Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Quirk Books (2011), Paperback, 208 pages
Description
""One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that he had been changed into an adorable kitten." Thus begins The Meowmorphosis - a bold, startling, and fuzzy-wuzzy new edition of Kafka's classic nightmare tale, from the publishers of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! Meet Gregor Samsa, a humble young man who works as a fabric salesman to support his parents and sister. His life goes strangely awry when he wakes up late for work and discovers that, inexplicably, he is now a man-sized baby kitten. His family freaks out- Yes, their son is OMG so cute, but what good is cute when there are bills to pay? And how can Gregor be so selfish as to devote all his attention to a scrap of ribbon? As his new feline identity eats away at his personality, Gregor desperately tries to survive this bizarre, bewhiskered ordeal by accomplishing the one thing he never could as a man- He must flee his parents' house."… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member ijustgetbored
The Meowmorphosis is the latest from Quirk's hugely successful line of mash-ups of classics, this one penned by a fantasy writer writing under a pseudonym. This one is a gutsier step than some of the previous mash-ups: no staid Austen here. This time, we're doing the Kafkaesque as Kittenesque,
What works well is that, for the most part, Cook doesn't just try to swap out "kitten" for "bug." The Metamorphosis plot trajectory is there, but there's not a one-to-one identification, which would have been simplistic and would have left out a lot of good jokes (such as Gregor's sister's overwhelming adoration for her cuddly kitten brother). The book fortunately didn't go for the LOLcat humor, as I feared it might, which would date an otherwise "classic" mashup. It takes advantage of Kafka's gloomy modernist glumness and sense of the absurd and makes us see them through the eyes of a tortured kitten's soul, and the results are hilarious.
There's a departure in the middle of the book that lampoons The Trial. For readers who are familiar only with The Metamorphisis, this is going to be confusing and potentially boring. I wouldn't edit it out because it adds absurdist meat to the text and builds up Gregor's character and his torments, but readers who are only casually interested in Kafka may want to be advised.
The biographical note on Kafka at the end deserves special note; it's a riot. Satirical and biting, it finds a shocking thread in Kafka's life (cats!) and lampoons modernism at large. Don't skim over it-- it's a nice little treat waiting at the end of this novel.
Quirk does it again.
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which is a whole new liteary territory (modernism) taken to a whole new level of surreal.What works well is that, for the most part, Cook doesn't just try to swap out "kitten" for "bug." The Metamorphosis plot trajectory is there, but there's not a one-to-one identification, which would have been simplistic and would have left out a lot of good jokes (such as Gregor's sister's overwhelming adoration for her cuddly kitten brother). The book fortunately didn't go for the LOLcat humor, as I feared it might, which would date an otherwise "classic" mashup. It takes advantage of Kafka's gloomy modernist glumness and sense of the absurd and makes us see them through the eyes of a tortured kitten's soul, and the results are hilarious.
There's a departure in the middle of the book that lampoons The Trial. For readers who are familiar only with The Metamorphisis, this is going to be confusing and potentially boring. I wouldn't edit it out because it adds absurdist meat to the text and builds up Gregor's character and his torments, but readers who are only casually interested in Kafka may want to be advised.
The biographical note on Kafka at the end deserves special note; it's a riot. Satirical and biting, it finds a shocking thread in Kafka's life (cats!) and lampoons modernism at large. Don't skim over it-- it's a nice little treat waiting at the end of this novel.
Quirk does it again.
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LibraryThing member commodoremarie
Too much mash up, not enough substance. Sort of? I think this is one of the better literary modifications lately, and with it's relatively short length, more approachable. The author is clearly familiar with Kafka, and perhaps more importantly, respects him as an author. But there's not enough to
The novel starts off strong, presenting an interesting twist when Samsa, rather than being transformed into a horrifying bug, becomes a small, fluffy kitten. However, the addition of "The Trial" is confusing, unnecessary, and off-purpose. Samsa's journeys are prolonged and muddled, with varying descriptions of his cattish size and surroundings. He remains unlikeable - despite being a kitten, something more understandable when he's a bug - and his own attitude is no different from his original's. And for that reason, the book just staggers until it finally dies, much like our protagonist.
