Book Review of "The Trial" by Franz Kafka

The genre of the novel “The Trial” by Franz Kafka is Philosophical fiction, Absurdist fiction, Dystopian fiction, and Paranoid fiction. Philosophical fiction refers to the class of works of fiction which devote a significant portion of their content to the sort of questions normally addressed in philosophy. Absurdist fiction is a genre of fictional narrative, most often in the form of a novel, play, poem, or film that focuses on the experiences of characters in situations where they cannot find any inherent purpose in life. Dystopian fiction is a genre of fictional writing used to explore social and political structures in dark, nightmare world. Paranoid fiction is a term sometimes used to describe works of literature that explore the subjective nature of reality and how it can be manipulated by force in power. Joseph K. is the main protagonists in the novel, he is a chief clerk in the bank, seeking justice constantly from the corrupt and the lethargic court. K. was arrested for committing a crime that he never knew about, this led him into facing his own faults and weakness.

The main conflict in “The Trial” is man vs. society. Man vs. society is an external conflict that involves a protagonist at odds with a ruling body, social, or cultural norms. In the court, they had their own set of laws so that they would manipulate people into thinking that they did commit something, K. had no other choice but to fight for his justice. What I like about the book was that it went straight to the subject of what the novel is about, I also like how Joseph K. fought for his justice and his freedom during some of the chapters. What I dislike about the book is the translation and the style of the book, I also dislike how the court manipulating the law. What I also didn’t like was how Joseph K. gave up in the ending, I know that he was tired of what the court and the two warders were treating him but he could’ve still fought for his justice. If you a type of person who likes to read mystery books than I recommend you to read “The Trial”, it’s a very good and interesting book but you would get confused while reading only because of the translation.

The Kite Runner Chapter 10-11

Chapter 10

In 1981 of March, it was a war between Afghanistan and Russian, the Russians were trying to split up the society in Afghanistan, people would try to turn each other in for money or for threat, so Amir and Baba and other people went to go to Pakistan so that they can be safe. They were riding with refugees/comrades, that’s what Amir called them. While they were riding in the truck, this Russian asked to have sex with the husbands wife, and Baba stood up for her and the Russian tried to kill Baba but a Russian cop stopped the man from doing it, the husband of the women kissed Baba’s hand from saving her. When they arrived to Jalalabad, where they are to switch trucks, Kamir than gold Baba and the other that the truck they need broke down, Baba than attacks Kamir because of him not telling everyone. Karim have put them in the basement with the others that have been waiting for the truck as well. For a week they stayed in the basement with other refugees. Amir recognizes that Kamal was there and said that he looked sick and depressed, Kamal’s father was also there. Amir overhears Kamal’s father telling Baba what happened to Kamal that made him so weak, four men had raped Kamal. Kamir comes back and tells everyone that he found a fuel truck that will take them to Pakistan the fuel truck index had air that was thick with fumes. It was very hard for people to breath in the truck because of the air inside it. They arrive to Pakistan, but they heard Kamal’s father screaming, Kamal had stopped breathing, Kamal’s father than attacks Karim trying to get his gun. Kamal’s father puts the gun in his mouth and shoot.

Chapter 11

Baba and Amir have been staying in Fremont, California for two years. Baba isn’t used to America yet so it’s very hard for him. Baba now works at a gas station where he change oil, fix cars, and etc... One day Baba and Amir went to a convenient store and Baba sees a went to buy something and the old man asked I’m for an ID but Baba got angry because he shops at the store everyday. In Afghanistan, people trusted them with their money so you can give them a price of branch and just give them your money. Amir graduates high school at the age of 20, Baba is very proud of what he has done, Baba bought him a car for him and told him how glad he was for Amir. Baba than talks about how he misses Hassan and everything that Amir remembered came back because of Baba bring Hassan up. Baba and Amir only moves to the U.S. so that Amir can get a education and go to college. Amir wants to go to college and major in English, Baba didn’t approved because he wanted him to get real work, but Amir made up his mind and told him that he’s going to major in English wether he likes it or not. Amir than takes a his car for a ride and just drive around the rich and poor people area, he describes it as the Pacific Ocean. The summer of 1984, Baba bought a old van, on Saturday mornings, Baba and Amir would load if you with purchases from garage sales and and on Sundays they will go sales their items at a flea market. One day Baba introduce Amir to General Taheri, Baba tells General Taheri that Amir is going to be a great writer, that’s when General Taheri daughter comes over, her name is Soraya, her and Amir makes eye contact. After they left the flea market, Amir ask Baba about Soraya, but the only thing Baba knows is that she has been with a man and that it didn’t turn out well, after that Amir couldn’t go to sleep because he kept thinking about Soraya.

The Kite Runner Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Amir has been looking through his toys, he doesn’t like them because they feel like blood money, even Baba’s gift, so he threw them in the corner of his room. Ali and Hassan gave Amir a gift for his birthday which was a new Shahnamah because of his old one being old, Amir wished that they never bought him a gift so he put it in the corner with the rest of the toys but he kept looking at it so he put it at the bottom of the pile, Amir than realizes that one of them had to go. The next day, Amir waited in Ali and Hassan to go to the grocery store, Amir than went to Ali and Hassan’s hut and put Amir’s birthday money and his new watch in Hassan’s mattress. Amir than went to Baba and lied and said that Hassan stole it, Baba than asked Hassan and Hassan said yes, Amir thought that Baba would dismiss them and find new servants but Baba said that he forgives him. Ali than says that he has made a decision and says that they are moving out, Ali gave Amir a cold look and Amir actually was happy that somebody thinks of him as a coward. Baba begs Ali and Hassan to say but Ali says no, Baba cries to Ali and tells him that he was the brother that he never had but Ali told him that their stuff is already packed, Baba than asked them were are they going to stay and Ali states that they re staying with their cousin in Hazarajat. Baba takes them to the bus station and asked Ali once again do they want to leave but Ali said yes. Amir feels bad about what he did and is sorry about what he did but he feels that he will finally live his life and that his guilt will go away. Amir didn’t do nothing about the situation he just let them leave.

