Coetzee - Visitors Recommend

Visitors Recommend

J. M. Coetzee »


Age of Iron	A book about the lack of love for our children in this cruel world, where parents want to train fighting men instead of simply giving them warmth and love. /Victoria, 30, Russia I recommend this book as, to me, it is one of the best ever written about South Africa, and beyond that, about human complexity. /Gilbert, 23, France

Disgrace Excerpts »	A very brutal observation of life. /Ruby Yong, 25, China One of the most powerful books I've ever read. About human condition, about us. /Antonio, 40, Spain Brutal but perfect this book has lodged itself under my skin. Coetzee's prose is even more powerful than in 'The Life and Times of Michael K'. /AD, 33, United States So simple and so complicated. /Agata Starosta, 23, Poland It is very real and it brilliantly captures the ways in which ideologies and power-structures collide and intersect. /Saumya, 22, India Amazing. A history that reveals the conflictive nature of the human beings. A great novel, a really true novel. /Sebastián Amir, 19, Colombia Interesting take on life in South Africa after the surrender of the white farms to the local population. Also, what growing old means and how to come to terms with being unttractive and no longer desirable. /R. Canevari, 54, Italy I recommend this book because it has the power to show how things are without criticizing them in a way that is subjective, but rather in a way that we are made to think about their causes and to see that the problems South Africa faces are difficult and have many faces. There is neither right nor wrong in this novel, there is only difference. 'Disgrace' shows complex structures in dealing with culture, race, gender, identity, power, love and ideals. It is a novel that was written by an author who truly understands and responds to every last voice in South Africa and who has the wonderful gift of writing with so much insight that 'Disgrace' is an absolute must for anyone wanting to discover the multi-faceted country of South Africa. /Amanda Egger, 22, Switzerland

Elizabeth Costello	This book, 'Elizabeth Costello', is intellectually challenging. /Janpha Thadphoothon, 37, Thailand

The Lives of Animals	A very important book. I read it both in English and in Swedish. /Moltas Eklöf, 42, Sweden A strange, provocative but exciting book about Elizabeth Costellos lecture about animals. Does Coetzee share the same view as Costello? Is the book about animal rights or about literature? /Mathias Fridemark, 23, Sweden

Slow Man	Because it inspired me to paint one of my favorite paintings called 'Slow Man', in honor of that book. /Jorge, 47, Mexico J.M. Coetzee's novel 'Slow Man' provides the reader with a subtle, though brilliant story of a man seeking answers to the questions that arise in life: love, contentment, purpose and lasting legacy once one departs the world. Coetzee takes the reader on a careful journey, holding our hand gently, but allowing us to slip out of his grasp and interpret his thoughts as it pertains to the reader. Coetzee rarely provides any clear answer, cognizant that some things are either better left unsolved or cannot be answered with one universal truth. Remarkable in its clear prose; a must read for any fan of Coetzee or a reader hoping to enjoy a novel of tender melancholy, lightheartedness, understanding. /C.W. Sandor, 21, United States

Waiting for the Barbarians	This book is a striking allegory for Empire. The main character moves through the tripartate of positions of power: aggressor (colonizer), observer, victim (colonized). The character is complex, and readers will find themselves unable to classify him as good or bad, moral or immoral, his actions at any given time as right or wrong. This book has become even more relevant of late, as contemporary Empire (the United States) is again on trial for the crimes of torture and coercion that so characterized empires of the past. EMPIRE is not a thing of the past. It is as prevalent - and as brutal - as ever, and Coetzee highlights the complications that citizens of "powerful" countries like mine must not ignore. /Rebecca M., 21, United States The first person narration of this somber, though emotionally rich, story of life in a distant frontier. We have all dreamed, if not contemplated such an existence where we enjoy a quiet life. Nevertheless, Mr. Coetzee has created a fascinating read describing the unique landscape of the frontier, the precise emotional feelings we feel when we are faced by someone who confuses our very hearts, and lastly concludes with a rather unique and comforting ending. As the presentation speech when Mr. Coetzee was moments away from receiving the prize, it is true what was said: Some images will stay with you forever. /C.W. Sandor, 21, United States

Youth	I love it because it describes, in such a real way, emotions that people, well at least I, have, but that is not said because we are not supposed to feel them. The pretty thing here is that the character, as Almodovar's characters, is difficult to "hate", I mean, the reader might disagree with some attitudes he has but you don't hate him. /OzSo, 20, Mexico I depicts every youth life on globe. I looked into myself. Coetzee's style of narration really is wonderful. 'Disgrace' and 'The life and times of Michael K' are also worth reading. /Vivekananda, 28, India Captures the experience of youth perfectly. /Siggy, 24, United States As a newcomer to England, I could understand what the country had to offer to foreigners. /Vaidyanathan Ravi Shankar, 23, United Kingdom

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