Blue Octavo Notebooks

Invasive perhaps, Max Brod publishing what Kafka would have otherwise wanted in flames. Very fragmented writings throughout, various little themes, some entries akin to a diary. Nonetheless, something to be had for any Kafka aficionado around. Wonderful to see his ideas in condensed form.

So good, we bought it twice.

This is essential for anyone interested in Kafka, or just interested in life! These aphorisms put Kafka in the foremost rank of philosophical aphorists, along with Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and Wittgenstein. Given that he avoids the prolixity of the first two, and the often frustrating enigmatic pronouncements of the latter, this ranks as my favourite single collection of aphorisms by anyone.The book isn't *all* aphorisms, there are a few fascinating sketches, which had one wishing he had expanded them into short stories.Although the aphorisms reveal a profound spirituality, they are based in the primacy of fact, Kafka wasn't an idealist, he's as empirical as Freud. An example of Kafka's spiritual authority I'll pick one aphorism, difficult as there are dozens of similar quality:"Believing means liberating the indestructible element in oneself, or more accurately, being indestructible, or more accurately, being."Aphorisms should provide something to reflect on that leads to profound, personal realisations. Kafka certainly does this for me.In  The Western Canon  Harold Bloom says that Kafka relects the 20th century spirit more than any other writer, and that these notebooks are the place to begin one's search for an understanding of that sensibility. I think he may be right.

Baffling, sent it back.