Honestly, if you want all the gloom and despair inherent in Kafka, and if you want kittens go look up pictures on the internet. I fear that while well done, this mash-up brought very little to the table - nothing quirky, nothing terribly clever. If you haven't read the original works, this will make absolutely no sense, and perhaps even leave you a bit bitter.
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justify the adaptations. The novel starts off strong, presenting an interesting twist when Samsa, rather than being transformed into a horrifying bug, becomes a small, fluffy kitten. However, the addition of "The Trial" is confusing, unnecessary, and off-purpose. Samsa's journeys are prolonged and muddled, with varying descriptions of his cattish size and surroundings. He remains unlikeable - despite being a kitten, something more understandable when he's a bug - and his own attitude is no different from his original's. And for that reason, the book just staggers until it finally dies, much like our protagonist.
Honestly, if you want all the gloom and despair inherent in Kafka, and if you want kittens go look up pictures on the internet. I fear that while well done, this mash-up brought very little to the table - nothing quirky, nothing terribly clever. If you haven't read the original works, this will make absolutely no sense, and perhaps even leave you a bit bitter.
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LibraryThing member SlySionnach
"Be grateful, I say. I once knew a man who woke up a cockroach." - Franz the Policecat.
I have a soft spot for Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. I have a strong feeling that it has less to do with my love of depressing literature (of which I have none) and more to do with the fact that it was the
In this mashup, Gregor has turned into an adorable - but humongous - kitten. His sister coddles him, his mother is scared of him, and his father hates him. I'm not sure who can hate an adorable kitten but there it is.
It follows the trials of Gregor Samsa as he tries to figure out how to adjust to being a kitten and all the new sensations. Not being a kitten myself, I can only speculate that Cook figured it out. The kitten in my house agrees.
Funnily enough, this book actually takes symbolism and insults it. Literally. Josef K goes on and on about it in chapter three (or four).
But it's not a bad book. It deviates from the original, as it most certainly must, in long rambles of why Gregor is a cat. And why he is convicted of being a bad one. And why that doesn't mean much in the cat world. In a few places, the book earned a few chuckles because there are obvious references to both the original novel, other novels by him and Kafka himself.
But be warned - just because there is now a cuddly giant kitten, this book is not happy. Nothing Kafka writes can really be said to be "happy." And, I think that since Samsa was a kitten this time instead of a bug, it made the family's treatment of him all the more poignant.
As a lover of the original work, I will put this book on my shelf beneath it (because there is no room beside it) and point to it as, "And that's the cutsey cat version."
I have a soft spot for Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis. I have a strong feeling that it has less to do with my love of depressing literature (of which I have none) and more to do with the fact that it was the
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first book that I got on that level deeper than, "Wow, this guy turned into a bug!"In this mashup, Gregor has turned into an adorable - but humongous - kitten. His sister coddles him, his mother is scared of him, and his father hates him. I'm not sure who can hate an adorable kitten but there it is.
It follows the trials of Gregor Samsa as he tries to figure out how to adjust to being a kitten and all the new sensations. Not being a kitten myself, I can only speculate that Cook figured it out. The kitten in my house agrees.
Funnily enough, this book actually takes symbolism and insults it. Literally. Josef K goes on and on about it in chapter three (or four).
But it's not a bad book. It deviates from the original, as it most certainly must, in long rambles of why Gregor is a cat. And why he is convicted of being a bad one. And why that doesn't mean much in the cat world. In a few places, the book earned a few chuckles because there are obvious references to both the original novel, other novels by him and Kafka himself.
But be warned - just because there is now a cuddly giant kitten, this book is not happy. Nothing Kafka writes can really be said to be "happy." And, I think that since Samsa was a kitten this time instead of a bug, it made the family's treatment of him all the more poignant.
