The Castle

By: Franz Kafka

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

On his deathbed, Franz Kafka asked that all his unpublished manuscripts be burned. Fortunately, his request was ignored, allowing such works as The Trial to earn recognition among the literary masterpieces of the 20th century. This brilliant new translation of The Castle captures comedic elements and visual imagery that earlier interpretations missed. A traveler known only as K. is promised a job as land-surveyor by officials of the Castle. But when K. arrives in town to claim his position, he learns that owing to a clerical error, his services aren't needed after all. Seeking an explanation, K. endures increasingly frustrating setbacks as he strives in vain to simply make contact with someone, anyone, from the Castle. Saturated with absurdist humor, this haunting novel has fascinated and puzzled readers throughout the world. Some critics praise it as the century's great religious parable, while others interpret it as indisputably antireligious. Critically acclaimed narrator George Guidall sheds light on this dreamlike tale, illuminating the limitless nuances of Kafka's writing.

©1958, 1968, 1982 Alfred A. Knopf (P)2004 Recorded Books

Pointed pointlessness

Not for everyone. Ends mid-sentence, unfinished, with plenty of threads left dangling. At no point will you feel like you have a firm grasp on where the story is going. Maybe that's the point. And maybe that point is worth thinking about.

best version

This is simply amazing. I couldn't wait to get back to it in my 4 hour drives. Couldn't wait! The one thing that may help one get it is that the norman bates-like voice of the landlady and other female parts is in fact exactly faithful to the text. I couldn't recommend this more highly and I commend the reader and producers!!!

there is no end! keep away from it!

there is no end! keep away from it!
there is no end! keep away from it!

Kafkaesque

This has been the most difficult book to get through. I’m not sure I’m motivated to finish it regardless of the amazing writing and the performance of the narrator.

excellent

I found the narration to be very good. Kafka is, as ever, wonderfully clever, funny and *unique*. But it is hard to keep up with sometimes. This audiobook surpassed my expectations. Excellent!

I can't remark on the quality of the translation that another reviewer has complained about. I have read the standard english version and this seems to be the same.

Amazing

Even without an ending, this was great and worth my time. I’m glad I read it.

Weird

This is the most frustrating book I have ever listened to. I got the audio version because I really like this narrator. In the end, I just let the beautiful tones of the voice and words wash over me. Very tangled and strange story. Beautifully read though. Horrible end to an excrutiating and baffling story. I think Kafka is making a good point but causes the reader much suffering in so doing. Like walking in marshmallow.

Would have preferred David Whiting translation

Would have preferred the Audible based on David Whiting’s translation, however, there is no paperback, hardcover, or kindle edition, which is startling and disappointing. Guidall’s performance is pretty good, better than the others available. I prefer a narrator with a English accent which I think is more appropriate for The Castle and The Trial. The translation for both novels is Mark Harman. It is excellent.

An incredible book

This book is a classic, for good reason. It is classic Kafka, with the whole mystic, conspiracy, "what the f''' is going on?" kind of thing that make us love his work. I think parts of it is actually better than the trial, but in the last third of it, there are so many endless monologues and discriptions of how impossible the system and everybody is. It really seems that Kafka is going crazy and paranoid where he sits in his loft writing. And off course, it is not finished, which is one of the things this book is really famous for. The way this book ends is really cool.
Of all the audio-books I have listened to, this one is probably the one of which I still have the most and best mental pictures, and I read it 6 months ago.
The narrator is great, sometimes he talks a bit too fast, but reading Kafka out loud is probably one of the hardest jobs in the world (alongside mr. Obama's), and this considering, he does a perfect job. His voice is also incredible to the atmosphere of the book.

The Weakest of the Kafka Oeuvre

I’ve read or listened to much of Kafka’s work. And while I am no huge fan, I tend to see great value in him. His exploration of the system, the bureaucracy, the “games” that must be played to get by, to deal with the demands of life, etc. is profound and of incredible insight.

He came along when all this was exploding in size and consequence. And his artful observation and discussion of it in novels and stories add greatly to our understanding.

I see less value here, and less of a story of interest, too. I would not go so far as to say that his assistant should have followed his wishes, to destroy the incomplete manuscript, but I would say that I bet Kafka thought either that it needed much work or that he himself was not fully satisfied.

Bottom line, I can’t recommend the book.
Guidall has disappointed be before. A lot. I’ll be very reluctant to get any more of his narrations.