I gave this book 3 stars not because of Kafka's writing or because I thought it was flawed in style. I gave it 3 stars because I found Gregor's family to be the most self-serving insects on earth!!! I felt so bad for Gregor, after the apple in the back. And I really, REALLY couldn't stand his father and after a while his sister made me SICK!!! I know it was necessary to show that Gregor wasn't a part of the family anymore because of some condition (it is said to be the self-inflicted condition of being a writer so I don't feel bad for Kafka- he could have given it up) and isolation and whatever but his family just really, really irked me otherwise I would have given it 5 stars. But even so, Kafka waS a twisted genius.