For the reader new to Kafka as a writer, there is a lot of baggage to be thrown off: everything implied by the cliche 'Kafkaesque' we've gathered from films, other books and the like (alienation, angst, modern man and the Absurd, the terror of totalitarian bureaucracy, etc.); everything, in other words, that has made a caricature of an original vision.

So, for the first-time reader of Kafka, there are some pleasant surprises in 'the Metamorphosis'. The novella is often very funny - Gregor's orientation to his condition (he enjoys running up the walls and hanging off the ceiling) and the reaction of his family and manager provoke some priceless farcical set-pieces. It is a Gothic story - about a salesman who turns into a monstrous vermin, and the aghast reaction of his family; there are some unexpected frissons in the story we would normally expect from the horror genre. It is a portrait of a complacent middle-class family in decline, a la Galsworthy, or a study of the artist in an impoverished family with a weak but aggressive father, like Joyce's 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man'. There are even elments of sentimental melodrama in the way Kafka loads up the sympathy for his monster in the face of almost caricatured hostility - I found myself welling up once or twice.

This is not to diminish Kafka's dark and frightening vision, just to suggest how much of his art depends on play, with narrative modes and genres, with narration, with reader's expectations. The horror, anxiety, unease, if you like, is actually quite marginal on the surface - the oppressive vastness of his familiar bedroom as perceived by Gregor in his new form; the endless vista of an adjacent hospital. It's under this surface that the true anxiety lies - the gaps in the narration, the unreliability of Gregor's perceptions and interpretations, the ambiguity of Kafka's language, the witholding and gradual unfolding of details. There don't seem to be any mirrors in the Samsa household, but the story is full of mirror-like tableaux - the portrait of the lady in furs; the photo of Gregor as a young soldier; the image of domestic life viewed every evening by Gregor in darkness.

If only all classics were treated with the respect of this edition. the translation is mostly smooth and fresh, with occasionally clumsy constructions and jarring Americanisms (are there really trolleys and foyers in Kafka's world?). The critical apparatus provides endless intellectual nourishment - manuscript revisions revealing the precision of Kafka's writing; an account of the story's genesis, creation and background through letters, diaries and related Kafka works; and seven critical essays from perspectives as varied as feminism, psychoanalysis, new-historicism and linguistics, some infected by the usual blights of literary criticism (e.g. undigested globs of French theory making argument and prose impenetrable; distortion of text to produce biased interpretaions), but which insightfully open up the astonishing density and ambiguity of a 40-page fable, offering ingenious, mutually excluxive, even contradictory readings that are all very plausible, and yet ultimately miss Kafka's elusive enigma.

Professor Stanley Korngold translates Franz Kafka's novella, "The Metamorphosis" (1915), and edits this Norton Critical Edition. Even though Korngold's translation was done in 1971, it stands as an excellent idiomatic rendition of the original German manuscript. Korngold includes in this volume a section entitled "Kafka's Manuscript Revisions," which reflects more recent German scholarship. Korngold's page-by-page annotations to the novella elucidate details which serve to clarify the text for close readings. Following the novella, ("Die Verlandlung," in German), is a section of pertinent exerpts of Kafka's Letters and Diaries. The next section of the volume, "Criticism," contains a collection of seven essays, which were written between 1970-1995. A Chronology of Kafka's life and work and a Selected Biography are also included.

Professor Korngold has done a masterful job with this edition of "The Metamorphosis." Kafka's masterpiece, according to Korngold, "...is perfect, even as it incessantly provokes criticism." For the transformation of Gregor Samsa into the "monstrous vermin" disturbs readers who want and need to "control" the text. To do otherwise is to accept the hopelessness that is at the center of Samsa's existence. For the uninitiated readers, who are often first-year university students in required literature courses, "The Metamorphosis" often defies facile interpretation. Thus, the critical essays, which include poststructuralist, psychoanalytic, feminist, cultural, and historicist literary theories about the novella, are very helpful to frustrated students who may have been given essay assignments. Of particular note is Korngold's critical discussion of Kafka's "literalization of the metaphor."

My suggestion is to read "The Metamorphosis" first (in this excellent Korngold translation) and to note one's immediate reactions to the text. Then, one can explore the other sections of this critical edition at one's leisure. Finally, one can re-read the text again. ("The Metamorphosis" is short enough that it can easily be read in one sitting.)

