The Trial by Franz Kafka

A Literary Fiction, 1925 by Der Prozess, 255 Pages

What I Didn’t Like:

Normally I like endings that leave you wondering but this one is literally unfinished. Kafka died before this one was published. It doesn’t end in a way that made me think. It ended as if it was cut off. I wanted more.
Definitely a sense of hopelessness from this one. It feels too heavy, too real. (Yes, I’ll come back to this in a second).
Dry. Much of this is likely due to translation, but it is a bit dry.

Terrifying concept of guilt and laws in the tradition of other dystopias. Can you face a trial for a crime you aren’t even aware of?
The fact that Kafka was able to create that utter feeling of doom and hopelessness from a story is evidence of great writing. You close this book incredibly thankful you are not K.
Psychological. This one is a thinker, which is fun. You have to focus on what’s happening and try to catch the lessons being tossed at you.

Classic lovers. I mean, you have to try them all, right?
Law students, I would imagine, will draw a lot from this one and enjoy dissecting it.
Really, anyone with a book club who like to THINK and discuss things that were deeper than they first appeared will enjoy unpacking this one.

This isn’t one that will be loved by every reader but if you find yourself in the niche you should absolutely give it a try!