The Kite Runner Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Amir have been ignoring Hassan because of the incident, Amir has been treating Hassan very wrongly and he’s treating him as if Hassan did something wrong to him. Amir couldn’t wait for spring to come so that he can go back to school. Amir and Baba’s relationship has been great, they go every where now and Amir loves it, but Amir gets annoyed every time Baba ask about Hassan. Hassan asked Amir if he wanted to go to the hill and read him a story, Amir didn’t want to at first but he agreed. When they went up the hill, it was nothing but silence and they never spoke about anything so they went back home. Hassan has tried to rekindle things with Amir but Amir states tha every time Hassan is around he gets a headache do he told Hassan to go away and to stop harassing him, Amir wishes Hassan to bust the door and give him a pice if his mind but Hassan did the opposite, Amir than goes to his bed and cry. Amir and Baba were planting tulips when Amir asked Baba did he ever thought about getting new servants, Baba told Amir to never ask him that and Ali has been nothing but family to him and that Ali been his family for forty years, he states that they are his family and that they aren’t going anywhere and that’s how Amir and Baba relationship drifted back to the way they were before. Amir turned thirteen in the summer of 1976 and Baba threw him a party, Amir was having fun until Assef showed up, Baba was embarrassed about how Amir treated Assef, Amir than left and when somewhere quiet so that the night can end until Rahim Khan showed up. Rahim Khan states that he almost got married to a Hazara but his family sent the girl family to Hazarata. Rahim Khan than states that Amir can tell him anything, Amir wanted to so bad but he thought about how Rahim would react to the situation. Rahim Khan gave Amir his birth a present which was a leather book for his stories.

The Kite Runner Chapter 6-7

Chapter 6

Every winter year, Kabul have a kite fighting tournament. Baba takes Amir and Hassan to an old blind man who makes the best kites in the city. Baba buys them three identical kites, Amir would always ask Baba to buy a bigger and better kite, he would but he would also buy Hassan the same kite and Amir wish he could be the favorite one. Hassan is the best kite runner in Kabul and he always know when and where a kite is landing before the kite lands. Amir likes Hassan athleticism and wants to run just like him. Baba thinks that Amir is going to win, but Amir believes that he’s going to win and says that it’s his mission to win so that he doesn’t be the ghost in the house anymore and he would be pardoned for killing his mother.

Chapter 7

The tournaments has been held in Amir’s neighborhood. Amir won the tournament and is very happy about it, Hassan than hugs Amir congratulating him but Amir can see it in Baba’s face that he wanted them to separate. Hassan told Amir that he will go get his kite, Amir went to go look for Hassan because he couldn’t find him, Amir than begins to ask people and they were disgusted from why he was looking for a Hazara and Amir than says that it was his old man servant son, but they told him that he ran south. Assef and his little crew caught Hassan and stated that they would let him go if he gives up the kite. Hassan told them no and states that Amir would be mad if he gave them the kites Assef than says that Amir doesn’t like Hassan and Hassan states that him and Amir are friends. Assef and his crew began to go towards Hassan, Amir was going to say something but he just watched them. One of the boys, Wali, told Assef that what they are about to do to Hassan is sinful but Assef say that he was only a Hazara, Assef had raped Hassan, Amir didn’t know what to do so he ran. Hassan than comes back and gave Amir his kite and they never spoke of what happened.

The Kite Killer(Chapter1,2, and 3)

Chapter 1- The narrator mentions that his past made him the person he is today, he located in San Francisco, something happened in his past, when his childhood friend called and everything from his past had bring back into his mind, I believe that the narrator has probably did something bad in his past.

Chapter 2- The narrator had a flash back from when he was a little boy, he had an childhood friend name Hassan, who was also related to Hazara, Ali was Hassan father and Sanaubar was Hassan mother. Sanaubar and Ali were first cousins, she never cared about Hassan at all, less than a week later after she gave birth, she left him and went to travel with singers and dancers, The narrator(Amir) mother died when she was giving birth to him, Hassan always had Amir back, Hassan always took the blame for Amir.

Chapter 3- Baba(Amir’s father) had build a orphanage for children, people doubted him because they believe that he didn’t have the blood for business, not only does he have the orphanage, he also have a restaurant, houses, and more. Amir feels alone because of Baba not giving him the attention that he wants, every time he would try to talk to him or ask him a question he would either yell or just grunt. Amir told Baba about the mullah teaching him that drinking is a sin and Baba told Amir that they all are liars and that there are only one sin and that is theft and that drinking and other things were the variations of theft. Amir didn’t like how Baba always treated other children nicely, he even wished death on the other children he was building the orphanage for.

“Alone” by Maya Angelou

Today in class, I’ve presented my poem today, which was “Alone” by Maya Angelou. I’ve memorized everything but every time I present I get nervous and stutter and I don’t like that at all. The process of presenting this poem was excellent, I got the grade that I wanted. This was a very fun project to do because the poem was essay to understand not only for anyone but for myself as well because I can relate to this poem. I feel as if I need to put myself out there in society and not be scared of anyone’s judgement. This poem has taught me that I’m not alone, I have family and friends by my side. Even people with money can not survive by being alone, money is not always the way to solve problems. Overall, I had fun doing the project and it was a very essay project to present.