The Metamorphosis Tough-o-Meter

(5) Tree Line

Kafka's story is a relatively easy read (and darkly hilarious to boot). There aren't any hard to understand philosophical passages or confusing plot twists.

But we're giving the story a "5" because, underneath its relative readability, the story explores a number of uber-complex philosophical and moral questions. But you can still get a good chuckle—and a few really good cringes—out of the story even if you're not zeroing in on the broader theoretical context.