print version of the Metamorphosis and I remember reading that Kafka pleaded with the editor that Gregor-as-insect never be drawn (something that's been honored since then. The closest thing I ever saw was one book that's cover had antennae poking up from behind a bed). So now Kuper makes a graphic novel version? It struck me as disrespectful in a way, but then again Kafka also wanted his best friend to burn his works, and his friend never did. So why should we hold Kuper to a higher standard?In the meantime, after browsing through the book (I didn't read it word for word... or buy the book. I mean, I've read the story before and own it.) I was struck by how powerful it was. Kuper does a wonderful job of conveying Gregor's pain and lonliness, and the flashbacks to his life before the transformation make his struggle all the more heartbreaking. So all in all, it's a wonderful creation. But I don't give it five stars because I'm still wondering if it should have been made at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing.
Review: Absolutely wonderful. . . i love all the symbolism in this story and how much analysis can occur from a novella. The whole story was stunning and the fact that it all started at the climax was most entertaining. This whole novella was about the decline of the Samsa family. . . wow. Can't imagine how much of a genius this man was.
Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining
Review: This book is one of the most creative short stories of the 20th century. It's reminiscent of Greek tragedy. A quick read and an excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: schadenfreude
Review: The Metamorphosis is arguably Kafka's signature work - and certainly the precursor to the troubles of the 20th century. The plot revolves around Gregor, who has the misfortune to wake up one day as a human-sized insect (cockroach? beetle? Kafka isn;t clear.) The nightmare begins as Gregor and his family "deal" with his predicament, each responding in a different way. The story is surprisingly short - the majority of the book deals with various interpretations about "what it all means" and what Kafka was trying to say. To be honest, I was less interested in these deconstructions as I was in thinking about it on my own - I'd like to think Kafka would have wanted it that way - much as Gregor and his family struggled with the situation individually. A bizzare, nightmarish story, but like a car accident, its difficult to look away.
Rating: 
Summary: 4 and 1/2 Stars
Review: Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis is one of the greatest works of short fiction ever written, and one of the 20th century's major literary works. The key to its fame and last greatness is its deeper mystery, i.e., its multi-dimensionality. It is a short, quick read that a good reader can probably finish in an hour or two: I read it intermittently, while waiting at doctor's offices, barber shops, and the like. However, the great thing about the story is that, though it is short and sweet, one can delve much deeper than its surface meaning -- though, as Oscar Wilde said, one does so at one's peril. Many of the events in the story that might be expanded upon in a longer, novel-length work -- why and how the metamorphosis happened, etc. -- are not even touched upon in this work. Furthermore, unlike many writers who shove the moral of their story down the reader's throat, Kafka, perhaps seeing in advance the notion that "writers with a message should use Western Union", leaves everything open to individual interpretation. This mysterious, ambiguous quality of the work is the key to its greatness and is the reason behind its longevity. One senses that the work has a deep, profound meaning and moral behind it, but it is written, as most great works are, in such a way as to leave it open to differing interpretations and analyses. The story can be viewed in many different ways: as an allegory, a masterpiece of symbolism, a messiah story, a parody of traditional Jewish folklore, a depressing, or a quasi-autobiographical tale, among others; Freudians can also have a field day with the text. For proof of the story's adaptability and elasticity, one has only to read through the various critical essays that follow the text (the book, in addition to the original text, is also lavished with useful materials such as an introduction, extensive notes, and a multitude of essays). Some of these essays are quite ridicilous and far-fetched; others are very well-thought-out and extremely interesting, giving one new insight into the work. If you have not yet read this masterpiece of world literature, then you owe it to yourself to do so; this is the edition to get.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: When I rate a book, there are two things that I contemplate. The first question I ask is whether or not the story was original. The second question that I ask myself is was I interested. For both of these questions concerning _The Metamorphosis_ I can answer with a resounding YES. Franz Kafka weaves a highly symbolic story in this masterpiece. It is undoubtedly the best short story that I have read. This story can be read on so many different levels. I have only read it once, but I look forward to going back and reading it again and seeing even more that I surely have missed the first time. The ending of the story was quite good, I won't give it away, but I will just say it is not was I was expecting to happen.
Rating:
Summary: One of Franz Kafka's Finest
Review: Franz Kafka, one of my favorite authors of all time. I would consider this novel, along with the trial, one of Kafka's best writings. Gregor Samsa awakes one moring to find he has transformed into a dung-beetle overnight. This book seems to follow typical Jewish folklore stories where the protagonist is turned into an animal for some past sin and is later returned to human form as a reward for the repentence of the sin. However, Samsa is never redeemed. Samsa's major struggle throughout the book is his fight to keep his human nature in hopes that he will somehow return to his human form. His family, with the loss of their previous worker and with the expenses of maintaining him in his new form, is burdened by his presence. He finally dies once he sees the situation through the eyes of his family and accepts himself as an insect.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: I loved this novella, the symbolism and retrospect into are modern views is truly a great thing.
Rating:
Summary: Metamorphoses
Review: Part of the charm of this book is despite the title, we don't actually see Gregor Samsa transform into an insect, nor do we know why. It is, we are to believe, a meditation on modern existence. The adjective kafkaesque derives partly from the experiences of Kafka's protatgonists, who incur some type of injustice from a seemingly larger, invisible, meaningless organisation. But Metamorphosis is more than that. It is open to many interpretations. Gregor's metamorphosis can be seen as an extended metaphor, where he is not just like a beetle, but is one. Kafka eliminates the duality of existence, between the noble and ignoble parts of us, by creating a third identity. Some complain that you have to accept Gregor's transformation from the start to establish credibility. But this is an unjust view: Metamophosis is a startlingly imaginative work. If we are not willing to accept the premise, then we should not accept the Mad Hatter and White Rabbit from Wonderland, or any other form of imagination and fantasy. What a bore unimaginative literature would be where everything is presented as it really is. But we know that's impossible. But what makes it real is that Gregor's suffering and grief is located within the familial and domestic. To begin with he is not so much concerned with his new form as he is with the tedium of getting to work and fulfilling his obligations to his family. He slowly starts to accept what he has become when he sees himself through the eyes of his family. When he finally accepts himself as an insect, he dies, becoming an empty shell. This follows a similar pattern to Jewish folklore stories in which humans are identified as animals as punishment for mortal sins and transgressions -- just being human -- and are redeemed at the end by becoming human again. Here Kafka is suggesting there is no escaping this, and even if we could redeem ourselves, the cycle would continue. There is no end accept in death. In the course of the story, the sister receives a transformation of her own, as she slowly appropriates the role of her brother. It's an intriguing book, and it's often very funny too, with suitable amounts of comic excesse and irony.
Rating: 
Summary: Great theme, but utterly stupid
Review: I had to read this book for my AP Lit class. Though it is a great theme. I really hated how he tried to illustrate it. I understand why people say he is a classic author. But I think the theme of family and social abandonment and "being human" could be better portrayed. I will definitely not read any more Kafka unless I have to for a class.
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