Stiff but oddly flowing. A satire of an immigrant's journey in pre-WWI America the most interesting part of the book was the atmosphere and people in 1910 NYC. A vibrant hub of American life Rossman's adventures would have been more interesting if he continued across country through Oklahoma and into California. And I think Kafka never visited the US so he pulled this out of the era's gestalt. ( )

Tan bueno como El Proceso. ( )

I read an audio book narrated by George Guidall. He does a very good job of narrated the story. Franz Kafka's last book and this translated is truer to the original condition. Kafka had left instructions to burn all his work. Thank goodness that wasn't done. This is the story of an immigrant that comes to the United States. It is like short little adventures here and there and nothing really goes well in the end. Probably the most reality based book Kafka wrote it was never finished but he thought of it as his American novel. Kafka never visited America. This book starts with a picture of the statue of liberty with a punishing sword and Karl our protagonist is being punished by being sent to America. As an immigrant his own desires are completely disregarded in this book. Everyone poor Karl meets take advantage of him and use him even though Karl is a nice guy and more than willing to help out his acquaintances. There is a sex scene in this book where Karl is basically raped by one of the servants. It is the reason he has been sent to Amerika. It is well done, if only author's could take a hint if they think sex scenes need to be a part of their books. The poor Karl does seem to finally find a home in Oklahama but who knows if it would have lasted if Kafka had finished the book.

New York zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts. Der siebzehnjährige Karl Rossmann wird wegen eines erotischen Verhältnisses mit einem Dienstmädchen von seinen Eltern hart bestraft: Sie schicken ihn nach Amerika. Mit grossen Augen sucht er seinen Platz in dieser neuen Welt, die ihn zunächst mit offenen Armen empfängt. Alles scheint möglich. Doch der amerikanische Traum trügt und wendet sich allzu bald in sein Gegenteil.

Incredible that so much passivity cemented by prodigal anxieties & leading to repeat degradation still belies hopelessness. ( )