pickAn intriguing memoir blending the author's intense relationship with her new goshawk, learnings about falconry, and grief about the loss of her father; reflections on rural England; and the life of T.H. White, a fantasy writer who was also a falconer.This new take on White's troubled life intrigued me as a childhood reader, but MacDonald's developing relationship with her hawk amidst a complex life is what is most engaging.
#Nonfiction2024 #Kafka
pickKafka never disappoints. This is a fairly short story about the nature of morality under pressure from authorities, and how easily people are swayed when their safety is in peril. It is scary to think how authority figures can manipulate the masses under pressure and how easily the masses are swayed to change their mind when the authority changes.
so-soTo be sure, I adore Kafka, but mostly in novel form such as The Castle, Amerika and so on. While I can appreciate some of the stories in this volume, including the famous Metamorphosis and dark, comedic, absurd takes such as Description of a Struggle and In the Penal Colony, I admittedly did not connect to much of the volume; many of the stories meander on like H.P. Lovecraft, but pretending to be a dog or a mole. Not bad. Not amazing.
pickA Hunger-Artist: Four Stories
I‘m left speechless, my first response is the four stories that make this mini collection are sad as they are beautiful in how they each show the human condition.
The four stories are: First Sorrow; Little Women; A Hunger-Artist; and Josefine the singer, or the Mouse People
#Fiction #books #readaway2024 #eBook
pickA beautiful story, and lovely illustrations. Based on real events in Franz Kafka‘s life.
I love picture books!
"And so long as you say" one" instead of "I", there's nothing in it and one can easily tell the story; but as soon as you admit to yourself that it is you yourself, you feel as though transfixed and are horrified.", In the short story" Wedding Preparations in the Country", by Franz Kafka.
One of the many things I'm loving about this anthology is getting to know Kafka's humour a bit better.
pickThis edition contained Metamorphosis, as well as In the Penal Colony and The Judgement: A Story for F. I think all were brilliant and the famous dissatisfaction of conventional society comes across strongly in all. Metamorphosis was a lot sadder than I anticipated; the actions of his family contrasted with Gregor‘s innocent inner monologue conjures feelings of injustice and unfairness. (Cont in comments 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻)
pickBlew through this wild ride with Karl Rossman in America - a lighter novel by Kafka. But I have to say - Kafka simply decided to not finish writing this book AND left it at a major cliffhanger. Why???? Ahhh the anxiety is going to kill me. But fantastic writing in the first 7 chapters. If you‘re ok with being ghosted by Kafka, this is a fun one.
I‘ve been struggling to find good fiction that satisfies my current mood lately, picked up Kafka‘s America yesterday. Here‘s hoping it pulls me out of this fiction slump! (PS I really enjoy Kafka‘s writing)
