Franz Kafka died of tuberculosis at age 40, and what an odd and baffling life he led. You can Google Kafka and discover all the details for yourself (may I say some of the details are a bit salacious and even heartbreaking?).
What is important here is Kafka’s act of kindness months before his death. Whatever his legacy, this man’s choice in this instance should be right up there at the top.
On Goodreads, I gave Kafka and the Doll by Larissa Theule (Rebecca Green Illustrator) a full five stars (and then some). Read my Goodreads review below.
From my Goodreads:
This short story is an absolute delight. I have read a few books by Kafka and love them. This man was a literary genius. But what was Kafka like in real life? Well, he was many things, but we can tell a lot about him by the way he handled a random encounter in a park. Judging by Kafka and the Doll, which is based on a true story, Kafka did not disappoint in that regard.
A one-and-done kind word and/or action is beautiful, but what if we take that a bit further? In this age of instant gratification/satisfaction and an “I did my part” attitude, doing a little more is a rare gem.
Kafka and the Doll may be targeted for children, but everyone can benefit from this sweet story about one man’s choice to ease a little girl’s sadness in a very unique way. Maybe we can all glean some inspiration from Kafka, who was battling health issues and thus had every right to say, “Sorry for your loss,” and then continue on his way. He did more, and so should we.
Welcome to 2025 and fresh opportunities to do nice things for others!
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