A Fiction Reading List

I get asked a lot where the name of this blog comes from, and then I have to explain my love of Kafka. This past week, I got asked what a book club would look like.

1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
   Kafka’s iconic novella critiques the alienation and dehumanization inherent in modern work, as Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect mirrors the loss of identity under corporate systems.
2. War with the Newts by Karel Čapek
   This satirical novel explores exploitation and capitalism through the enslavement of intelligent newts. It critiques corporate greed and globalization, offering insights into the commodification of labor. It is very timely as you think of the impact of AI.
3. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
   Sinclair’s exposé of the meatpacking industry highlights the brutal realities of corporate exploitation and immigrant labor, themes that remain relevant in discussions about workplace ethics today. And are feeling really relevant in today’s political climate in the US.
4. À la ligne: Feuillets d’usine by Joseph Ponthus
   This poetic novel recounts the author’s experiences as a factory worker, vividly portraying the physical and emotional toll of repetitive labor. It critiques the corporate drive for profit at the expense of human dignity. English version is titled On the Line: Notes from a Factory and was translated by Stephanie Smee.
5. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
   Set in a publishing house, this thriller examines workplace racism, microaggressions, and systemic inequities within corporate environments.
6. Severance by Ling Ma
   A satirical take on office work and consumerism, this novel critiques the monotony of corporate culture while blending apocalyptic fiction.
7. The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
   This novel follows a book-pulping machine operator who salvages random pages to read aloud during his commute. It explores tensions between intellectual life and manual labor within a corporate framework.
8. Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
   This novel examines how immigration policies intersect with labor exploitation, highlighting systemic inequities faced by immigrant workers.

The reading list explores the complex interplay between corporate culture, alienation, and the human condition in modern society. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and Čapek’s War with the Newts serve as foundational texts, critiquing the dehumanizing effects of capitalism and labor exploitation. Sinclair’s The Jungle exposes the brutal realities of industrial work, while contemporary novels like On the Line by Ponthus and The Other Black Girl by Harris examine the physical and emotional toll of repetitive labor and systemic inequities in corporate environments. French author Ponthus offers unique perspectives on factory work and corporate language, respectively, highlighting the global nature of these issues. The list also includes works that satirize office culture, such as Ling Ma’s Severance, which blends corporate critique with apocalyptic fiction. Throughout these selections, themes of alienation, identity loss, and the struggle for dignity in the face of corporate demands are prevalent, reflecting the ongoing relevance of these issues in modern work life.

The list has French representation, because frankly I started thinking of the list in Toulouse. I’m sure I could come up with a lot more global authors, though it might be hard to stick to 8 or 10 then.