Books like Franz Kafka's The Castle

There is a lot of talk about Kafka and nightmares – and with good reason. However, his nightmares are never quite what you might expect - expectations are always a problem when reading Kafka, firsst they get in the way and then they get dashed. In Metamorphosis there is the ‘yuck’ factor of the main character becoming an insect – but that is hardly the ‘nightmare’ of that book. In The Trial the point is in being accused of something, but never being told what it is you have been accused of, but still needing to defend yourself in some way all the same. The Castle is even more of a nightmare again. This book was never finished and the version I’ve just finished reading ends where Kafka abandoned it, mid-sentence, with yet another new character about to say something terribly important to the central character ‘K’. You might think that this would be a bit of a pain – in fact, the book ending was a relief. Like waking from a nightmare it really is okay that it is over. There was never going to be a happy ending to this book.That might make it sound like I didn’t enjoy reading it – and that wouldn’t be the right impression to leave you with. This is a remarkable book and one that has much to say about how we construct our reality and how we interpret the realities constructed by others to explain how their world ‘works’. That is what the book is 'about' - and a sensitive reader will be struck by how often they interpret what is going on around them with as little 'proof' to try to make sense of the world.Of course, the book could be a guide book on how to construct a totalitarian regime – if such a guide book was ever needed. Let’s face it, we humans, even the best of us, are remarkably innovative when it comes to constructing nightmares for others to live in and really don’t need any instructions from fiction. I mean, Abu Ghraib anyone? No, I think not.The way to construct a Kafkaesque nightmare – if you are ever in charge of such things and are feeling a little bored – is to add endless levels to society and virtually no real communication between any of these levels - except, of course orders that must be followed - but must be first interpreted by those who receive them. Then create bizarre rituals (investigations or committee meetings or such) that either have no meaning at all or infinitely more meaning than can be guessed from them. These can take place in bedrooms, so they appear to be informal, but actually are the opposite. Make sure minor decisions that seem to have no import end up being life altering in ways that are completely unpredictable. In fact, make sure that just about every outcome can’t be predicted prior to it happening.Yes, I know, it all sounds a bit like home…Which is the problem with reading Kafka – it is very familiar, it is the familiar turned up loud. But then, aren’t those always the worst kind of nightmares?