As a lover of the original work, I will put this book on my shelf beneath it (because there is no room beside it) and point to it as, "And that's the cutsey cat version."
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LibraryThing member sarahzilkastarke
Not nearly as good as the other quirk classics. Maybe because Kafka was so weird to begin with.
LibraryThing member shayrp76
The Meowmorphosis by Frank Kafka & Cooleridge Cook
Waking up late is a bad way to start the day. Waking up late to find that you have been transformed into a large kitten is a worse way to start your day. George Samsa is a traveling salesman who takes care of his parents and sister, so this is an
Staying very close to The Metamorphosis until Samsa’s adventure outside; I didn’t like it anymore or any less. The cat transformation made it a little less creepy, but that’s just a personal opinion. It’s obvious, in both, that this is a depressing story about what we would call a dysfunctional family today.
I think Cook did a great good of making this story a little easier to read and maybe even a little more entertaining. For the full effect of what Kafka was trying to get across I think that reading the original is required. Overall, I recommend The Meowmorphosis
Waking up late is a bad way to start the day. Waking up late to find that you have been transformed into a large kitten is a worse way to start your day. George Samsa is a traveling salesman who takes care of his parents and sister, so this is an
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inconvenience to say the least. Staying very close to The Metamorphosis until Samsa’s adventure outside; I didn’t like it anymore or any less. The cat transformation made it a little less creepy, but that’s just a personal opinion. It’s obvious, in both, that this is a depressing story about what we would call a dysfunctional family today.
I think Cook did a great good of making this story a little easier to read and maybe even a little more entertaining. For the full effect of what Kafka was trying to get across I think that reading the original is required. Overall, I recommend The Meowmorphosis
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LibraryThing member DoskoiPanda
Unlike their earlier offerings, Quirk's latest tackles a novella which already included an element of horror - the salesman, Gregor Samsa awakening to find himself an insect - with the intention turning the tables by replacing insect with kitten. While this starts well, it just doesn't carry
I tried to like this, and actually was looking forward to reading it after having flipped through and seeing the illustrations (which are funny. Or at least fun). Sadly, between the feeling of Kafka bashing, the peculiarities of dropping in "kitten" for "insect", and the general lack of mirth to be found in the orginal text (that's all Kafka's doing. I agree with Cook; he was a joyless man and that comes across in his writings), this was nowhere near as enjoyable as the Austen mashups.
Sent to me by the publisher, as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers
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through as easily as the notion of zombies roaming the 18th century English countryside, and it feels more like an attack on Kafka's work than an imaginative retelling. Cook also breaks from the orginal novella by including at least one other work - "The Trial" - which serves to further berate and belittle Gregor Samsa the kitten.I tried to like this, and actually was looking forward to reading it after having flipped through and seeing the illustrations (which are funny. Or at least fun). Sadly, between the feeling of Kafka bashing, the peculiarities of dropping in "kitten" for "insect", and the general lack of mirth to be found in the orginal text (that's all Kafka's doing. I agree with Cook; he was a joyless man and that comes across in his writings), this was nowhere near as enjoyable as the Austen mashups.
Sent to me by the publisher, as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers
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LibraryThing member usagijihen
Quirk Classics, you are one awesome publishing house. Not only did you send me the ARC copy of this book, but you also sent me a poster to go with it. And now I don’t know where to put it (see the original review at witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com to see the picture of said ARC/poster!). That
If anything, this made Kafka’s original easier to understand in terms of philosophy. For some reason, using cats instead of cockroaches just makes more sense to me with all of these ideas (especially in the “trial” part of the novel). I can see why Kafka originally used cockroaches (duh), but I just like the idea of a cat salesman better.