This Norton Critical Edition is highly recommended for inclusion in first-year university literature curriculae, as well as for AP high school English or World Literature courses. Franz Kafka was one of the literary geniuses of the twentieth century, and "The Metamorphosis" is an excellent introduction to his writings.

This is truley an amazing book. The true story of a cross country journey from Chicago to Tacoma on the fabled Milwaukee Road's Olympian in 1941 told thought the eyes of a 13 year old! The book is extensively illustrated and covers each mile of the journey arranged in the order of the journey. What is nice is the freshness, innocence and wonder of the journey - just what you would expect from a boy in love with the Milwaukee Road. As an additional treat we get the interactions of the railroad employees with the author Stan Johnson. Particularly memorable is Clarence Williams the sleeping car porter. Filled with detail and railroadiana - it just like being on the journey yourself. A must read for anyone who would like to enjoy travel as it used to be.

Back when railroads were king, a boy's first trip alone on a train was a big step to manhood: symbolic of great trust by parents, not only in the boy, but in the railroad. Those days are gone. Stan Johnson, however, relives his own first journey on the Milwaukee Road's crack passenger train, the Olympian, on its transcontinental journey from Chicago to Seattle. This book nicely combines Johnson's detailed recollections with the adult author's appreciation for the history of the land through which the train passed. Each historical or geological vignette, though, quickly passes and the trip resumes through the wide eyes of a boy on his first trip alone, recalling each station, each dinner, the porters, the observation cars, Milwaukee steam power, the Milwaukee's mighty Quill drive electrics, the sleeping compartments, myriad details of trains and places.

Johnson is an excellent writer, this was a great train, and this is a terrific story with outstanding illustrations and photographs recalling the history of the Milwaukee. The Olympian is gone. The Milwaukee Road is gone. Johnson's book is a fond rememberance of a magnificent time in this railroad's, and this young boy's, life.

I've read two books by S. Marcus - "Quest for the Best" and "Minding the Store". Both are fascinating.
Without any doubt, Stanley Marcus is the most talented American retailer of the 20th century. You will find out from this lively narrative what made him the best - impeccable taste, discriminate merchandising, extensive knowledge of manufacturing, business vision, professional honesty and breadth of intellectual interests. If you aspire to be a specialty retailer, drop 99% of the books about selling, they will not show you a worthy real-life example of how to run a store that customers can not resist to visit. Marcus does not hold back any secrets how he did it.
Read, laugh and get inspired.

A friendly and enjoyable tale of success in the retail business and how success was accomplished. Stanley Marcus recounts the growth of his family business and the stories of customer demands and customer service that created a hugely profitable and customer orientated retail empire.

While customer service is the primary focus of the book, creating innovative and exclusive items for the very wealthy provides a glimpse into how the rich find ways to dispose of their money. Marcus was a master of imaginative packages.

I bought 4 copies of the original edition and gave them away to people in sales. There is no better book for a young, or old, sales person to read.

This book starts out as a typical medical tale, an ambulance pulling up to the ER and your basic physician babble -- and I was afraid that I might be in for just another long, trite medical drama that takes you nowhere & teaches you nothing.

Not far into the story, I realized just how wrong my assumption was. The author, almost imperceptibly, draws you into a whole other world, allowing you to temporarily escape your own life and join the amazing world of Mohop Mogande and his companions.

The author tells an intriguing tale, partially based in the real world, but taking his readers on an extended journey into a mystical and supernatural place. The plot is well conceived, vividly imaginative, and demonstrates the author's ability to delve deep into the human psyche.

The book progresses almost entirely through the characters' dialogue and, if there's one flaw (albeit minor)--it's that the dialogue is sometimes stilted, clearly manufactured to tell the story. But such a worthwhile, enjoyable, fascinating story it is .... it's easy to overlook any imperfections and just sit back & let Mohop take you off into his incredible world.

From the moment the ambulance arrives in front of the Green Mountain General Hospital, Stanley L. Alpert wove an intricate tale which was difficult to put down. Although a work of fiction,the issues he writes about-doctors, nurses, hospitals, scientific research and human nature-are both current and thought provoking.

The book is like taking a college course. The author is very good at explaining the information. He uses examples for most of the material. After reading the book I felt like I could someday reach financial serenity.

