Teen Review: Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and illustrated by Gaby Verdooren is a great book with a unique plot. The story introduces the main character right away; a workaholic travelling salesman called Gregor Samsa. One morning, Gregor wakes up to find himself transformed into some type of bug. The story continues with Gregor and his family trying to get used to his new form. Franz Kafka’s vocabulary and way of writing make you feel more pity towards Gregor. How his family now struggles with money since their only income was him, getting stressed out about being fired that day, and how anyone that saw a glimpse of him for just a second gets so frightened that they would run away. I like that the family tries to live with Gregor just like before, but with some changes but also as the days pass, he becomes more and more like an actual insect. Although the story itself is amazing, the ending wasn’t really the best outcome for the family, it felt rushed. I really like the vocabulary that helps build suspense but sometimes I got lost while reading the more “intense” parts. People that like stories that have a deeper meaning than what is shown or like to have their own representation of it might enjoy metamorphosis since the whole character of Gregor is a metaphor for many different things. Overall, this book is worth reading, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars in total.