Quirk Press puts out a ton of awesome mashups each year, but all of the ones I’ve read this year so far pale in comparison to the fuzzy wuzzy politics of cat society versus human society. (Seriously though, guys, enough with the Jane Austen and Zombies series. I’m done with it, no more, please and thank you.) Coleridge was very careful with rewriting the original, and basically left most of it intact aside from changing words and people/cats involved. That’s hard to do when doing a literary mashup, and I applaud him for sticking to the original as he did.
What I also appreciated was the short but hilarious writeup about Kafka as an appendix after the book. It educates the reader if they haven’t read the original, but does it tastefully. By doing this, I hope that those who haven’t read the original do. If anything, the literary mashup genre has renewed the interest and love of modern classics within the Western canon of literature (though I’d love to see them do something with “The Three Kingdoms” or “Tale of Genji” — now THAT’s a challenge!) that, over the years with technology booming and print books decreasing/becoming more expensive, has definitely wavered. Here’s hoping that a lot more kids (and adults) read the classics after the mashups.
Quirk, you’re doing a great job. Keep it up. Now try doing more Kafka, and you’ll have my love (and money) forever.
(crossposted to goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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said, I loved the original version (even if it did make me feel extremely anxious and paranoid after reading it), and this version makes Kafka’s classic even more palatable with the idea of Gregor Samsa turning into a kitten instead of a cockroach. And a lot less anxious afterward, too.If anything, this made Kafka’s original easier to understand in terms of philosophy. For some reason, using cats instead of cockroaches just makes more sense to me with all of these ideas (especially in the “trial” part of the novel). I can see why Kafka originally used cockroaches (duh), but I just like the idea of a cat salesman better.
Quirk Press puts out a ton of awesome mashups each year, but all of the ones I’ve read this year so far pale in comparison to the fuzzy wuzzy politics of cat society versus human society. (Seriously though, guys, enough with the Jane Austen and Zombies series. I’m done with it, no more, please and thank you.) Coleridge was very careful with rewriting the original, and basically left most of it intact aside from changing words and people/cats involved. That’s hard to do when doing a literary mashup, and I applaud him for sticking to the original as he did.
What I also appreciated was the short but hilarious writeup about Kafka as an appendix after the book. It educates the reader if they haven’t read the original, but does it tastefully. By doing this, I hope that those who haven’t read the original do. If anything, the literary mashup genre has renewed the interest and love of modern classics within the Western canon of literature (though I’d love to see them do something with “The Three Kingdoms” or “Tale of Genji” — now THAT’s a challenge!) that, over the years with technology booming and print books decreasing/becoming more expensive, has definitely wavered. Here’s hoping that a lot more kids (and adults) read the classics after the mashups.
Quirk, you’re doing a great job. Keep it up. Now try doing more Kafka, and you’ll have my love (and money) forever.
(crossposted to goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
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LibraryThing member lizzybeans11
This book was surprisingly entertaining. I hadn't read Kafka's Metamorphosis but I knew the general premise. Once I got into The Meowmorphosis I became obsessed with comparing it to the original so I sought it out and skimmed for a comparison.
Quirk Classics has added a rather large section in the
Ultimately I enjoyed this book because I find kittehs are more palatable than bugs, but of course the ending was still gross.
Quirk Classics has added a rather large section in the
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middle which was interesting at first, but really weird. When the story steered back to the original plot it was a little clunky. The illustrations were horribly awesome.Ultimately I enjoyed this book because I find kittehs are more palatable than bugs, but of course the ending was still gross.