Outstanding primer for both the new investor and the more experienced investor interested in improving her/his investing savvy.

First, this book illustrates rather convincingly, how investing just a moderate amount of money consistently over a period of time, can build personal wealth beyond most people's highest expectations. Makes it clear that there are no "guaranteed, get rich quick approaches" but that by being patient and investing in any of a broad range of solid investments...."financial serenity" is definitely within reach.

Then, this book explains the basics of personal financial management; including life insurance, real estate, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, REITs, futures, annuities, 401k plans, IRAs and tips to help determine which is right for you. This explanation of the basics, provides a framework which can be used to help individuals determine which investment vehicles fit their personal financial profile/style, and how they can take the first steps in building a personal financial plan which can secure their future.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in improving their financial position in life. It is written by one of the world's leading financial management experts in terms that anyone, from any walk of life/profession can easily understand.

Simple no nonsense approach. Cuts thru all the hyphe and explains the market in laymans terms

"The Internet Report" is excellent and will give you the most timely and accurate picture of everything involved with the Internet. As one who teaches Internet classes, I can tell you that this book is just full of great facts about Internet history, Internet infrastructure, Internet technologies, and where various Internet-related businesses will succeed (and fail). If you only buy one technology book in the next six months, it HAS to be this book! It is essential to read this book because your competitors and your customers will read it

This fantastic 10 volume encyclopedic set lists every English-speaking motion picture EVER released to theaters from 1927 to 1984, more than 25,000 entries. A splendid and entertaining history of movies since the beginning. (Vol. 10 lists every silent film known). Lively plot synopses, critique, ratings, and fascinating detail about each and every film made, the blockbusters and bombs, Listing the cast and roles they played, release date, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and far more. Example:after lovable Fred McMurray played a cad in Billy Wilder's "The Apartment" (1960) he got so much angry fanmail insisting he play only "good guys" that he never accepted a bad guy role again.

This ten-volume set provides comprehensive information on most English-language movies and many foreign films as well. Some 25,000 titles are covered, along with 3,000 silent films. The guide includes detailed production credits, plot summaries, and a ratings guide, and is exceptionally well-indexed. The set is kept up-to-date by annual supplements. The Motion Picture Guide offers a wealth of information at a reasonable price and will appeal to all movie fans but would be especially useful to movie buffs.

When two children, Franny and Beamer become concerned with the behavior of the children at their school, they decide to investigate the mystery behind the children's behavior. What is the connection? Is there a connection? Why are so many children doing the same thing?

I read this book with my son as part of his Summer Reading Program. My son enjoyed the copy we borrowed so much that we had to buy our own. It made him think about what and why children do the things they do. It was a fun read for him. I must admit that I'm surprised I actually enjoyed it. The photo on the cover appeared to be very chilling. Once we started reading the book we found it to be very thrilling, full of suspense and humor.

Franny and Beamer just don't get the whole I.M. Fine thing. Sure, I.M. Fine's Chillers books are a hit with kids everywhere. But what's so great about them? Something, apparently, because I.M. Fine has become the best-selling children's book author in the country. When jelly worms are featured in a Chillers book, suddenly kids everywhere go crazy, buying tons of jelly worms. That doesn't seem so bad. But then everyone who reads the next Chillers book, about an exploding head, gets a horrible headache that lasts for several days and is cured by nothing. Franny and Beamer are suspicious of I.M. Fine, but they have no proof that the books are causing the strange behavior. Then a Chillers book about ghosts causes kids to think they see ghosts, and one about snakes causes its readers to act like snakes. Franny and Beamer now know I.M. Fine is to blame. They have to stop him or her, but first they have to track this mysterious author down. This was a clever, spooky, and entertaining parody on kids and how they react to fads.

If your kids like mysteries and learning how police use science to solve crimes, this is the series for you! It's wonderful - and non-threatening. My kids read these books over and over. They're having fun and learning at the same time.

My son loved this book and can't wait to read the others.

This is an extremely good book that contains a series of lectures delivered to lay audience by this great physicist. It reveals the deep meaning behind the mathematical symbols and equations in modern physics. It's incomparable in this regard. The book is very easy to understand. The writing flows smoothly and beautifully. Great metaphors comes out effortlessly, one after another. It is very enjoyable reading.

This book started me on physics, way way back. I wish it were in print gain.