Top 5 Books and Stories of Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka: The Storyteller of a Modern World 

Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka was one of the most phenomenal novelists of 20th century, a man, who was capable of seeing the world in a different light and created extraordinary literary pieces that we all treasure today. His work reflected his highly imaginative mind, adorned with the hard elements of realism and complex absurdities. The stories and books often explore the anguish of a modern man trying to keep up with the swift modern world that never stops, leaving him lost and aching for an answer or a meaning. Kafka pictured the fast paced, yet isolated life we all lead today.  

Kafka's works are deeply intimate and personal, written in a highly simple and descriptive language that can speak to one's heart. His characters and their struggles seem familiar. The stories take the reader into a different world where the wildest of imaginations come alive along with a daunting grip of realism. Being a modernist writer, he penned down the tumultuous thoughts about the human life, stricken with loneliness, despair, desires, anxiety and confusion, every aspect of which is still relatable in this modern world of internet and smart phones. The stories can make one pause and wonder, they push the reader into the shoes of the characters, evoking thoughts and emotions. Kafka's creations are like a window that invites a reader to peep into his life. He certainly bared his soul out, in the books and the short stories. They also make the reader confront their own inner self, taking them into a journey, where they might find answers in this hustling modern world that never rests. 

Top 5 Books & Stories of Franz Kafka: 

Here are some of the most intriguing creations of Franz Kafka, that picture the struggles, desires and the relationship of a man with uncertain absurdities of life: 

1. Amerika

Kafka's Amerika (Poster)

This novel portrays the helplessness of Karl the protagonist, trying to figure his life out in the new city. It's a story adorned with hopes and dreams and hardened with abandonment and fear. The novel keeps the reader engaged and also provides deep insights of the lives of the emigrants.  

2. The Burrow 

Kafka's The Burrow

The burrow is a short story, which takes the reader through a life of a character grappled with fear and insecurity. It is a story based in an absurd setting, where the protagonist tries to survive and stay safe from the unknown and mysterious world.  

3. Metamorphosis

Kafka's The Metamorphosis

This novel portrays an absurd and nightmarish tale of a dynamic character, that battles with the cruelty of life and his loved ones in a compromising state. The story keeps the reader on  an edge, exploring modern themes of isolation and melancholy.  

4. The Trial 

Kafka's The Trial

The novel is one of the best creations of Kafka, where the protagonist is left to defend himself from the world, arrested for the crimes unknown. The story shows the ugly truth of bureaucracy and haunts the reader with a sense of powerlessness. 

5. Letters To Milena 

Kafka's Letters to Milena 

Franz Kafka paints his love for Milena, an aspiring writer, in this book. It's tender and sweet, decorated with deep sadness and struggle a man faces in love, parted by distance. The letters shared between the lovers can certainly pierce through one's heart, pushing a reader deep into an ocean of emotions and thoughts.  

These books give an intimate picture of how Kafka saw and experienced the world, through his eyes and mind. The depth of the human emotions and the complex life portrayed in his creations is astonishing. Franz Kafka leaves a deep impression in the hearts of the readers which makes him an excellent modern writer. If you have any other Kafka books in mind, kindly share your views with us. 

Author:
Shrijeeta Ghosh