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LibraryThing member CryBel
If you like kitties and philosophical discussion then "The Meowmorphosis" is your book. This mash-up has got to be one of the boldest that Quirk Classics pulled off (and that is saying something when they have already added zombies and sea-creatures to the Jane Austen prim and proper universe). You
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have to read this if you are either a fan of Franz Kafka "Metamorphosis" and or you are a fan of Quirk Classics. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ginerbia
I read other Quirk Classics and was thrilled with them so was excited to get my hands on this one as well. I was hoping the original material would be made better with the mash-up like other Quirk classics but in this case, I can't say that it was. The original was so dark and bizarre in it's own
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right - I actually enjoyed "The Metamorphosis" - but, in my opinion, the changing of the insect-like creature into a cat really didn't work all that well. I guess adding lightness and humor to a dark book doesn't have the same effect as adding darkness and despair to a light book does. Show Less
LibraryThing member jlparent
Newest from Quirk Classics (Pride, Prejudice & Zombies, etc) - Kafka's Metamorphosis is altered into a feline soul-search. The book is more overtly humorous in the beginning, as Gregor finds himself newly kitten-ized, but then mostly remains - to me - rather whiny and overblown and excessively
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long. Also, I was not familiar with 'The Trial' but it's is also mashed up within this story and I felt it added more heaviness to an already weighty story. I think I enjoyed the special notes on Kaka's life most of all (found after the ending) - they were beyond sharp and biting and the link to cats made me laugh. However, the reader discussion points were weak and unfunny. To me, overall - the final word for the entire book = uneven. Show Less
LibraryThing member HippieLunatic
So, niche, yes. An interesting turn on Kafka's original tale of man turned bug, but not as great as i might have been hoping. When taking a classic and making it quirky, I had hoped that more might have been added to the original, giving it a life of its own. Here, however, I will be honest, in
I enjoyed it at times, but there was not enough meat to this retelling to make me feel like it was a fully valuable use of my time. I am all for classics, and I am all for twists. Though, pairing them in this mash-up left me hungry for a bit more.
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saying that I was left a bit cold.I enjoyed it at times, but there was not enough meat to this retelling to make me feel like it was a fully valuable use of my time. I am all for classics, and I am all for twists. Though, pairing them in this mash-up left me hungry for a bit more.
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LibraryThing member TheAlternativeOne
The Meowmorphosis
Franz Kafka and Coleridge Cook
Quirk Publishing
Trade Paperback
208 Pages
Published Date: 05.10.2011
ISBN: 9781594745034
The Meowmorphosis is a literary mash-up* or blend similar in technique to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and is
3 out of 5 stars
The Alternative
Southeast Wisconsin
Note: For a better mash-up of The Metamorphosis (and to see where this idea probably came from) I recommend Peter Capaldi’s Oscar-winning short film Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life. The plot of the film has the author trying to write the opening line of The Metamorphosis and experimenting with various things that Gregor might turn into, such as a banana or a kangaroo. The film is also notable for a number of Kafkaesque moments.
* The literary mash-up is basically, a classic work of literature (e.g., War and Peace ), with added elements of current pop culture (zombies or vampires or robots ) with the resulting work an updated version of the original literary classic (War and Pieces – A Zombie Tale.)
Franz Kafka and Coleridge Cook
Quirk Publishing
Trade Paperback
208 Pages
Published Date: 05.10.2011
ISBN: 9781594745034
The Meowmorphosis is a literary mash-up* or blend similar in technique to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters and is
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produced by the same publishing house, Quirk. This story, however, does not embrace vampires or zombies or even sea monsters or robots. Instead, it re-vamps Franz Kafka’s dark classic The Metamorphosis and replaces the insects with cats. For the most part, large portions of this book are word-for-word redrafts of the original text, modified slightly with the words “kitten/cat” substituted for “insect/beetle” and references to meowing, pawing, and playful kitten antics replacing all things insect-like. And that’s the real problem with this rewritten mash-up. There’s really nothing new or creative or disturbing or frightening about this work and the substitution of the cats for insects diminishes greatly from the dark and foreboding nature of