If you enjoy reading novels by Franz Kafka then you might also like the following authors:
Jorge Luis Borges is an Argentinian writer known for short stories that mix dream-like scenarios with strange realities. His collection “Ficciones” holds some of his most famous tales.
One story, “The Library of Babel,” describes a universe made entirely of a never-ending library with books that contain every possible combination of letters. Borges often questions reality and logic in a way Kafka readers might recognize.
His worlds are unusual and unexpected, presenting puzzles and mysteries in settings that feel real yet impossible. For anyone who has enjoyed Kafka’s style and ideas, Borges’ “Ficciones” offers a fresh yet familiar kind of exploration.
Albert Camus was a French writer who wrote about strange and unsettling experiences similar to those in Kafka’s stories. One of his most famous books, “The Stranger,” tells about a man named Meursault who feels disconnected from the things happening around him.
Meursault’s reactions tend to confuse the people he meets. After a seemingly minor incident, he faces serious consequences that he doesn’t fully understand or question. Camus shows the absurdity and alienation people sometimes feel when the world doesn’t make sense.
If you are someone who liked how Kafka’s characters often find themselves in puzzling situations, you might enjoy “The Stranger.”
Samuel Beckett was an Irish author who wrote novels and plays which explored themes of isolation and absurdity. Readers who enjoy Franz Kafka may find Beckett’s novel “Molloy” particularly interesting.
“Molloy” is about a man named Molloy who travels on his bicycle through a strange, unclear landscape. During his journey, Molloy encounters odd characters and situations which make him question reality and identity.
The book also follows another character named Moran, who is searching for Molloy in a similarly confusing manner. Beckett’s clear yet unusual storytelling offers a sense of mystery and uncertainty that Kafka readers often appreciate.
Hermann Hesse was a German author who explored themes of identity and existential questions. If you’re into Kafka, you may appreciate Hesse’s novel “Steppenwolf.”
The story follows Harry Haller, a man caught between two sides of himself—a civilized person and a wild creature, a wolf of the steppes. Hesse mixes dreams and reality in a strange way.
He shows Harry’s experiences in places like the mysterious Magic Theater and meetings with unusual characters who twist his understanding of life. “Steppenwolf” offers psychological depth and surreal moments that Kafka readers often enjoy.
Haruki Murakami is an author who creates surreal worlds that feel strangely familiar, yet unsettling at the same time. If Kafka’s stories appeal to you, Murakami’s novel “Kafka on the Shore” could be your kind of read.
It follows two seemingly separate stories that gradually move toward each other. One story involves a teenage boy named Kafka Tamura who runs away from home and tries to escape an odd prophecy, while another features an elderly man named Nakata who can communicate with cats.
Their paths cross through strange occurrences, weird dreams and mysterious forces, making this novel a good choice for readers interested in Kafka’s style of ambiguous reality.
Fyodor Dostoevsky was a Russian novelist who wrote stories that explored human thoughts and emotions. If you liked Franz Kafka, you might try Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment.” It follows Raskolnikov, a poor student who commits a crime for complicated reasons.
Afterward, guilt starts to consume him, and he becomes paranoid as suspicion builds around him. Dostoevsky shows how deep anxieties, fears and inner conflicts affect ordinary people.
Thomas Mann was a German novelist who wrote complex and thoughtful stories. If you enjoy the mysterious, surreal style found in Kafka’s novels, you might also like Mann’s book “The Magic Mountain.”
In this story, a young man named Hans Castorp visits a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps. Hans plans only a short visit but ends up staying for several years. His ordinary life transforms into something strange and dream-like.
There’s a feeling that time works differently in this high mountain setting. Characters talk deeply about life, death and ideas. Mann makes ordinary moments feel unusual, and events might not always be what they seem.
Italo Calvino created works that blend imagination and intellect. In “Invisible Cities,” Marco Polo describes fantastical cities to Kublai Khan, weaving vivid landscapes with philosophical ideas.
“If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler” offers a unique narrative structure, turning the experience of reading into something unexpected and thought-provoking. Calvino consistently invites his audience into worlds both strange and profound.
Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher and writer who explored themes of freedom, alienation, and the human condition. His novel “Nausea” follows Antoine Roquentin, a historian living in a small French town.
While researching a biographical project, Antoine starts to experience a profound sense of unease with the world around him. Everyday objects and mundane moments suddenly seem strange and unbearable.
This growing discomfort forces him to confront questions about existence and his place in the world. The book immerses readers in his unsettling observations, creating an atmosphere that feels surreal and deeply personal.
Fans of Kafka’s worlds, where the ordinary twists into something uncomfortable, might find Sartre’s writing an interesting experience.
Robert Walser crafted works of quiet brilliance, often exploring themes of solitude and the beauty in mundane life. In “Jakob von Gunten,” he tells the story of a young man at a peculiar institute, examining submission and individual purpose with subtle humor.
“The Tanners” offers a portrait of family dynamics and personal drift, blending moments of eccentricity with heartfelt insight. His prose often carries a delicate balance of melancholy and wit.
Bruno Schulz created profoundly imaginative and surreal works. His books, such as “The Street of Crocodiles” and “Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass,” transport readers to richly textured worlds where reality twists and reveals deeper meanings.
Schulz’s exploration of absurdity and the human condition, paired with his unique prose style, resonates powerfully with fans of Franz Kafka, as both writers share a fascination with the strange and the uncanny in everyday life.
Clarice Lispector created works that are bold and thought-provoking. In “The Hour of the Star,” she explores themes of poverty and loneliness through a raw and haunting narrative.
“Near to the Wild Heart” brings an introspective and poetic examination of a young woman’s inner world. Her writing often challenges expectations and leaves a lasting impression.
André Gide wrote works that explore the complex nature of human freedom and moral choices.
“The Immoralist” examines the tension between societal expectations and personal desires, while “Strait is the Gate” portrays a tragic tale of unfulfilled love shaped by spiritual and emotional conflict.
His narrative style and exploration of existential themes share a deep affinity with Franz Kafka’s works, making Gide a compelling figure for readers drawn to Kafka’s examinations of alienation and existential struggles.
Dino Buzzati created works that often explore the strange and the surreal within everyday life. His novel “The Tartar Steppe” reflects themes of isolation and the passage of time, following the life of a soldier stationed at a lonely fortress.
Another work, “The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily,” combines fantasy and philosophical undertones to tell the tale of a battle between bears and humans. Buzzati’s ability to blend imagination and depth leaves a lasting impression on many readers.
Vladimir Nabokov wrote works known for their precision and layered complexity. His novels often explore themes of identity, art, and morality. “Lolita” is perhaps his most talked-about work, both controversial and masterful in its prose.
Another notable novel is “Pale Fire,” which blends poetry and narrative to create a unique reading experience. Readers who enjoy Franz Kafka’s exploration of absurdity and human struggles might find Nabokov’s ability to blend wit with introspection equally intriguing.