The Metamorphosis

Let me start by saying this: The Metamorphosis is one of the strangest, saddest, and most quietly powerful books I’ve ever read.

The story opens with probably one of the most famous first lines in literature, Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning to find that he’s turned into a giant insect. Just like that. No warning. No explanation. And the rest of the novella isn’t about how to turn him back, but about how his family and the world slowly stop seeing him as a human being altogether.

What makes The Metamorphosis so haunting isn’t just the bizarre situation, it’s how normal it starts to feel. Gregor worries more about missing work than being a bug. His family is horrified at first, but then they start to ignore him, push him aside, and treat him like a burden. It’s heart wrenching. And what hurts most is that Gregor still wants to care for them. He still loves them. Even when they stop loving him.

Kafka writes in this dry, almost emotionless way but somehow that makes the story even more emotional. It’s a quiet type of heartbreak, where everything falls apart in slow motion.

Underneath the weird premise is something deeply human: the fear of becoming useless, the longing to be seen and understood, and the pain of being cast aside when you're no longer “useful” to others.

At Last:
The Metamorphosis isn’t a light or happy read but it’s unforgettable. It makes you uncomfortable in all the right ways, and if you let it sit with you, it can change how you think about family, identity, and what it means to belong.

It’s not for everyone, but if you like stories that feel like dreams you can’t shake off then this one is a must.

Thank You
-Kritika

The Picture Of Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, a book of philosophy of ethics and aesthetics, feels like stepping into a beautiful, dimly-lit room full of mirrors where every reflection shows something slightly darker than the last. The story follows Dorian Gray, a stunningly handsome young man who makes a wish: that he’ll stay young forever while a portrait of him ages instead. At first, it sounds magical, even lucky. But as Dorian dives deeper into a life of pleasure, selfishness, and moral decay, the painting becomes a twisted version of who he really is and he has to face the terrifying cost of living without consequence.

The writing is sharp, poetic, and filled with unforgettable one-liners that are both clever and unsettling. Lord Henry, one of the main characters, constantly throws out these philosophical quotes that make you stop and think even if they’re completely messed up. He’s the kind of character who’s fun to read but dangerous to listen to. Lord Henry's words may sound confusing and are actually difficult to understand. But it surely does spike this curiosity within you that makes you want to read more and more.

What really hit me about this book is how it explores the gap between who we are on the surface and who we are underneath. It’s about the fear of aging, the obsession with beauty, and what happens when we care more about how things look than how they feel. Dorian gets everything he wants but it slowly eats him from the inside out.

Youth is something we all cherish, it is something we want to be eternal. The book leaves you with a question that what if you cherish your youth too much? 

Yes, it’s dark. Yes, it gets heavy. But it’s also stunningly written and full of meaning. Even though it was published over a hundred years ago, it still feels strangely relevant. We live in a world obsessed with appearances, after all.

Lastly, if you like your classics with a touch of horror, a lot of philosophy, and characters you love to hate, The Picture of Dorian Gray is absolutely worth your time. It’s beautiful, disturbing, and makes you question the price of living without guilt.

Thank You
-Kritika