the original. It suffers under this conversion and all its Kafkaesque is lost. While on the outside a substitution mash-up of The Metamorphosis might appear to be a winning combination this narrative is nowhere near as strong as the other works mentioned above. Franz Kafka sometimes wrote absurd, distorted, often sinister stories and those peculiarities do not carry over well in this type of mash-up. I think the romantic period comedies are better suited for this style. Zombies in Victorian England? Well, that just makes all kinds of sense. But supplanting kittens for cockroaches? To me that’s just plain weird. Seriously though, waking up as an unclean, much-maligned, and disease-ridden insect can never compare to the same transformation as a cuddly, soft, warm kitty. The ramifications are nowhere near as astonishing or fear-inducing. The entire “creep factor” is lost when this replacement is made. And believe me when I tell you that the underlying dreadfulness of the morphed insect is the best thing about The Metamorphosis. In Kafka’s original story transforming into an insect becomes a social commentary on alienation, about being set apart from humanity. By substituting a cat for an insect the important distinction of fear and estrangement is less impactful in my mind’s eye. The Meowmorphosis comes off considerably more adorable than creepy, more charming than dark, and more familiar than alienating. On the surface, transforming The Metamorphosis into a mash-up probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it just doesn’t work and probably should have been left alone. 3 out of 5 stars
The Alternative
Southeast Wisconsin
Note: For a better mash-up of The Metamorphosis (and to see where this idea probably came from) I recommend Peter Capaldi’s Oscar-winning short film Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life. The plot of the film has the author trying to write the opening line of The Metamorphosis and experimenting with various things that Gregor might turn into, such as a banana or a kangaroo. The film is also notable for a number of Kafkaesque moments.
* The literary mash-up is basically, a classic work of literature (e.g., War and Peace ), with added elements of current pop culture (zombies or vampires or robots ) with the resulting work an updated version of the original literary classic (War and Pieces – A Zombie Tale.)
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LibraryThing member PensiveCat
I read this book in one day. Of course, Kafka's Metamorphosis was not exactly novel-sized, so I don't feel like I rushed through it. It's my first of the 'Quirk' Classics - I wasn't going to touch the Pride and Prejudice butcherings, but I figured since the only Kafka I'd ever read -The Trial- was
As a fan of LOLcats, this wuz grate! As a classics reader, it was okay. As not such a Kafka fan...whatever.
I want to frame the picture of the Gregor Samsa getting a bath. I'm a little scared of framing pictures now, though - look where it got Samsa!
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not a favorite of mine I wouldn't mind a bit of quirk thrown in. But I was confused, because I didn't quite get how big he was supposed to be. Then I had to go back to the original, because I wondered why Kafka would have stuck The Trial into this story. Actually, the was Coleridge Cook's doing. Guilty! As a fan of LOLcats, this wuz grate! As a classics reader, it was okay. As not such a Kafka fan...whatever.
I want to frame the picture of the Gregor Samsa getting a bath. I'm a little scared of framing pictures now, though - look where it got Samsa!
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LibraryThing member MrsMich02
Thank you to Quirk Books for providing me with a copy of this book. I was dismayed, at first, to find it such a thin book...and then I started to read. The main character, Gregor Samsa, wakes up to find he's been transformed into a kitten. He's confused and honestly so was I pretty much the entire
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way through the story. From what I could gather, Gregor finds his life so frustratingly confining he transforms into a cat which to him embodies freedom. I felt conflicted by all the characters. Half the time I felt pity or empathy for Gregor, the other half I just wanted to scream "snap out of it". His parents are just dysfunctional from start to finish. At times, his sister Grete is loving and other times just plain mean. I'd want to run away from them and his work responsibilities as well. Gregor is just so wishy-washy. Decide already! Do you want to take advantage of this magical freedom you've been gifted with or do you return to the environment that was suppressing and depressing you in the first place? I still don't know what to make of the ending. One way or another, at least Gregor will finally be free. Show Less
LibraryThing member audramelissa
I love Kafka and that may be why at times I struggled to finish this book. However, there were a number of enjoyable bits and I would still recommend it to those who have enjoyed other lit mashups. The pictures and discussion questions were probably what I liked most.
