In The Penal Colony and Lettter to His Father

Franz Kafka

Short Stories

Kafka is by far the most neurotic writer I have read, and strikes a connection with me I’ve honestly never felt before. However, he is clearly also one of the most miserable and depressed, hopefully not a premonition. In The Penal Colony focuses on a, in the most charitable terms possible, cruel and unsual punishment and the impassioned defense of it. Thus far his most overtly political, questioning institutions in general and possibly even colonial ones but I’d have too look into it further for that, work I’ve read and it does a superb job at exploring the mentality of those perpetuating and executing(heh) those systems. There is also a religious tint to it, old vs new testament, but I’m not inclined to look into that. Probably my favorite of his yet.

A Letter to His Father is a very very bleak read detailing his horrific relationship with his father and the multitude of ways that it has pained him. There are some great sections in here on familial relations and inherent powwer dynamics that are too often forgotten, as well as the expected exploration of his deeply anxious mind.

The Big Lebowski

Written and Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen

Film

Wonderful comedy in Coen’s tradition of incompotent criminals that is centered by an all star cast of character actors. Not my favorite Coens, but it’s definitely up there. So many great lines and deliveries.