Grey sky, constantly on the verge of darkness. Tiredness. Dragging onwards. That's what I remember from The Castle. I tried finishing it three times, and never managed – nobody saps my energy like Kafka.

Kafka's short stories are no less depressing than his longer works, but I found them more bearable, and even enjoyable on occasion. They don't induce a spiralling depression, and have some very neat images and concepts.

I don't do well with Kafka, and this one was no exception. I'm not debating the quality or skill of execution, it's just that Kafka makes me feel truly terrible in a way that I don't care to introduce artificially if I can avoid it.

Content warnings were made for this book. A friend of mine read The Metamorphosis while transitioning, and please don't do that. Not while you're transitioning, or in inner turmoil, or feeling alienated or depressed. Or when you're in a good mood and would like to keep it. Kafka will eat your good mood.