LibraryThing member Radella
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Quirk Classics has done it again, turning classic literature into a B movie. This time, Franz Kafka’s classic The Metamorphosis has lost the creepy bug and instead features a cute kitten. While the story stays fairly true to the flavor,
I finished this book a while ago, but I’ve had a hard time putting my feelings for the book down. To some degree, I enjoyed the silliness of being turned into a kitten. The lolcat references and general ridiculousness had me laughing a bit. While I have read the original, I’m not a huge fan of Kafka. This might be why I didn’t enjoy the story as much as I have other Quirk mashups. That said, it was still well done… and I’ve already loaned my copy to a friend!
Quirk Classics has done it again, turning classic literature into a B movie. This time, Franz Kafka’s classic The Metamorphosis has lost the creepy bug and instead features a cute kitten. While the story stays fairly true to the flavor,
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themes, and general plot of the original manuscript, it gets a little odd in the middle. I finished this book a while ago, but I’ve had a hard time putting my feelings for the book down. To some degree, I enjoyed the silliness of being turned into a kitten. The lolcat references and general ridiculousness had me laughing a bit. While I have read the original, I’m not a huge fan of Kafka. This might be why I didn’t enjoy the story as much as I have other Quirk mashups. That said, it was still well done… and I’ve already loaned my copy to a friend!
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LibraryThing member punkeymonkey529
I won this from the early reviewers program.
I haven't read the original novel first,but this sounded so good I had to read it. At times the book seemed to read a little slow, but I stuck with it to the end. I was as the publishers name goes [Quirk]y but it was very enjoyable. Who really would turn
I haven't read the original novel first,but this sounded so good I had to read it. At times the book seemed to read a little slow, but I stuck with it to the end. I was as the publishers name goes [Quirk]y but it was very enjoyable. Who really would turn
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down a book with adorable kittens in it? Show Less
LibraryThing member VivalaErin
considering I don't particularly like the original Metemorphosis, I just expected this to be silly parody of that story. Which it was, but it is still nothing spectacular.
LibraryThing member SunnySD
Coleridge gets kudos for chutzpa, the cover and blurb that actually had me hooked enough to pick it up.
Having never endured the original, I can honestly say that the adaptation was at once cuter and more fluffy, and still just as horribly deep and depressing as I expected. I admit, I skipped ahead
And of course, the afterword in which the reader is invited to picture Kafka running a Eastern Block version of the Fight Club? Priceless.
Having never endured the original, I can honestly say that the adaptation was at once cuter and more fluffy, and still just as horribly deep and depressing as I expected. I admit, I skipped ahead
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to assure myself that yes, indeed, Gregor met the fate I expected. Despite the advance knowledge, I found myself caught up in the flowing prose as the tale unfolded - although I was ultimately left with absolutely no desire to ever re-read it. Bizarre and outrageous as the original must be, the sheer, unbearably adorable ridiculousness of Gregor's feline predicament lends a macabre sense of the absurd to what otherwise must be a supremely bleak and horrid classic. (Gregor certainly meets a predictably pathetic end, although arguably I expect his sister's to get what's coming to her, as well.)And of course, the afterword in which the reader is invited to picture Kafka running a Eastern Block version of the Fight Club? Priceless.
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LibraryThing member lilacwolf
From Lilac Wolf and Stuff
This review is very hard for me to write. The cover is cute, and this is another of the Quirk Classic mash-up, and Kafka is a big name. Hey, I like cats, I was looking forward to this one. A way to get my classic lit into my reading diet.
I like the cat change...in the
However, Kafka...what were you writing? I think he is a writer that intellectuals say they love so they don't look stupid. The book didn't make any sense right from the beginning. The character is working for this awful company as a traveling salesman to work off his parents debt. Yet they live in a nice house with a servant girl??? And why would he HAVE to work for the company, just get the job you want and pay it off. Here's a thought, since Mom, Dad, and sis don't work, let them cook and clean. You would pay off that debt even faster!
