The Trial

 Book Name : The Trial

Author : Franz Kafka

What is it about : Waiting for his tea and breakfast one casual morning, Josef K. was visited by a few officials telling him of an offence which Josef K. neither committed nor could have the faintest idea about and he was summoned to face "the court". Thus set forward a drama played out in various settings - his bank, the advocate's office and a cathedral where he was briefed to some extent the hypocrisy which surrounded the judicial system. Our man Josef K. was made speechless and confused right off the bat from the start of the book and still confused when he met his dismal end.

Some thoughts after having read the book : The author cramped so much conversation and so little action in so few scenes, it's just amazing how great author could still convey the fear, despair and brutality of a supposedly innocent man faced against a corrupted, bureaucratic and illogical legal powerhouse. The ending was abrupt and heart-breaking when Josef K. failed to inch forward, backwards or sideways amonst the people of "the system". Well worth a mention was the role played by the "advocates" who were supposedly there to assist victims such as Josef K. but in actual fact, these advocates were part of the machinery.

Would I recommend this book to you : Containing just a few scenes in the book, perhaps not more than ten such settings and the author managed to convey, portray and dissect the drama, psychology and disbelief experienced by Josef K, our confused and head-scratching victim. Ideal material for Drama classes with in-depth dialogues - for those not into Drama, this book could well be a bore.