So he wakes up one morning and he's a kitten. More afraid of losing his job than anything else. I'm pretty sure the morphing into a kitten would be my TOP priority. And even with the original cockroach I'm not sure what the point here is. Unless he's saying all salesmen are the most disgusting bugs...I think lawyers and politicians are worse. lol
I hate writing a bad review, but I do think I'd give Cook Coleridge another chance on his own work but Kafka...you and I are done. (Ok my husband just told me that it's an Absurdist novel and it's not supposed to make sense so I guess...job well done?)
This review is very hard for me to write. The cover is cute, and this is another of the Quirk Classic mash-up, and Kafka is a big name. Hey, I like cats, I was looking forward to this one. A way to get my classic lit into my reading diet.
I like the cat change...in the
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original the guy turned into a big cockroach. So what Cook Coleridge did, worked.However, Kafka...what were you writing? I think he is a writer that intellectuals say they love so they don't look stupid. The book didn't make any sense right from the beginning. The character is working for this awful company as a traveling salesman to work off his parents debt. Yet they live in a nice house with a servant girl??? And why would he HAVE to work for the company, just get the job you want and pay it off. Here's a thought, since Mom, Dad, and sis don't work, let them cook and clean. You would pay off that debt even faster!
So he wakes up one morning and he's a kitten. More afraid of losing his job than anything else. I'm pretty sure the morphing into a kitten would be my TOP priority. And even with the original cockroach I'm not sure what the point here is. Unless he's saying all salesmen are the most disgusting bugs...I think lawyers and politicians are worse. lol
I hate writing a bad review, but I do think I'd give Cook Coleridge another chance on his own work but Kafka...you and I are done. (Ok my husband just told me that it's an Absurdist novel and it's not supposed to make sense so I guess...job well done?)
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LibraryThing member lisa.isselee
I'm not entirely convinced if this was a success ...
The beginning of the book started of really intriguing and funny. Much in the same way as the original work ( maybe that's the reason it was good ?)
But the further along I got in the book ( and the further it strayed from the original plot) the
The Images in the novel oh man ! I'm fond of surrealistic collages and the ones in this book hit the mark ! They definitely show the weird dark vibe that the book is trying to bring across.
The beginning of the book started of really intriguing and funny. Much in the same way as the original work ( maybe that's the reason it was good ?)
But the further along I got in the book ( and the further it strayed from the original plot) the
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less interested I was. It felt long and boring and a bit thin.The Images in the novel oh man ! I'm fond of surrealistic collages and the ones in this book hit the mark ! They definitely show the weird dark vibe that the book is trying to bring across.
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LibraryThing member jenkince
This was a short read that had a few humorous and thought provoking moments. However, the promising premise of using a kitten instead of a bug in Kafka’s tale of transformation did not live up to its potential. Ultimately, it added little to the original story.
LibraryThing member LordKinbote
A quick, cute, fun, little giggle. Very fun take on Kafka (which let's face it, is no mean feat!) I especially like the section at the end about Kafka's "real" life and his strange magnetism to cats.
LibraryThing member Emidawg
Despite the substitution of a cute and cuddly kitten for a cockroach, the Meowmorphosis still has the basic theme of the original story. Having read the story before in high school english, I was unfamiliar with the trial by the court of cats, which I am assuming is added material, perhaps from
I have never had an easy time reading Russian authors, the flow of the writing or perhaps the verbosity makes it difficult. I have never mangaged to put my finger on what makes Russian literature so hard for me to understand. Ahh well, on to the next book!
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another Kafka work. The kitten doesnt make the story any less depressing. I always felt bad for Gregor since he had been providing for his family, yet in the end they were so ungreatful to him!I have never had an easy time reading Russian authors, the flow of the writing or perhaps the verbosity makes it difficult. I have never mangaged to put my finger on what makes Russian literature so hard for me to understand. Ahh well, on to the next book!
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Language
Original language
German
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
208 p.; 5.24 inches
ISBN
159474503X / 9781594745034